SevernOntario

TownGrade

B⁻

#1,377 of 2,556

Statistics Canada places it in the Simcoe census division. 15,716 residents make their home in this town in Ontario.

4 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: norgo · CC BY-SA 3.0

Population

15,716

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

49.6

years · Ontario’s towns: 46.8

Postsecondary

53%

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 Severn a good place to live?

Severn’s grades pull in different directions. Prices are high against local incomes (C). At B− overall, Severn ranks #524 of 858 in Ontario. Nationally, it does better than 49% of Canadian towns. It lags on walkability as well (C). Police record less crime here than in most towns (A−).

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.

StrongestAHazard risk A⁻Safety

How Severn grades

Each subject compares Severn 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

Hazard riskBased on earthquake losses and radon in homes; a high wildfire risk can pull it downAOpen →SafetyVery little crime by comparisonA⁻Open →WalkabilityBehind most towns comparedCOpen →Cost of livingGraded on home prices against local incomesCOpen →SchoolsSchools trail most of those comparedC⁺Open →HealthBetter than most of the towns comparedBOpen →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentC⁺Open →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Severn stand out

The 3 things Severn does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

2% walk, cycle or take transit

Compare 8% for the median of Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Hazard risk

Better than 94%

of Canadian towns on hazard risk

Its hazard risk grade: A.

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

6.9 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $650,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Severn.

Natural hazardsHazard risk A

Severn gets an A for hazard risk

Lowwildfire bandAHazard risk Grade

Shaking is about as much of a worry in Severn as in most places, at $0.019 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical). Fewer homes than usual carry radon here, 0.9% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. District Municipality of Muskoka has mapped the flood hazard here: one study on the national inventory.

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

Severn0.9%

Ontario’s towns4%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Severn	Ontario	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	0.9%	4%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.019	$0.043	$0.030

$0.019

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

Low

wildfire band

11 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood study on the national inventory

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

WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 FloodOne flood study on record Earthquakes$0.019 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon0.9% 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

SafetySafety A⁻

Violent crime weighs less where Severn is policed than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: a violent severity index of 49

42Crime Severity Index

Its police area records 16 property incidents per 1,000 residents a year. The index for the force that serves it came to 42, lower than both Ontario’s towns (56) and Canadian towns (67). Where it is policed, 7.8 violent incidents per 1,000 residents are recorded each year. For Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000, the only official count covers all of the Orillia (Severn) detachment area, Severn included.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202340

202442

202543

2023–2025	Severn	Ontario	Canada
Property crime per 1,000	16	30.5	31.2
Violent Crime Severity Index	49	76	86
Crime Severity Index	42	56	67
Violent crime	7.8	10.5	12

non-violent Crime Severity Index

46%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageSevern’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety42 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Severn’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Severn safe?”

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

HousingCost of living C

Most households in Severn own their home: 90%, more than in Ontario’s towns and across Canadian towns

$650,000median home value, 2021CCost of living Grade

13% of households spent 30% or more of their income on shelter, lower than both Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%). A year’s rent came to 17% of the median household income, below Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (20%) alike.

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

Severn$650,000

Ontario$695,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Severn	Ontario	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	13%	22%	18%
Households owning their home	90%	76%	74%
Rent as a share of income	17%	22%	20%

$980

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$1,150

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

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

Owners and renters90% own their home Cost of living6.9 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $650,000, against the median household income Renting$980 a month · The median rent at the 2021 census

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 C⁺

12 of Severn’s 15 tested schools score in the lower two fifths in Ontario

15schools within 3 kmC⁺Schools Grade

Over three years, results slipped at 8 of its 15 tested schools. No single board runs them all: there are 4. Orillia Secondary School is the biggest, at 1,275 students. The 3 km around Severn counts 12 elementary schools and 3 secondary schools, 7,565 students between them.

