PenetanguisheneOntario
The population grew 12% between 2016 and 2021. It is a town of 11,141 residents in Ontario.
Is Penetanguishene a good place to live?
Where it falls short is cost of living (D). People here tend to be in good health (A−). It is easy to get around without a car (B+). Overall, that makes a B−, better than 45% of Canadian towns. The ranking puts it #564 of 858 in Ontario. Its remaining grades are unremarkable: B for safety and B− for schools.
Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.
What makes Penetanguishene stand out
The 3 things Penetanguishene does most differently from other towns.
How Penetanguishene grades
Each subject compares Penetanguishene 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 →
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Penetanguishene.
Few places are as safe from hazards as Penetanguishene: it beats almost every Canadian town
Seismic risk runs low: $0.011 of expected damage per $1,000 of buildings a year, the typical town $0.030. In Health Canada’s survey, just 0.9% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). The national flood inventory has no study for Penetanguishene.
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Penetanguishene | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radon tests above the guideline | 0.9% | 4% | 6.6% |
| Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year | $0.011 | $0.043 | $0.030 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
Renting in Penetanguishene eats 25% of household income, more than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns
Area-wide: rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom, counted over the Midland metro area
Owners put the median home at $500,000, lower than Ontario’s towns ($695,000) yet higher than Canadian towns ($406,000). Just over a fifth of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, close to Ontario’s towns (22%) and above Canadian towns (18%).
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Penetanguishene | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent as a share of income | 25% | 22% | 20% |
| Median home value, 2021 | $500,000 | $695,000 | $406,000 |
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 21% | 22% | 18% |
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.
54% of adults around Penetanguishene rate their health very good or excellent
Health survey and life expectancy for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Life expectancy in the region is 81.5 years (83.5 for women, 79.5 for men, 2022/2024). What sets Penetanguishene apart within its region is a short trip to hospital, 0.8 km for the average resident (3.7 km typical). The survey counts 12% of adults as smokers, above Ontario’s towns (10%) and close to Canadian towns (12%).
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Penetanguishene | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very good or excellent health | 54% | 51% | 52% |
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.5 | 82.8 | 81.5 |
| Smokers | 12% | 10% | 12% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
Commuters in Penetanguishene have a short way to work, 21 min on average, less than in Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
92% of commuters drove, about level with Canadian towns (89%) and above Ontario’s towns (88%).
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Penetanguishene | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 21 min | 29 min | 26 min |
| Car or van | 92% | 88% | 89% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Census day was in May 2021, mid-pandemic, so commuting and work figures carry the lockdowns’ mark.
July afternoons in Penetanguishene reach 25.3°C (Ontario towns 26.7°C, Canadian towns 25.5°C)
Precipitation totals 1,062 mm a year, higher than both Ontario’s towns (902 mm) and Canadian towns (883 mm). January nights in Penetanguishene drop to −8.7°C on average. December is the snowiest month, with 42 cm on average. A normal October brings 111 mm of precipitation, more than any other month.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Penetanguishene | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precipitation a year | 1,062 mm | 902 mm | 883 mm |
| January night low | −8.7°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
| July afternoon high | 25.3°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 131 | 139 | 159 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Collingwood)
More of Penetanguishene’s residents have an Indigenous identity than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 22%
17% speak both English and French, above Ontario’s towns (6.7%) and Canadian towns (7.5%) alike. Visible minorities make up 2.8% of the population, below both Ontario’s towns (26%) and Canadian towns (15%).
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
49.3% of Penetanguishene’s residents are women
Here the census found 4,970 women and 5,110 men; across Canada the share of women is 50.9%.
| Penetanguishene | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 11% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 60% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 30% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 19% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 47% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
For safety, Penetanguishene gets a B
Police recorded 16.9 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year, above Ontario’s towns (10.5) and Canadian towns (12) alike. Property crime accounts for 20.6 incidents per 1,000 residents a year.
