Simcoein Norfolk County, Ontario

For health, Simcoe gets a D

Measured across the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit: health survey and life expectancy

In the health survey, 48% of adults in the region rated their health very good or excellent, below Ontario’s towns (51%) and Canadian towns (52%) alike. At 21%, the share of adults who smoke tops the 11% for Ontario. The town’s own part is the trip to care, and Simcoe’s is long: 11 km to a hospital on average, against 3.7 km typical. People in the region live to 79.6 on average: 81.9 for women and 77.6 for men in 2022/2024.

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

Radon is lower than usual: 2.6% of tested homes in the survey area topped the guideline, against 6.6% for the typical town. Shaking is about as much of a worry in Simcoe as in most places, at $0.026 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical).

For safety, Simcoe gets a B+

For violence alone the index was 60, below both Ontario’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86). Violence reaches 9.2 per 1,000 residents a year. Property crime runs at 19.7 per 1,000 people a year.

Working-age people in Simcoe have jobs less often than in 67% of Canadian towns

At the census, 94% of commuters went by car. A trip to work takes 28 min on average.

Simcoe has warmer summers than Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: July afternoons reach 27.5°C

Winter lows in Simcoe average −8.9°C in January. Snow peaks in January: 44 cm in a normal year. Rain and snow peak in July, at 89 mm.

The schools around Simcoe answer to 5 boards

Counting a 3 km margin, Simcoe has 26 elementary schools and 6 secondary schools, for 11,730 students. Results have climbed at 21 of 28 schools over three years. The 28 with results split, 4 in the upper two fifths in Ontario and 15 in the lower. An elementary school stands 5.2 km from the centre, higher than both Ontario’s towns (0.5 km) and Canadian towns (0.5 km).

Rent takes less of local pay in Simcoe than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 15% of household income

Shared with the rest of the Norfolk metro area: rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom

Just over four in five households own their home. Shelter took 30% or more of income for 16% of households, below Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike.

Expect November days around 8°C in Simcoe, nights around freezing

Then December: 2°C by day, −5°C at night. A typical November adds 9 cm of snow. Expect about 83 mm of rain and snow over November. Across the year, normals run from −9°C nights in January to 28°C afternoons in July.

Each seat on Simcoe’s council stands for 8,400 residents, more than in 89% of Ontario municipalities

Simcoe sends one MP to Ottawa from Haldimand—Norfolk, its riding (a federal electoral district, which elects one MP): Leslyn Lewis (Conservative Party of Canada).

Norfolk County Public Library lends 2.1 items per person served, fewer than nine in ten Ontario’s town libraries

Norfolk County Public Library has 5 branches for the 67,490 people it serves.

Fewer of Simcoe’s people belong to a visible minority than in Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 3.4%

Immigrants make up just over one in ten residents, above Ontario’s towns (7.6%) and Canadian towns (6.4%) alike. First Nations, Métis and Inuit people make up 3.2% of residents, higher than both Ontario’s towns (1.6%) and Canadian towns (2.8%).

A provincial park at Simcoe’s edge: Long Point Provincial Park

Protected areas open to the public, within 10 km of the town: 12, above both Ontario’s towns (4) and Canadian towns (4). No national park lies within 100 km. For a swim, Long Point Beach is the nearest of 36 beaches within 5 km.

Simcoe’s record starts in 1669 with Cliff Site

Add one just outside the town. The registers list 4 historic places inside the town, every one with the highest designation. Before 1961 is when 36% of the homes went up, above both Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%).