Canada›Ontario›Toronto

IslingtonToronto

Some 23,659 people live in this neighbourhood, in Toronto. Of Toronto’s 158 neighbourhoods, this is one.

6 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Michael Gil from Calgary, AB, Canada · CC BY 2.0

Population

23,659

people, Census 2021

Median age

years · Ontario’s towns: 46.8

Postsecondary

66%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

22%

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

TownGrade

B⁺

#705 of 2,556

Is Islington a good place to live?

A well-rated place to live, with prices to match. It is easy to get around without a car (A+). The catch is cost of living (D−). All told, that adds up to a B+ overall and a rank of #228 of 858 in Ontario. Nationally, it does better than 69% of Canadian towns. Elsewhere it is close to typical: B for safety and C+ for jobs & income.

Rents here are the metro area's average, shared by every town and neighbourhood in it. Safety uses the city's Crime Severity Index, scaled by this neighbourhood's own violent and property crime rates. 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⁺Walkability ASchools A⁻HealthWeakestD⁻Cost of living

What makes Islington stand out

The 3 things Islington does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

11.3 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $1,200,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Walkability

Better than 99%

of Canadian towns on walkability

Its walkability grade: A+.

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

22% walk, cycle or take transit

The median of Canadian towns: 8%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

How Islington grades

Each subject compares Islington 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

WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesA⁺Open →Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesD⁻Open →SchoolsAmong the best of the towns comparedAOpen →HealthGraded on how healthy residents areA⁻Open →Hazard riskLess exposed to natural hazards than mostA⁻Open →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workC⁺Open →SafetyNear typical for the towns comparedBOpen →

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

Nearby attractions

High Park and 9 more in and around Islington

The best-known places to visit in and around Islington come first; the full list is on the Attractions page.

All attractions →

GardenHigh Park4.5 km outside town, to the east

GardenHumber Bay Park4.4 km outside town, to the east

GardenCentennial Park Conservatory1.8 km outside town, to the west

ZooHigh Park Zoo4.5 km outside town, to the east MuseumMuseumMontgomery's Inn100 m outside town, to the northeast MuseumMuseumLambton House2.2 km outside town, to the northeast

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · ODCAF · federal and Québec heritage registers · CPCAD

Photos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).

Photo credits (4)

High Park: Chensiyuan at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Humber Bay Park: Dillan Payne, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Centennial Park Conservatory: Torontofiredancer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
High Park Zoo: Michael from Calgary, AB, Canada, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Islington.

HousingCost of living D⁻

Measured against local pay, Islington costs more to live in than 97% of Canadian towns

Owners make up just over two thirds of households, below both Ontario’s towns (76%) and Canadian towns (74%). Shelter took 30% or more of income for just over a quarter of households, higher than both Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%).

$1,200,000median home value, 2021D⁻Cost of living Grade

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

Islington$1,200,000

Ontario$695,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Islington	Ontario	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	26%	22%	18%
Rent as a share of income	23%	22%	20%
Households owning their home	68%	76%	74%

$2,045

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

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

Cost of living11.3 times household income · The median owner’s estimate, $1,200,000, against the median household income Renting$2,045 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Owners and renters68% own their home

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. · Data for rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom covers the Toronto metro area

SchoolsSchools A

Islington’s schools come under 4 different boards

The largest is Michael Power/St Joseph High School, with 2,035 students. 31 of 55 schools with results score above the middle in Ontario. Within 3 km of Islington are 47 elementary schools and 12 secondary schools, teaching 28,335 students. Schooling in French is on offer at 2 of 59; in Ontario, 10% of schools teach in it.

59schools within 3 kmASchools Grade

School	Level	Students	System
Norseman Junior Middle School Second fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	860	English public
Michael Power/St Joseph High School CatholicLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12	Secondary · Grades 9–12	2,035	English Catholic
ÉÉC Sainte-Marguerite-d'Youville FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–8	Elementary · Grades JK–8	295	French Catholic
Bishop Allen Academy Catholic Secondary School CatholicResults in the top fifth in OntarioSecondary · Grades 9–12	Secondary · Grades 9–12	1,460	English Catholic

See all 59 schools →

Schools by system · Schools within 3 km

English public40

English Catholic17

French Catholic2

Schools within 3 km	Islington	Ontario	Canada
School boards	4	4	3

28,335

students at the schools within 3 km, 2024-25

1.3 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageIslington’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

