PowassanOntario

TownGrade

C⁻

#2,022 of 2,556

Statistics Canada counts it in the North Bay metro area. Population 3,657: a town in Ontario.

3 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: P199 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Population

3,657

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

50.4

years · Ontario’s towns: 46.8

Postsecondary

54%

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 Powassan a good place to live?

The picture is mixed. Its lowest grade is for health (D). It lags on cost of living as well (C−). Crime is low (A+). Overall, that makes a C−, better than a quarter of Canadian towns. That places it #724 of 858 in Ontario.

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⁻Hazard riskWeakestDHealth C⁻Cost of living

How Powassan grades

Each subject compares Powassan 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 →HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesDOpen →Hazard riskNatural hazards pose little risk hereA⁻Open →Cost of livingBehind most towns comparedC⁻Open →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsC⁻Open →WalkabilityMost errands need a carC⁺Open →Jobs & incomeWeaker than most of the towns comparedC⁺Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Powassan stand out

The 3 things Powassan does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Safety

Better than 99%

of Canadian towns on safety

Its safety grade: A+.

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

4% walk, cycle or take transit

Against 8% in the median of Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Health

Behind 92%

of Canadian towns on health

Its health grade: D.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Powassan.

SafetySafety A⁺

The police who cover Powassan record less serious crime than Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: a Crime Severity Index of 15

15Crime Severity Index

Measured across the North Bay (Powassan) detachment area: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000

Property crime in its police area ran at 4.7 per 1,000 residents a year, lower than both Ontario’s towns (30.5) and Canadian towns (31.2). The force’s area logs 3.7 violent incidents per 1,000 residents a year.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202314

202417

202514

2023–2025	Powassan	Ontario	Canada
Property crime per 1,000	4.7	30.5	31.2
Crime Severity Index	15	56	67
Violent Crime Severity Index	22	76	86
Violent crime	3.7	10.5	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

53%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pagePowassan’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety15 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Powassan’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Powassan safe?”

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

HealthHealth D

Powassan’s grade for health: a D

47%very good or excellent healthDHealth Grade

In the health survey, 47% of adults in the region rated their health very good or excellent, below Ontario’s towns (51%) and Canadian towns (52%) alike. Smoking is commoner than in the province: 18% of adults, against 11% for Ontario. The town’s own part is the trip to care, and Powassan’s is long: 30 km to a hospital on average, against 3.7 km typical. Statistics Canada puts the region’s life expectancy at 80.0, women 82.6 and men 77.6 (2022/2024).

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Powassan47%

Ontario’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Powassan	Ontario	Canada
Smokers	18%	10%	12%
Life expectancy at birth	80.0	82.8	81.5
Very good or excellent health	47%	51%	52%
Chronic conditions (average share)	19%	17%	17%

80.0

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

30 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

18%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

16 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pagePowassan’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey47% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care30 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 16 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 82.6, men 77.6 Conditions and habits19% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities · Area behind the health survey and life expectancy figures: the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

Natural hazardsHazard risk A⁻

Powassan faces few natural hazards: little fire nearby, low seismic risk, radon over the guideline in 1.9% of tested homes

Lowwildfire bandA⁻Hazard risk Grade

For earthquakes Powassan is middling, $0.035 a year per $1,000 against $0.030 for the typical town. No flood study for Powassan is on the national inventory.

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

Powassan1.9%

Ontario’s towns4%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Powassan	Ontario	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	1.9%	4%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.035	$0.043	$0.030

Low

wildfire band

5.1 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

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

Radon1.9% of tests above the guideline WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 FloodNo flood study on record Earthquakes$0.035 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

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

HousingCost of living C⁻

Measured against local pay, Powassan costs more to live in than 79% of Canadian towns

$324,000median home value, 2021C⁻Cost of living Grade

The median home value was $324,000, lower than both Ontario’s towns ($695,000) and Canadian towns ($406,000). 85% of households are owner-occupiers.