School	Level	Students	System
Notre Dame Catholic School CatholicLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	620	English Catholic
Orillia Secondary School Fourth fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12	Secondary · Grades 9–12	1,275	English public
ÉÉC Samuel-de-Champlain FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–6	Elementary · Grades JK–6	140	French Catholic

See all 15 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public11

English Catholic3

French Catholic1

Schools within 3 km	Severn	Ontario	Canada
Nearest elementary school	5.3 km	0.5 km	0.5 km
Nearest secondary school	5.2 km	1.2 km	1.2 km
School boards	4	4	3

7,565

students at the schools within 3 km, 2024-25

5.2 km

to the nearest secondary school

5.3 km

to the nearest elementary school

Full pageSevern’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Results1 of 15 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Ontario Every school15 schools within 3 km · 12 elementary schools and 3 secondary schools Language1 of 15 teach in French · 10% of schools in Ontario The boards4 school boards · Simcoe County DSB Questions“What schools are there in Severn?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25

HealthHealth B

54% of adults around Severn rate their health very good or excellent

54%very good or excellent healthBHealth Grade

A child born in the region can expect 81.5 years, about level with Canadian towns (81.5) and below Ontario’s towns (82.8). For Severn itself the measure is access, and it lags: 13 km to the nearest hospital, where 3.7 km is typical. Pharmacies are closer at hand, 7.2 km away on average and 0.3 of them within 3 km of a typical home. Severn shares its health survey and life expectancy numbers with the rest of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Severn54%

Ontario’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Severn	Ontario	Canada
Very good or excellent health	54%	51%	52%
Life expectancy at birth	81.5	82.8	81.5
Smokers	12%	10%	12%

81.5

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

13 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

12%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

7.2 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageSevern’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey54% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care13 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 7.2 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 83.5, men 79.5 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

Climate

Summers stay cool in Severn: July afternoons reach 24.5°C, below Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns

24.5°CJuly afternoons

Rain and melted snow add up to 1,062 mm a year, above both Ontario’s towns (902 mm) and Canadian towns (883 mm). Snow peaks in January: 42 cm in a normal year. In January, overnight lows in Severn settle at −12.6°C.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter−2.2°C

Spring9.2°C

Summer23.4°C

Autumn13.0°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Severn	Ontario	Canada
July afternoon high	24.5°C	26.7°C	25.5°C
Precipitation a year	1,062 mm	902 mm	883 mm
Snowfall a year	167 cm	146 cm	141 cm
January night low	−12.6°C	−9.1°C	−13.5°C

167 cm

of snow a year

142

days with frost a year

141

days with precipitation a year

Full pageSevern’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 24.5°C, January lows −12.6°C Rain and snow1,062 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow167 cm of snow a year Weather station23 km to the station · Lagoon City

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Lagoon City)

Outdoors

A national park 6.5 km from Severn: Georgian Bay Islands National Park

9.6%of the land within 10 km protected

Within 10 km, the count of public protected areas is 16, higher than both Ontario’s towns (4) and Canadian towns (4). A provincial park, Bass Lake Provincial Park, lies 0.6 km away. 7 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Bunny Beach. One mapped walking route passes within 2 km: the Uhthoff Trail (hiking).

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Severn9.6%

Ontario’s towns2.3%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Severn	Ontario	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	9.6%	2.3%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	16	4	4

6.5 km

to Georgian Bay Islands National Park

0.6 km

to Bass Lake Provincial Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageSevern’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas52 protected areas within 10 km · Severn River Conservation Reserve National & provincial parks6.5 km to a national park · Georgian Bay Islands National Park Footpaths & routes1 named route · Uhthoff Trail (hiking)

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

Work & commuteJobs & income C⁺

Commuters in Severn travel further than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns, 30 min on average

2%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van97%

Walk2%

Public transit0%

Census 2021	Severn	Ontario	Canada
Average trip	30 min	29 min	26 min

$94,000

median household income, 2020

19%

worked from home, May 2021

17%

of commuters work inside the municipality

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

Unemployment11% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work2% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to1,690 commuters · The biggest flow out: to Orillia

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

Who lives here

Visible minorities make up less of Severn than of Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 2.5%

49.6median age

24% of residents are 65 or over, above Ontario’s towns (19%) and Canadian towns (19%) alike. The share of residents under 15 is 14%.

SevernOntarioCanada

OntarioCanada

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

24%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree16%

Postsecondary qualification53%

Women and men · all residents

49.7% of Severn’s residents are women

7,335 men and 7,240 women lived here in 2021, against a share of women of 50.9% for Canada.

