#1East Gwillimbury
Ontario · 42,989 peopleOverall B·#952 of 2,556
Strongest: hazard risk A, health A−·lowest: cost of living D
East Gwillimbury, #1 on this list · Photo: Sdeschenes at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)Canada · 2026
Fastest-growing towns in Canada
In second place is Georgian Bay, at +36.9%; in third, Thornbury, at +33.7%. In the middle of the list stands Conception Bay South, at +3.7%. Last on the list is Electoral Area D, Peace River, at −19.0%. The first ten places are spread over 4 provinces and territories. Leading the list is East Gwillimbury, Ontario, at +44.4%.
Population change between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, on 2021 boundaries, for places of 2,500 people or more in 2016 (a city’s neighbourhoods have no 2016 count, so they are not on this list) How grades work
#1+44.4% Growth, 2016–2021
#2Georgian Bay
Ontario · 3,798 peopleOverall –
Strongest: hazard risk A, safety A−·lowest: jobs & income D
#3Thornbury
Ontario · 11,162 peopleOverall A−·#530 of 2,556
Strongest: schools A+, safety A·lowest: cost of living D
The top 100 of 1,117
Ranked by its measure (Growth, 2016–2021), best first; each town’s overall grade and national rank sit beside it.
100 towns
#TownGrowth, 2016–2021Grade · national rankWhat drives it
1East GwillimburyOntario · 42,989 people+44.4%B#952 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, health A−·lowest: cost of living D
2Georgian BayOntario · 3,798 people+36.9%Strongest: hazard risk A, safety A−·lowest: jobs & income D
3ThornburyOntario · 11,162 people+33.7%A−#530 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, safety A·lowest: cost of living D
4PembertonBritish Columbia · 3,620 people+32.4%B#1,005 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
5LangfordBritish Columbia · 59,664 people+31.8%B−#1,318 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
6Saint-ApollinaireQuebec · 9,218 people+30.4%A−#283 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk D
7Grand ValleyOntario · 4,759 people+30.3%B−#1,356 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, walkability B·lowest: schools C−
8Electoral Area F, East KootenayBritish Columbia · 3,893 people+29.2%B−#1,338 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability B·lowest: hazard risk C−
9NivervilleManitoba · 7,277 people+29.0%A−#470 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A−·lowest: health C+
10Southern Gulf IslandsBritish Columbia · 6,691 people+28.9%A−#360 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, health A·lowest: cost of living D
11AllistonOntario · 50,739 people+28.3%B#945 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D
12ThoroldOntario · 33,844 people+26.7%B−#1,439 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A, hazard risk B+·lowest: cost of living D
13BromontQuebec · 12,413 people+25.6%A#129 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A·lowest: hazard risk C+
14CochraneAlberta · 39,397 people+24.5%A−#502 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A·lowest: cost of living C−
15West St. PaulManitoba · 10,796 people+24.5%B#931 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, hazard risk B+·lowest: walkability D
16High LevelAlberta · 4,390 people+24.2%C#1,848 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, cost of living A·lowest: hazard risk D−
17CarignanQuebec · 12,618 people+24.1%A#106 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C−
18NeepawaManitoba · 6,328 people+23.3%A+#28 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, cost of living A·lowest: health B−
19CornwallPrince Edward Island · 7,920 people+22.9%B+#652 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, hazard risk A·lowest: walkability C
20SeguinOntario · 5,761 people+22.7%D−#2,553 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, jobs & income C·lowest: schools D
21Lake CountryBritish Columbia · 17,637 people+22.4%C+#1,755 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, schools B+·lowest: hazard risk D−
22SquamishBritish Columbia · 28,578 people+22.2%A−#395 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, schools A+·lowest: cost of living D−
23Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-MassonQuebec · 3,842 people+21.9%C+#1,730 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety B·lowest: jobs & income D
24BradfordOntario · 51,346 people+21.4%B+#747 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, safety A·lowest: cost of living D
25Saint-ZotiqueQuebec · 10,445 people+21.2%A−#531 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A·lowest: walkability C
26HeadingleyManitoba · 5,368 people+21.0%C+#1,516 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability C−