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

Powassan$324,000

Ontario$695,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Powassan	Ontario	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	13%	22%	18%
Median home value, 2021	$324,000	$695,000	$406,000
Households owning their home	85%	76%	74%

$1,404

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$920

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

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

Cost of livingThe median owner’s estimate, $324,000, against the median household income Renting$1,404 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Owners and renters85% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · Values come from owners at the 2021 census and incomes from 2020, so they predate the later rise in rates. · Not measured by town: rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom (the North Bay metro area)

SchoolsSchools C⁻

The nearest high school to Powassan is 24 km away

2schools within 3 kmC⁻Schools Grade

Counting each board with a school within 3 km gives 2, below Ontario’s towns (4) and Canadian towns (3) alike. Its elementary schools are small, 203 students on average, against 365 in Ontario.

School	Level	Students	System
Mapleridge Public School Bottom fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	280	English public

See all 2 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public1

English Catholic1

Schools within 3 km	Powassan	Ontario	Canada
Nearest secondary school	24 km	1.2 km	1.2 km
School boards	2	4	3

405

students at the schools within 3 km, 2024-25

24 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pagePowassan’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school2 elementary schools Results0 of 2 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Ontario Language0 of 2 teach in French · 10% of schools in Ontario The boards2 school boards · Near North DSB Questions“What schools are there in Powassan?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25

Climate

Summers stay cool in Powassan: July afternoons reach 24.3°C, below Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns

24.3°CJuly afternoons

Winter lows in Powassan average −17.3°C in January. A normal winter brings 312 cm of snow, above Ontario’s towns (146 cm) and Canadian towns (141 cm) alike. Snow peaks in December: 71 cm in a normal year. For the wettest month, look to September: 114 mm on average.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−5.6°C

Spring8.8°C

Summer23.1°C

Autumn10.7°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Powassan	Ontario	Canada
Snowfall a year	312 cm	146 cm	141 cm
January night low	−17.3°C	−9.1°C	−13.5°C
July afternoon high	24.3°C	26.7°C	25.5°C
Days with frost a year	176	139	159

312 cm

of snow a year

176

days with frost a year

135

frost-free days, 15 May to 29 Sep

133

days with precipitation a year

Full pagePowassan’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 24.3°C, January lows −17.3°C Rain and snow1,020 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow312 cm of snow a year Weather station33 km to the station · North Bay

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (North Bay)

Work & commuteJobs & income C⁺

Fewer of Powassan’s 15-to-64s are in work than in 61% of Canadian towns

4%walk, cycle or take transit

Workers spend 26 min getting to work, on average.

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van93%

Walk3%

Public transit1%

Census 2021	Powassan	Ontario	Canada
Average trip	26 min	29 min	26 min

$79,500

median household income, 2020

18%

worked from home, May 2021

27%

of commuters work inside the municipality

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

Unemployment10% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work4% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to500 commuters · The biggest flow out: to North Bay

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Counted in May 2021, under pandemic rules: fewer commutes and more people between jobs than in a normal year.

Who lives here

Older residents shape Powassan: 27% are 65 or over, above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns

50.4median age

3.6% of residents came to Canada as immigrants, below Ontario’s towns (7.6%) and Canadian towns (6.4%) alike. Visible minorities make up 2.8% of the population, below Ontario’s towns (26%) and Canadian towns (15%) alike.

PowassanOntarioCanada

OntarioCanada

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

27%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree20%

Postsecondary qualification54%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 50.5% of Powassan

Here the census found 1,690 women and 1,655 men; across Canada the share of women is 50.9%.

Who lives in Powassan
	Powassan	Ontario	Canada
Under 15	16%	15%	16%
15 to 64	57%	65%	64%
65+	27%	19%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	20%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	54%	56%	56%

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

Ages50.4 median age · 27% are 65 or over Households1,320 households · 2.4 people per household Immigrants4% are immigrants · 3% belong to a visible minority English and French11% speak both · 0.2% speak French but not English

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

Weather

In Powassan, November normally means 3°C afternoons and −4°C nights

3°Ca normal November afternoon

In November, the normal is 97 mm of rain and snow. A typical November adds 38 cm of snow. Across the year, normals run from −17°C nights in January to 24°C afternoons in July. For today and the week ahead, the Weather page carries ECCC’s North Bay forecast.