The boards4 school boards · Toronto DSB Every school59 schools within 3 km · 47 elementary schools and 12 secondary schools Results31 of 55 in the top two fifths · of the schools with results, placed against every school in Ontario Language2 of 59 teach in French · 10% of schools in Ontario Questions“What schools are there in Islington?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25

HealthHealth A⁻

Life expectancy around Islington is 84.7 years, 3.2 more than for the typical Canadian town

Shared with the rest of the City of Toronto Health Unit: health survey and life expectancy

Closer to home, a hospital sits 3.9 km from the average resident of Islington, about the norm of 3.7 km. Smokers make up 9.2% of the region’s adults, below Ontario’s towns (10%) and Canadian towns (12%) alike. About as many adults call their health very good or excellent here as across Ontario, 50% against 51%.

50%very good or excellent healthA⁻Health Grade

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Islington50%

Ontario’s towns51%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Islington	Ontario	Canada
Life expectancy at birth	84.7	82.8	81.5
Smokers	9.2%	10%	12%
Chronic conditions (average share)	16%	17%	17%
Very good or excellent health	50%	51%	52%

84.7

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

9.2%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

0.4 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageIslington’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey50% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting care3.9 km to a hospital · A pharmacy 0.4 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 87.2, men 82.0 Conditions and habits16% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

Natural hazardsHazard risk A⁻

Flood mapping exists for Islington: 1 on record, latest by Toronto Regional Conservation Authority

Source area for earthquake risk: the city of Toronto

In Health Canada’s survey, just 2.7% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical). Shaking is about as much of a worry in Islington as in most places, at $0.043 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical).

Lowwildfire bandA⁻Hazard risk Grade

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

Islington2.7%

Ontario’s towns4%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Islington	Ontario	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	2.7%	4%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.043	$0.043	$0.030

Low

wildfire band

flood study on the national inventory

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

FloodOne flood study on record WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 Earthquakes$0.043 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon2.7% 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

Work & commuteJobs & income C⁺

Households in Islington have higher incomes than those in 90% of Canadian towns

Commutes averaged 30 min, above Ontario’s towns (29 min) and Canadian towns (26 min) alike.

22%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van74%

Public transit18%

Walk3%

Bicycle0%

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

$105,800

median household income, 2020

39%

worked from home, May 2021

72%

of commuters work inside the municipality

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

Unemployment13% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work22% walk, cycle or take transit

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

SafetySafety B

Islington gets a B for safety

The Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000 numbers here cover the Toronto service area

The violent index for its police area came to 93, above both Ontario’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86). Property crime in its police area ran at 34.4 per 1,000 residents a year, above Ontario’s towns (30.5) and Canadian towns (31.2) alike.

66Crime Severity Index

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202369

202469

202560

2023–2025	Islington	Ontario	Canada
Violent Crime Severity Index	93	76	86
Property crime per 1,000	34.4	30.5	31.2

5.2

violent incidents per 1,000 in the neighbourhood itself, a year

non-violent Crime Severity Index

31%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageIslington’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety66 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Islington’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Islington safe?”

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

Climate

Summer runs warm in Islington: July highs of 27.4°C, above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns

In January the thermometer sinks to −8.9°C overnight, about level with Ontario’s towns (−9.1°C) and above Canadian towns (−13.5°C). A normal January brings 32 cm of snow, the most of any month. Gardeners get 174 frost-free days, from 27 April to 20 October. Also worth knowing: rain and snow peak in June, at 81 mm.

27.4°CJuly afternoons

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter0.1°C

Spring12.1°C

Summer26.1°C

Autumn14.9°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Islington	Ontario	Canada
July afternoon high	27.4°C	26.7°C	25.5°C
Days with frost a year	131	139	159
January night low	−8.9°C	−9.1°C	−13.5°C
Snowfall a year	115 cm	146 cm	141 cm

115 cm

of snow a year

131

days with frost a year

174

frost-free days, 27 Apr to 20 Oct

106

days with precipitation a year

Full pageIslington’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 27.4°C, January lows −8.9°C Rain and snow807 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow115 cm of snow a year Weather station7.6 km to the station · Toronto Pearson (Airport)

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Toronto Pearson (Airport))

Who lives here

Immigrants make up 42% of Islington, a higher share than in 86% of Canadian towns

Children under 15 count for 15% of the people here. People 65 and over make up just over a fifth of the town, higher than both Ontario’s towns (19%) and Canadian towns (19%).

