Palmerstonin Minto, Ontario

TownGrade

A⁻

#385 of 2,556

The town has 10,029 residents and lies in Ontario. It lies in Wellington.

1 place within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Balcer · CC BY 2.5

Population

10,029

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

40.8

years · Ontario’s towns: 46.8

Postsecondary

40%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Palmerston a good place to live?

Crime is low (A+). Palmerston ranks #101 of 858 in Ontario, with an A− overall. Set against the rest, it does better than 81% of Canadian towns. Getting around on foot or by bus is easy (A−). What counts against it is cost of living (C−). Its remaining grades are unremarkable: B for health, B for jobs & income and B for hazard risk.

This town's rent is the 2021 census rent scaled to 2025 by its province's ratio of surveyed to census rents: no rental survey covers it, so its Cost Grade is less sure. Safety is the police detachment's figure, shared with the towns and countryside around it. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

StrongestA⁺Safety A⁻WalkabilityWeakestC⁻Cost of living

How Palmerston grades

Each subject compares Palmerston with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.

How grading works

SafetyAmong the best of the towns comparedA⁺Open →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnC⁻Open →WalkabilityAmong the easiest places to get around without a carA⁻Open →SchoolsBetter than most of the towns comparedB⁺Open →HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesBOpen →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work beat most townsBOpen →Hazard riskGraded on two hazards, earthquakes and radon, with nearby wildfire counted only against itBOpen →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Palmerston stand out

The 3 things Palmerston does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Safety

Better than 96%

of Canadian towns on safety

Its safety grade: A+.

Unemployment rate, Census 2021

Work

6% unemployment

Of the labour force, against 10% for the median of Canadian towns

62% of residents 15 and over were in work, May 2021.

Postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree

Education

40% have a postsecondary qualification

The midpoint across Canadian towns is 56%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Palmerston.

SafetySafety A⁺

For the force that serves Palmerston, the Crime Severity Index is 29, below Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns

29Crime Severity Index

Measured across the Wellington County detachment area: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000

Its police area recorded 4.9 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, lower than both Ontario’s towns (10.5) and Canadian towns (12). For every 1,000 residents of its police area, 13.6 property crimes are reported each year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202330

202429

202528

2023–2025	Palmerston	Ontario	Canada
Property crime per 1,000	13.6	30.5	31.2
Violent Crime Severity Index	28	76	86
Crime Severity Index	29	56	67
Violent crime	4.9	10.5	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

35%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pagePalmerston’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety29 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Palmerston’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Palmerston safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average

HousingCost of living C⁻

Measured against local pay, Palmerston costs more to live in than 83% of Canadian towns

$500,000median home value, 2021C⁻Cost of living Grade

Shelter took 30% or more of income for 15% of households, lower than both Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%). Owners put the median home at $500,000, between Ontario’s towns ($695,000) and Canadian towns ($406,000).

What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census

Palmerston$500,000

Ontario$695,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Palmerston	Ontario	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	15%	22%	18%
Median home value, 2021	$500,000	$695,000	$406,000
Rent as a share of income	19%	22%	20%

$990

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,170

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pagePalmerston’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Cost of living6 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $500,000, against the median household income Renting$990 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census Owners and renters76% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Home values are owners’ own estimates at the May 2021 census, and incomes are for 2020.

SchoolsSchools B⁺

Of Palmerston’s 4 tested schools, 1 sit above the middle in Ontario and 2 below

4schools within 3 kmB⁺Schools Grade

The 3 km around Palmerston counts 3 elementary schools and 1 secondary school, 2,110 students between them. From the town centre, high school starts 8.7 km away, above both Ontario’s towns (1.2 km) and Canadian towns (1.2 km).

