Morningside HeightsToronto
The neighbourhood has 24,972 residents and lies in Toronto. Toronto is split into 158 neighbourhoods, and this is one.
Is Morningside Heights a good place to live?
Some subjects shine; others lag. Its strongest subject is health (A). Add walkability to its strengths (A). The catch is cost of living (D). Overall, that makes a B, good for #354 of 858 in Ontario. On that grade it does better than just over three fifths of Canadian towns.
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.
How Morningside Heights grades
Each subject compares Morningside Heights 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 →
What makes Morningside Heights stand out
The 3 things Morningside Heights does most differently from other towns.
The data
Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Morningside Heights.
Measured against local pay, Morningside Heights costs more to live in than 88% of Canadian towns
Shelter took 30% or more of income for 27% of households, above Ontario’s towns (22%) and Canadian towns (18%) alike. Home ownership covers 84% of households.
What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census
| Census 2021 | Morningside Heights | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households spending 30%+ on shelter | 27% | 22% | 18% |
| Households owning their home | 84% | 76% | 74% |
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. · Rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom: one figure for all of the Toronto metro area
Morningside Heights scores better for health than 87% of Canadian towns
Health survey and life expectancy for the City of Toronto Health Unit
By their own account, 50% of adults here are in very good or excellent health, near Ontario’s towns (51%) and lower than Canadian towns (52%). Life expectancy in the region is 84.7 years (87.2 for women, 82.0 for men, 2022/2024). Smoking is rarer than in the province: nearly one in ten adults, against 11% for Ontario. Measured from where Morningside Heights’ residents live, the nearest hospital is 2.3 km away, under the typical 3.7 km.
Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised
| Health | Morningside Heights | 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% |
Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities
A flood study covers Morningside Heights: 1 on the national inventory, the newest from Toronto Regional Conservation Authority
Shared with the rest of the city of Toronto: earthquake risk
No wildfire is mapped within 25 km of Morningside Heights’ homes since 1986 (0% of the land, 0.001% a year). In Health Canada’s survey, just 2.7% of homes tested in the area exceeded 200 Bq/m³ (6.6% typical).
Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³
| Hazards | Morningside Heights | 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 |
NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory
English or French, public or Catholic: Morningside Heights’s schools come under 8 boards
The 3 km around Morningside Heights counts 73 elementary schools and 10 secondary schools, 36,180 students between them. Dunbarton High School is the biggest, at 1,630 students. Results are mixed: 35 of 79 schools above the middle in Ontario, 20 below it. Schooling in French is on offer at 2 of 83; in Ontario, one in ten schools teach in it.
| School | Level | Students | System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highbush Public School Middle fifth in OntarioLargest elementary schoolElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 810 | English public |
| Dunbarton High School Second fifth in OntarioLargest secondary schoolSecondary · Grades 9–12 | Secondary · Grades 9–12 | 1,630 | English public |
| ÉÉC Saint-Jean-de-Lalande FrenchTeaches in FrenchElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 135 | French Catholic |
| Agnes Macphail Public School Top fifth in OntarioResults in the top fifth in OntarioElementary · Grades JK–8 | Elementary · Grades JK–8 | 250 | English public |
Schools by system · Schools within 3 km
| Schools within 3 km | Morningside Heights | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| School boards | 8 | 4 | 3 |
Provincial school lists and results, 2024-25
Trips to work from Morningside Heights take longer than from Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 36 min on average
How working residents got to work · census 2021
| Census 2021 | Morningside Heights | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip | 36 min | 29 min | 26 min |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · Census day was in May 2021, mid-pandemic, so commuting and work figures carry the lockdowns’ mark.
Summer runs warm in Morningside Heights: July highs of 27.3°C, above Ontario’s towns and Canadian towns
The frost-free season runs from 3 May to 13 October, 161 days. Most of the snow comes in January, about 40 cm. Winter lows average −10.1°C in January, below Ontario’s towns (−9.1°C) but above Canadian towns (−13.5°C). For the wettest month, look to June: 87 mm on average.
Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Normals, 1991–2020 | Morningside Heights | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| July afternoon high | 27.3°C | 26.7°C | 25.5°C |
| January night low | −10.1°C | −9.1°C | −13.5°C |
| Days with frost a year | 145 | 139 | 159 |
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Toronto Buttonville (Airport))
Morningside Heights earns a B for safety
Measured across the Toronto service area: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000
The violent index for its police area came to 93, above Ontario’s towns (76) and Canadian towns (86) alike. Property crime in its police area ran at 34.4 per 1,000 residents a year, higher than both Ontario’s towns (30.5) and Canadian towns (31.2).
Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year
| 2023–2025 | Morningside Heights | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 93 | 76 | 86 |
| Property crime per 1,000 | 34.4 | 30.5 | 31.2 |
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average
More of Morningside Heights belongs to a visible minority than Ontario’s towns or Canadian towns: 96%
15% of residents are 65 or over, below both Ontario’s towns (19%) and Canadian towns (19%). One measure of family life: 16% of residents are under 15.
Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021
Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over
Women and men · all residents
51.3% of Morningside Heights’ residents are women
12,815 women and 12,180 men at the 2021 census; across Canada, women are 50.9%.
| Morningside Heights | Ontario | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 16% | 15% | 16% |
| 15 to 64 | 69% | 65% | 64% |
| 65+ | 15% | 19% | 19% |
| No certificate, diploma or degree | 20% | 15% | 16% |
| Postsecondary qualification | 49% | 56% | 56% |
Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Ontario and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+
What November brings in Morningside Heights: −1°C at night, 7°C by day
November normally sees 77 mm of precipitation. Next comes December, with normal highs of 2°C and lows of −6°C. Expect around 12 cm of snow in November. The year peaks in July (27°C) and bottoms out in January (−10°C).
Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020
| Season | High | Low | Rain and snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 0°C | −9°C | 177 mm |
| Spring | 12°C | 1°C | 211 mm |
| Summer | 26°C | 14°C | 244 mm |
| Autumn | 15°C | 5°C | 230 mm |
ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Toronto Buttonville (Airport)); the forecast is on the Weather page
Council seats in Toronto are spread thin, 125,840 residents each, more than in 99% of Ontario municipalities
In the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Morningside Heights is shared by 2 ridings (Scarborough—Rouge Park and Scarborough North).
| Turnout | Morningside Heights | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal election, 2022 | 30% | 31% | 31% |
Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada
No public library stands in Morningside Heights: the closest, Toronto Public Library - Malvern, is 1.6 km away
The library figures on this page are Toronto’s: Toronto public library serves all 3,110,984 people of the city, Morningside Heights among them.
Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada
Morningside Heights borders Rouge National Urban Park
Within 10 km, 5.7% of the land is protected, above both Ontario’s towns (2.3%) and Canadian towns (2.3%). 22 km from town is Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park, the nearest provincial park. 16 protected areas lie within 10 km. Swimmers have 6 beaches within 5 km, Frenchman's Bay West beach the nearest.
Protected land · of the land within 10 km
| Outdoors | Morningside Heights | Ontario | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected land within 10 km | 5.7% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Public protected areas within 10 km | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches
Everything we know about Morningside Heights
Toronto Zoo and 11 more in and around Morningside Heights
The best-known places to visit in and around Morningside Heights come first; the full list is on the Attractions page.
ZooToronto Zooin town
Theme parkSplash Islandin town
National park · Parks CanadaRouge National Urban Park4.5 km outside town, to the north
GardenMilliken Park1.7 km outside town, to the west
Art galleryDoris McCarthy Gallery1.6 km outside town, to the southeastAttractionAttractionCamel Ridein townPhotos: each place’s Wikidata image, from Wikimedia Commons under the licence below (our copy, resized).
Photo credits (5)
- Toronto Zoo: Maelwys at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Splash Island: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rouge National Urban Park: Paul Gierszewski ( Gierszep ), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Milliken Park: Jason Zhang, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Doris McCarthy Gallery: Silver Dovelet, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
About Morningside Heights
Neighbourhood in Toronto
No official boundary marks Morningside Heights off from the rest of Toronto: TownRatings draws it from the census’s dissemination areas and takes its name from the city’s map or OpenStreetMap.
Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.
- Population
- 24,972 (people, 2021 estimate)
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- City
- Toronto
- Census subdivision
- 3520005
Morningside Heights’ neighbours
The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada
| Town | People | km | Overall | Cost | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morningside Heights | 24,972 | — | B | D | B | A |
| Malvern East | 26,113 | 1.9 | B− | D− | A− | A |
| Malvern West | 17,354 | 2.6 | B | D− | B+ | A |
| Highland Creek | 12,678 | 4.2 | B | D | B+ | A |
| Morningside | 17,708 | 4.4 | B− | D− | B+ | A |
| Box Grove | 25,496 | 4.6 | A− | D | B+ | A |
| Vinegar Hill | 19,543 | 5 | A− | D | B+ | A |
People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.
Questions about Morningside Heights
Is Morningside Heights a young town or an old one?
Its median age is 38.6, where Canadian towns sit at 45.2.
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).