44median age

IslingtonOntarioCanada

OntarioCanada

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

21%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree11%

Postsecondary qualification66%

Women and men · all residents

51.7% of Islington’s residents are women

12,235 women and 11,415 men at the 2021 census; across Canada, women are 50.9%.

Who lives in Islington
	Islington	Ontario	Canada
Under 15	15%	15%	16%
15 to 64	65%	65%	64%
65+	21%	19%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	11%	15%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	66%	56%	56%

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

Ages44 median age · 21% are 65 or over Households9,275 households English and French10% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

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

Weather

In Islington, November normally means 8°C afternoons and freezing nights

November usually brings some 9 cm of snow. December follows at 2°C by day and −5°C by night. A normal November brings 72 mm of rain and snow. ECCC’s forecast for Mississauga is on the Weather page, hour by hour.

8°Ca normal November afternoon

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

November8°C

December2°C

January−1°C

February0°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	0°C	−7°C	170 mm
Spring	12°C	2°C	205 mm
Summer	26°C	15°C	223 mm
Autumn	15°C	6°C	208 mm

0°C

a normal November night

72 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageIslington’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 (Toronto Pearson (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade B⁻

Toronto Public Library - Eatonville is Islington’s public library

The library figures on this page are Toronto’s: Toronto Public Library serves all 3,110,984 people of the city, Islington among them.

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

A year at the library4.5 visits per person served The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong1.8 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Outdoors

A national park 33 km from Islington: Rouge National Urban Park

Biggest among them: Humber Marshes, 31 ha, 2.0 km off. Protected areas cover 0.2% of the land within 10 km; for the typical Canadian town it is 2.3%. 4 areas within 10 km are protected for nature. 29 km from town is Bronte Creek Provincial Park, the nearest provincial park.

0.2%of the land within 10 km protected

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Islington0.2%

Ontario’s towns2.3%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Islington	Ontario	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	0.2%	2.3%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	1	4	4

33 km

to Rouge National Urban Park

29 km

to Bronte Creek Provincial Park

beaches within 5 km

public protected area within 10 km

Full pageIslington’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas4 protected areas within 10 km · Humber Marshes National & provincial parks33 km to a national park · Rouge National Urban Park Footpaths & routes1 named route · Discovery Walk

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

History

An older town: 32% of Islington’s homes predate 1961

32%built before 1961

32%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

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

Full pageIslington’s history pageOpen the full History page

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

15pages on Islington

The big questions

SafetyBCrime Severity Index 66 Housing & costD⁻Homes 11.3 × income Property pricesSchoolsA59 schools within 3 km HealthA⁻Life expectancy 84.7 in its region Work & commuteC⁺55% of adults in work Natural hazardsA⁻Wildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors0.2% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 27°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 44 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Islington’s neighbours

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

Etobicoke City CentreEtobicoke West MallPrincess-RosethornMarkland WoodEringate-Centennial-West DeaneKingsway SouthIslington

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Islington	23,659	—	B⁺	D⁻	B	A⁻
Etobicoke City Centre	23,856	1.4	B⁻	D⁻	C⁻	A
Etobicoke West Mall	12,218	1.6	B⁺	D⁻	A⁻	A⁻
Princess-Rosethorn	11,177	2.3	A⁻	C⁺	B⁻	A⁻
Markland Wood	10,559	2.6	A⁻	D⁻	B⁺	A
Eringate-Centennial-West Deane	18,501	2.6	B⁺	D	B⁺	A⁻
Kingsway South	8,935	3.1	A	C⁺	B⁻	A

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

Questions about Islington

Is Islington a young town or an old one?

The median resident is 44 years old, against 45.2 for the median of Canadian towns. 15% are under 15 and 21% are 65 or over.

About Islington

Neighbourhood in Toronto

Islington is a neighbourhood of Toronto, built by TownRatings from Statistics Canada’s smallest census areas and named from the city’s map or OpenStreetMap.

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

Population: 23,659 (people, 2021 estimate)
Province or territory: Ontario
City: Toronto
Census subdivision: 3520005

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).