School	Level	Students	System
Palmerston Public School Second fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	480	English public
Norwell District Secondary School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12	Secondary · Grades 9–12	735	English public

See all 4 schools →

Schools within 3 km	Palmerston	Ontario	Canada
Nearest secondary school	8.7 km	1.2 km	1.2 km

2,110

students at the schools within 3 km, 2024-25

8.7 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pagePalmerston’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Results1 of 4 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Ontario Every school4 schools within 3 km · 3 elementary schools and 1 secondary school Language0 of 4 teach in French · 10% of schools in Ontario Questions“What schools are there in Palmerston?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25

HealthHealth B

51% of adults around Palmerston rate their health very good or excellent

51%very good or excellent healthBHealth Grade

Area-wide: health survey and life expectancy, counted over the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit

The region has more smokers than Ontario, 13% of adults to 11%. Life expectancy in the region is 82.4 years (84.5 for women, 80.2 for men, 2022/2024). Measured from where Palmerston’s residents live, the nearest hospital is 6.6 km away, beyond the typical 3.7 km.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Palmerston51%

Ontario’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Palmerston	Ontario	Canada
Smokers	13%	10%	12%
Life expectancy at birth	82.4	82.8	81.5

82.4

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

6.6 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

13%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

3.4 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pagePalmerston’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey51% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care6.6 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 3.4 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 84.5, men 80.2 Conditions and habits17% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

Work & commuteJobs & income B

Palmerston has a larger share of its working-age people in jobs than 79% of Canadian towns

9%walk, cycle or take transit

Commutes averaged 28 min, near Ontario’s towns (29 min) and higher than Canadian towns (26 min). By car: that was how nine in ten commuters travelled at the census.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van90%

Walk8%

Public transit1%

Census 2021	Palmerston	Ontario	Canada
Average trip	28 min	29 min	26 min
Car or van	90%	88%	89%

$84,000

median household income, 2020

17%

worked from home, May 2021

43%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pagePalmerston’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment5.5% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work9% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to440 commuters · The biggest flow out: to North Perth

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Census day was in May 2021, mid-pandemic, so commuting and work figures carry the lockdowns’ mark.

Climate

July afternoons in Palmerston reach 25.1°C (Ontario towns 26.7°C, Canadian towns 25.5°C)

25.1°CJuly afternoons

Most of the snow comes in December, about 42 cm. A normal winter brings 174 cm of snow, above both Ontario’s towns (146 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm). The most precipitation falls in June: 100 mm in a normal year.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−2.1°C

Spring10.1°C

Summer24.0°C

Autumn13.0°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Palmerston	Ontario	Canada
July afternoon high	25.1°C	26.7°C	25.5°C
Precipitation a year	1,035 mm	902 mm	883 mm
Snowfall a year	174 cm	146 cm	141 cm
January night low	−10.9°C	−9.1°C	−13.5°C

174 cm

of snow a year

158

days with frost a year

140

days with precipitation a year

Full pagePalmerston’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 25.1°C, January lows −10.9°C Rain and snow1,035 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow174 cm of snow a year Weather station12 km to the station · Mount Forest

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Mount Forest)

Natural hazardsHazard risk B

Palmerston is on Canada’s flood inventory: 1 listed, led by Grand River Conservation Authority

Lowwildfire bandBHazard risk Grade

More homes than usual carry radon here, 11% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. Seismic risk in Palmerston sits near the middle: $0.017 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030.

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Palmerston11%

Ontario’s towns4%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Palmerston	Ontario	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	11%	4%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.017	$0.043	$0.030

$0.017

expected earthquake loss a year per $1,000 of buildings

Low

wildfire band

flood study on the national inventory

Full pagePalmerston’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

FloodOne flood study on record WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 Earthquakes$0.017 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon11% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory

Who lives here

Children make up 19% of Palmerston, above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns

40.8median age

4.4% of residents belong to a visible minority, below Ontario’s towns (26%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike. People 65 and over make up 21% of the town.

PalmerstonOntarioCanada

OntarioCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

19%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree25%

Postsecondary qualification40%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 50.8% of Palmerston

4,620 women and 4,475 men at the 2021 census; across Canada, women are 50.9%.