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Penetanguishene | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 16.9 | 10.5 | 12 |
| Property crime per 1,000 | 20.6 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 92 | 76 | 86 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
In Penetanguishene, November normally means 8°C afternoons and 1°C nights
Precipitation in November averages 103 mm. By December, a normal day reaches 2°C and a night falls to −5°C. A typical November adds 22 cm of snow. Over the year, July is warmest at 25°C by day and January coldest at −9°C by night.
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 0°C | −7°C | 235 mm |
| Spring | 10°C | 1°C | 244 mm |
| Summer | 24°C | 15°C | 267 mm |
| Autumn | 14°C | 6°C | 316 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Collingwood); the forecast is on the Weather page
Per resident, Penetanguishene spends more than two in three Ontario’s lower-tier municipalities
The October 2022 vote made Doug Rawson mayor of Penetanguishene, heading 7 seats.
| Turnout | Penetanguishene | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 40% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
Penetanguishene Public Library logs 1.3 visits per person served, fewer than 95% of Ontario’s town libraries
A single building, Penetanguishene Public Library, serves 10,077 people.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
A national park 2.1 km from Penetanguishene: Georgian Bay Islands National Park
A provincial park, Awenda Provincial Park, lies 1.5 km away. Protected areas cover 6.6% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%. Count 7 protected areas within 10 km of town. For a swim, Christian Beach is the nearest of 7 beaches within 5 km.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Penetanguishene | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 6.6% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
4 of the 12 schools around Penetanguishene teach in French
All four of Ontario’s systems run schools here, English and French, public and Catholic. Of the 10 with results, 6 sit in the lower two fifths in Ontario. Within 3 km of Penetanguishene are 10 elementary schools and 2 secondary schools, teaching 3,660 students.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mundy's Bay Elementary Public School Fourth fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 440 | English public |
| Georgian Bay District Secondary School Fourth fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 1,110 | English public |
| École élémentaire Saint-Joseph FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–6 | Elementary · Grades JK–6 | 240 | French public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Penetanguishene | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 5 | 4 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Penetanguishene: 1 historic place on Canada’s heritage registers
Older housing, built before 1961, accounts for 27% of homes, higher than both Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%).
Historic places by designation · inside the town
Among them
| Heritage | Penetanguishene | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1961 | 27% | 22% | 18% |
Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period
Discovery Harbour and 6 more in and around Penetanguishene
The best-known places to visit in and around Penetanguishene come first; the full list is on the Attractions page.
Everything we know about Penetanguishene
Famous people from Penetanguishene
20 notable people were born in Penetanguishene.
Photo credits
James LaBrie: Dario De Marco, Public domain · Patrick DesRochers: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0 · Bert Corbeau: Unknown author, Public domain · George McNamara: Unknown author, Public domain · William Alfred Robinson: Law Society of Upper Canada Archives from Canada, Public domain · Con Corbeau: Unknown author, Public domain
Penetanguishene’s neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penetanguishene | 11,141 | — | B− | D | B | A− |
| Midland | 19,305 | 4.9 | C | D− | C | A− |
| Tiny | 14,195 | 9.5 | B | C− | A+ | B+ |
| Tay | 11,968 | 13 | C+ | D | A | B+ |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Penetanguishene
Who are the people of Penetanguishene?
At the 2021 census, 7% were immigrants and 3% belonged to a visible minority (Canadian towns’ median: 15%). 22% identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.
Is Penetanguishene growing?
Yes: the census counted 8,962 in 2016 and 10,077 in 2021, a rise of 12.4%, against 4.1% for the median of Canadian towns. The 2025 estimate is 11,141.
Is Penetanguishene a young town or an old one?
52 is the median age, 45.2 the median among Canadian towns; 30% of residents are 65 or over and 11% under 15.
Do people in Penetanguishene speak French?
17% of residents can hold a conversation in both English and French, against 8% for the median of Canadian towns; 0.1% speak French but not English.
About Penetanguishene
Town in Ontario
TownRatings counts Penetanguishene 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
- 11,141 (people, 2025 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- Census division
- Simcoe
- Metro area
- Midland
- Census subdivision
- 3543072
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).