Who lives in Severn
	Severn	Ontario	Canada
Under 15	14%	15%	16%
15 to 64	62%	65%	64%
65+	24%	19%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	16%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	53%	56%	56%

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

Immigrants7% are immigrants · 3% belong to a visible minority Ages49.6 median age · 24% are 65 or over Households5,800 households · 2.5 people per household 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

Severn in November: highs near 6°C, lows near −1°C

6°Ca normal November afternoon

Expect about 103 mm of rain and snow over November. Into December, the normals move to freezing and −7°C. Snow is normal by November, about 19 cm over the month. Over the year, July is warmest at 25°C by day and January coldest at −13°C by night.

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

November6°C

December0°C

January−4°C

February−3°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	−2°C	−11°C	235 mm
Spring	9°C	0°C	244 mm
Summer	23°C	15°C	267 mm
Autumn	13°C	5°C	316 mm

−1°C

a normal November night

103 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageSevern’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 (Lagoon City); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Turnout in Severn was 31% in 2022, lower than in 66% of Ontario’s municipalities

Severn’s council of 7 was elected in October 2022, with Mike Burkett as mayor.

Turnout	Severn	Ontario	Canada
Municipal election, 2022	31%	31%	31%

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

Member of ParliamentAdam Chambers Provincial legislatureSimcoe North

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade D

At 0.4 visits per person served, Severn Township Public Library is quieter than all but a few of Ontario’s town libraries

Severn Township Public Library has one location for the 12,248 people it serves.

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

Places to belong0.6 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Severn

15pages on Severn

The big questions

SafetyA⁻Crime Severity Index 42 Housing & costCHomes 6.9 × income Property pricesSchoolsC⁺15 schools within 3 km HealthBLife expectancy 81.5 in its region Work & commuteC⁺54% of adults in work Natural hazardsAWildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors9.6% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 25°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 49.6 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Nearby attractions

Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum and 6 more in and around Severn

Sights in Severn and close by, ordered by how widely each is known.

All attractions →

MuseumMuseumColdwater Canadiana Heritage Museumin town MuseumMuseumOrillia Art Musuem2.4 km outside town, to the southeast MuseumMuseumStephen Leacock Museum3.7 km outside town, to the southeast Art galleryArt galleryOrr Farm Rd, Coldwater100 m outside town, to the west MuseumMuseumOntario Provincial Police Museum4 km outside town, to the south MuseumMuseumOrillia Museum of Art & History2.4 km outside town, to the southeast

Famous people from around Severn

One notable person was born in Severn; with them, the best known born in the towns around it.

Their page →

Edward Lyman AbbottCanadian athlete and soldier · 1891–1918

Gordon LightfootCanadian singer-songwriter · born in Orillia · 1938–2023

Franklin CarmichaelCanadian artist · born in Orillia · 1890–1945

Isabella HolmgrenCanadian cyclist · born in Oro-Medonte · born 2005

Charles Howard CurranCanadian entomologist · born in Orillia · 1894–1972

H. J. RoseBritish classical philologist · born in Orillia · 1883–1961

Photo credits

Edward Lyman Abbott: Veterans Affairs Canada archives, Public domain · Gordon Lightfoot: Arnielee, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Franklin Carmichael: M.O. Hammond (1876–1934), Public domain · Isabella Holmgren: Cs-wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0

About Severn

Town in Ontario

The boundary here is Statistics Canada’s: Severn 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: 15,716 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Ontario
Census division: Simcoe
Census subdivision: 3543015

Severn’s neighbours

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

OrilliaChippewas of Rama First NationOro-MedonteRamaraSevern

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Severn	15,716	—	B⁻	C	A⁻	B
Orillia	37,735	7.1	C⁻	D⁻	C⁻	A⁻
Chippewas of Rama First Nation	1,149	8.7	—	—	D	B⁺
Oro-Medonte	24,681	17	B	C⁻	A⁺	B⁺
Ramara	11,551	18	C⁻	D	A	B

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

Questions about Severn

Is Severn growing?

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses it went from 13,462 to 14,576 residents (up 8.3%; Canadian towns’ median: 4.1%), and Statistics Canada now estimates 15,716.

Who are the people of Severn?

3% of residents belong to a visible minority, against 15% for the median of Canadian towns; 6% have an Indigenous identity and 7% are immigrants.

What kind of homes are in Severn?

Households hold 2.5 people on average, and 22% have just one.

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).