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

November3°C

December−4°C

January−7°C

February−6°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−6°C	−15°C	197 mm
Spring	9°C	−2°C	221 mm
Summer	23°C	13°C	282 mm
Autumn	11°C	2°C	320 mm

−4°C

a normal November night

97 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pagePowassan’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 January

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (North Bay); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Powassan spends less per resident than 94% of Ontario’s single-tier municipalities

Northern Ontario’s provincial ridings differ from the federal ones, and no open file of them exists, so Powassan’s riding for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario isn’t shown.

Turnout	Powassan	Ontario	Canada
Municipal election, 2022	41%	31%	31%

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

Member of ParliamentPauline Rochefort council seats5

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B

Powassan’s public library is Powassan & District Union Public Library

It sits 2 km from the centre of Powassan.

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

The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong4.7 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

Powassan touches Sausage Lake Forest Conservation Reserve

1.6%of the land within 10 km protected

The nearest provincial park, Algonquin Provincial Park, is 8.8 km away. No national park lies within 100 km. Protected areas cover 1.6% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Powassan1.6%

Ontario’s towns2.3%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Powassan	Ontario	Canada
Public protected areas within 10 km	7	4	4
Protected land within 10 km	1.6%	2.3%	2.3%

8.8 km

to Algonquin Provincial Park

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pagePowassan’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas7 protected areas within 10 km · Algonquin Provincial Park National & provincial parks8.8 km to a provincial park · Algonquin Provincial Park

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

History

Before 1961: 32% of the homes in Powassan

32%built before 1961

32%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Powassan	Ontario	Canada
Homes built before 1961	32%	22%	18%

Full pagePowassan’s history pageOpen the full History page

Older homes32% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Powassan 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 Powassan

15pages on Powassan

The big questions

SafetyA⁺Crime Severity Index 15 Housing & costC⁻Homes 4 × income Property pricesSchoolsC⁻2 schools within 3 km HealthDLife expectancy 80 in its region Work & commuteC⁺52% of adults in work Natural hazardsA⁻Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors1.6% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 24°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 50.4 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from Powassan

4 notable people were born in Powassan.

See all 4 →

Gerry OdrowskiCanadian ice hockey player · born 1938

James CorkeryLong-distance runner · 1889–1964

Peter DriscollCanadian ice hockey player · born 1954

Lloyd HinchbergerCanadian ice hockey player · 1930–2015

Photo credits

Gerry Odrowski: Unknown author, Public domain

About Powassan

Town in Ontario

The boundary here is Statistics Canada’s: Powassan is one census subdivision in Ontario, and TownRatings describes all of it.

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

Population: 3,657 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Ontario
Census division: Parry Sound
Metro area: North Bay
Census subdivision: 3549060

Powassan’s neighbours

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

NipissingChisholmCallanderPowassan

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Powassan	3,657	—	C⁻	C⁻	A⁺	D
Nipissing	1,840	8.7	—	C⁻	B⁻	D
Chisholm	1,593	13	—	C⁻	B⁻	D
Callander	4,021	16	C	C⁺	B⁻	C⁻

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

Questions about Powassan

Who are the people of Powassan?

3% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 4% have an Indigenous identity and 4% are immigrants.

What kind of homes are in Powassan?

91% 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 2.4 people; 23% are one person living alone.

Is Powassan growing?

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it fell from 3,455 to 3,346 residents (3.2% down; Canadian towns’ median grew 4.1%); Statistics Canada now estimates 3,657.

Is Powassan a young town or an old one?

The typical resident is 50.4 (Canadian towns: 45.2), with seniors at 27% of the population and under-15s at 16%.

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).