PelhamOntario
It sits within the St. Catharines - Niagara census metropolitan area. The town, home to 19,980 people, lies in Ontario.
Is Pelham a good place to live?
Pupils here do better than most (A+). Jobs and pay hold up well (A−). Housing is expensive (C). Residents’ health trails most towns (C+). The overall grade lands at B+, #258 of 858 in Ontario. It comes out better than 68% of Canadian towns. Its other grades sit near the middle: B for safety and C+ for walkability.
Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in it. Safety is the regional police service's figure, shared with its other towns. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.
How Pelham grades
Each subject compares Pelham 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 TownRatings grades Canadian towns →
What makes Pelham stand out
The 3 things Pelham does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Pelham.
4 school boards overlap in Pelham, covering Ontario’s four systems
Catholic schools make up 10 of 20, above the 34% in Ontario. Of the 16 with results, 11 sit in the upper two fifths in Ontario. Schooling in French is on offer at 3 of 20; in Ontario, 10% of schools teach in it. Within 3 km of Pelham are 16 elementary schools, 2 secondary schools and 2 alternative or adult schools, teaching 7,290 students.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quaker Road Public School Second fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 585 | English public |
| Welland Centennial Secondary School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 1,050 | English public |
| École élémentaire Nouvel Horizon FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–6 | Elementary · Grades JK–6 | 175 | French public |
| A K Wigg Public School Top fifth in OntarioResults in the top fifth in OntarioElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 310 | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Pelham | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Pelham has higher household incomes than nine in ten Canadian towns
Getting to work takes 25 min on average.
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Pelham | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 25 min | 29 min | 26 min |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · These are May 2021 figures, gathered while COVID-19 kept many people home or out of work.
Pelham is on Canada’s flood inventory: 11 listed, led by Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
Fewer homes than usual carry radon here, 2% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. Shaking is about as much of a worry in Pelham as in most places, at $0.055 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical).
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Pelham | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 2% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.055 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Pelham is a town of owners: 88% of households own their home, above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
Rent took 17% of household income, below Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (20%) alike. Shelter took 30% or more of income for 15% of households, below Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Pelham | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent as a share of income | 17% | 22% | 20% |
| Households owning their home | 88% | 76% | 74% |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 15% | 22% | 18% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $750,000 | $695,000 | $406,000 |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · These are 2021 census values, as owners judged them, set against household income in 2020. · Area behind the rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom figures: the St. Catharines-Niagara metro area
49% of adults around Pelham rate their health very good or excellent
Measured across the Niagara Regional Area Health Unit: health survey and life expectancy
A child born in the region can expect 81.2 years, below Ontario’s towns (82.8) and close to Canadian towns (81.5). At 15%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 11% for Ontario. Closer to home, a hospital is 8.0 km from the average resident of Pelham, further than the usual 3.7 km.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Pelham | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 15% | 10% | 12% |
| Chronic conditions (average share) | 19% | 17% | 17% |
| Very good or excellent health | 49% | 51% | 52% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.2 | 82.8 | 81.5 |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Pelham is graded a B for safety
Violent incidents in its police area came to 9.4 per 1,000 residents a year, below both Ontario’s towns (10.5) and Canadian towns (12). For every 1,000 residents of its police area, 25.1 property crimes are reported each year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Pelham | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crime per 1,000 | 25.1 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
| Violent crime | 9.4 | 10.5 | 12 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average · Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000: the Niagara Region (St. Catharines) service area
Winters are mild in Pelham: January nights hold at −8.0°C, above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
September is the wettest month, with 96 mm of rain and snow on average. The thermometer drops below freezing on 134 days a year, about level with Ontario’s towns (139) and below Canadian towns (159). The frost-free season runs from 6 May to 14 October, 160 days. January is the snowiest month, with 44 cm on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Pelham | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| January night low | −8.0°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
| July afternoon high | 26.8°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 134 | 139 | 159 |
| Precipitation a year | 967 mm | 902 mm | 883 mm |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Welland-Pelham)
An older town: 27% of people in Pelham are 65 or over, more than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns
Visible minorities make up 5.5% of the population, below both Ontario’s towns (26%) and Canadian towns (15%). First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 2.5% of residents, between Ontario’s towns (1.6%) and Canadian towns (2.8%).
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
Women make up 51.0% of Pelham
Census 2021 put women at 9,285 and men at 8,905; women are 50.9% of Canada.
| Pelham | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 15% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 58% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 27% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 9.6% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 64% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
In Pelham, November normally means 9°C afternoons and freezing nights
A normal December brings highs of 3°C, lows of −4°C. November normally sees 84 mm of precipitation. The forecast on the Weather page is ECCC’s for Welland.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 1°C | −7°C | 216 mm |
| Spring | 13°C | 2°C | 234 mm |
| Summer | 26°C | 15°C | 248 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 6°C | 268 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Welland-Pelham); the forecast is on the Weather page
Turnout in Niagara West reached 72% in 2021, above 97% of ridings
The October 2022 vote made Marvin Junkin mayor of Pelham, heading 7 seats.
| Turnout | Pelham | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 33% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Pelham Public Library - Fonthill Branch and Pelham Public Library - Maple Acres Branch are Pelham’s two public libraries
Its libraries report as part of a wider system, so there are no figures for Pelham in particular.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Pelham has 7 walking routes on the map
There is a beach within 5 km, unnamed on the map. 80 km separate the town from Rouge National Urban Park, its nearest national park. Of the country within 10 km, 2.7% lies in protected areas; the median Canadian town has 2.3%.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Pelham | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 2.7% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 5 | 4 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Everything we know about Pelham
Howells Pumpkin Farm and 11 more in and around Pelham
What there is to see in Pelham and within a short drive, starting with the places most people have heard of.
Famous people from Pelham
7 notable people were born in Pelham.
Photo credits
Chris Van Zeyl: Cmm3, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Henry Ryan Haney: Notman & Fraser, Public domain · Mike Accursi: Rochester_Knighthawks_-_2012_-_Mike_Accursi_at_city_ceremony.JPG : LtPowers derivative work: LtPowers, CC BY-SA 3.0
About Pelham
Town in Ontario
TownRatings follows Statistics Canada’s map: Pelham is one municipality in Ontario, figures and all.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 19,980 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- Census division
- Niagara
- Metro area
- St. Catharines - Niagara
- Census subdivision
- 3526028
Pelham’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelham | 19,980 | — | B+ | C | B | C+ |
| Welland | 66,480 | 6.6 | C+ | D− | B | C+ |
| Thorold | 33,844 | 10 | B− | D | B | C+ |
| Wainfleet | 7,329 | 15 | C+ | C− | B | C+ |
| St. Catharines | 153,865 | 16 | B− | D− | B | C+ |
| Beamsville | 28,356 | 17 | B+ | C− | B | C+ |
| Niagara Falls | 113,983 | 17 | B− | D− | B | C+ |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Pelham
What kind of homes are in Pelham?
83% of homes are single-detached houses, against 64% for the median of Canadian towns, and 2% are in apartment buildings of five storeys or more. A household averages 2.6 people; 20% are one person living alone.
Has Pelham grown?
Yes: the census counted 17,110 in 2016 and 18,192 in 2021, a rise of 6.3%, against 4.1% for the median of Canadian towns. The 2025 estimate is 19,980.
How old are the people of Pelham?
The median resident is 50.4 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 15% are under 15 and 27% are 65 or over.
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).