Who lives in Palmerston
	Palmerston	Ontario	Canada
Under 15	19%	15%	16%
15 to 64	60%	65%	64%
65+	21%	19%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	25%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	40%	56%	56%

Full pagePalmerston’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages40.8 median age · 21% are 65 or over Households3,415 households · 2.6 people per household Immigrants7% are immigrants · 4% belong to a visible minority English and French4% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

Weather

A normal November in Palmerston runs from −2°C to 6°C

6°Ca normal November afternoon

Looking ahead to December, expect highs near −1°C and lows near −7°C. About 22 cm of snow falls in a normal November. November normally sees 92 mm of precipitation. Hour-by-hour figures come from ECCC’s Mount Forest forecast, on the Weather page.

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November6°C

December−1°C

January−3°C

February−3°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−2°C	−10°C	255 mm
Spring	10°C	0°C	240 mm
Summer	24°C	13°C	281 mm
Autumn	13°C	4°C	258 mm

−2°C

a normal November night

92 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pagePalmerston’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest July, coldest February

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Mount Forest); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Fewer of Palmerston voted in 2022 than in most of Ontario: 28%, behind 77% of municipalities

Palmerston has no council of its own: it belongs to Minto, a town.

Turnout	Palmerston	Ontario	Canada
Municipal election, 2022	28%	31%	31%

Full pagePalmerston’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Member of ParliamentJohn Nater Provincial legislaturePerth—Wellington

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B⁺

Palmerston has 3 public library branches

By name: Wellington County Library - Clifford Branch, Wellington County Library - Harriston Branch and Wellington County Library - Palmerston Branch.

Full pagePalmerston’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

Boyne Valley Provincial Park, 53 km away, is the closest provincial park to Palmerston

0%of the land within 10 km protected

There is no national park within 100 km of the town. One protected area lies within 10 km.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Palmerston0%

Ontario’s towns2.3%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Palmerston	Ontario	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	0%	2.3%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	0	4	4

53 km

to Boyne Valley Provincial Park

Full pagePalmerston’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas1 protected area within 10 km National & provincial parks53 km to a provincial park · Boyne Valley Provincial Park

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

History

Heritage in Palmerston

40%built before 1961

40% of its homes were built before 1961, higher than both Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%).

40%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Palmerston	Ontario	Canada
Homes built before 1961	40%	22%	18%

Full pagePalmerston’s history pageOpen the full History page

Older homes40% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Palmerston have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Palmerston

15pages on Palmerston

The big questions

SafetyA⁺Crime Severity Index 29 Housing & costC⁻Homes 6 × income Property pricesSchoolsB⁺4 schools within 3 km HealthBLife expectancy 82.4 in its region Work & commuteB62% of adults in work Natural hazardsBWildfire band: low

Out and about

OutdoorsAttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 25°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 40.8 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from Palmerston

10 notable people were born in Palmerston.

See all 10 →

Claude C. RobinsonCanadian ice hockey and sports executive · 1881–1976

Marvin HoweCanadian politician · 1906–1996

Mike SchmidtIce hockey player · born 1961

Andrew James MacauleyCanadian politician · 1887–1939

George McLeodCanadian politician · 1896–1965

Jim ReidCanadian football player · born 1957

Photo credits

Claude C. Robinson: Unknown author, Public domain

About Palmerston

Town in Ontario

TownRatings counts Palmerston as Statistics Canada does, as one municipality in Ontario; the census, crime and housing figures all follow that boundary.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 10,029 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Ontario
Census division: Wellington
Census subdivision: 3523043

Palmerston’s neighbours

The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada

HowickPalmerston

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Palmerston	10,029	—	A⁻	C⁻	A⁺	B
Howick	4,517	19	B⁺	C⁻	A	B⁻

People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.

Questions about Palmerston

Who are the people of Palmerston?

Visible minorities are 4% of the population, where the middle of Canadian towns is 15%. Immigrants make up 7%, and Indigenous people 2%.

What kind of homes are in Palmerston?

79% of homes are single-detached houses, against 64% for the median of Canadian towns, and 0% are in apartment buildings of five storeys or more. A household averages 2.6 people; 25% are one person living alone.

Is Palmerston growing?

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 8,671 to 9,094 residents (up 4.9%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 10,029.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2023–25 (35-10-0026, 35-10-0183 to 35-10-0190) · CMHC rents as published by Statistics Canada (34-10-0133) · grades by TownRatings. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.

Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).