27MirabelQuebec · 68,471 people+21.0%B+#691 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income B+·lowest: hazard risk D
28LucanOntario · 6,827 people+20.9%A#184 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, hazard risk A+·lowest: cost of living B−
29MiltonOntario · 157,345 people+20.7%A#228 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A·lowest: cost of living D
30CrossfieldAlberta · 4,075 people+20.7%D#2,379 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, hazard risk B+·lowest: schools D−
31AirdrieAlberta · 92,544 people+20.3%B+#818 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety A−·lowest: schools C−
32Wasaga BeachOntario · 28,736 people+20.3%D#2,329 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
33Saint-PhilippeQuebec · 8,674 people+20.2%A#196 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C−
34ContrecoeurQuebec · 10,708 people+20.2%A#217 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, health B+·lowest: hazard risk C
35CarstairsAlberta · 5,248 people+20.1%A−#540 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, schools A−·lowest: cost of living C
36BeaumontAlberta · 26,305 people+19.7%A#127 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, safety A·lowest: health B
37White CitySaskatchewan · 4,379 people+19.5%A−#305 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, cost of living A−·lowest: walkability C
38Trent LakesOntario · 7,357 people+19.3%D#2,358 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, hazard risk B·lowest: jobs & income D
39Electoral Area C, NanaimoBritish Columbia · 3,733 people+19.1%C−#2,245 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B, safety B−·lowest: cost of living D
40WhistlerBritish Columbia · 15,090 people+19.0%B+#619 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
41Lake of BaysOntario · 4,105 people+18.7%A−#486 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, safety A·lowest: cost of living D
42EmbrunOntario · 23,655 people+18.6%A−#473 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, schools A·lowest: cost of living C
43DundalkOntario · 11,599 people+18.5%C#1,985 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, walkability B·lowest: cost of living D
44CumberlandBritish Columbia · 4,974 people+18.5%B−#1,304 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D
45InnisfilOntario · 50,686 people+18.5%B#1,076 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, safety A·lowest: cost of living D
46ListowelOntario · 18,168 people+18.3%A−#522 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, schools A−·lowest: cost of living C−
47BeckwithOntario · 10,073 people+18.0%B+#787 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, schools B+·lowest: hazard risk D
48PiedmontQuebec · 3,667 people+17.8%C+#1,510 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety B·lowest: cost of living D
49Carleton PlaceOntario · 14,837 people+17.6%B−#1,215 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B+·lowest: hazard risk D
50Saint-Ferréol-les-NeigesQuebec · 4,083 people+17.5%A−#287 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety A−·lowest: walkability D
51Saint-DonatQuebec · 5,087 people+17.3%C+#1,759 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: jobs & income D
52TillsonburgOntario · 21,450 people+17.3%C−#2,055 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, safety B·lowest: cost of living D
53FernieBritish Columbia · 7,086 people+17.1%A−#381 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C
54Saint-HippolyteQuebec · 12,550 people+17.1%B+#658 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A·lowest: walkability D
55Electoral Area C, North OkanaganBritish Columbia · 5,029 people+16.6%B#897 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, schools A−·lowest: cost of living C−
56Muskoka LakesOntario · 8,463 people+16.2%B#1,031 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, safety A−·lowest: cost of living C−
57ShuniahOntario · 3,458 people+16.0%B+#647 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, safety A+·lowest: walkability D
58SookeBritish Columbia · 17,248 people+16.0%C−#2,281 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A−, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living D−
59Electoral Area A, Sunshine CoastBritish Columbia · 3,256 people+16.0%C−#2,184 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability B·lowest: cost of living D−
60Port ElginOntario · 18,167 people+16.0%B−#1,188 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: cost of living D
61Stoneham-et-TewkesburyQuebec · 10,147 people+15.8%A+#20 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, health A·lowest: walkability C−
62ChelseaQuebec · 8,998 people+15.8%A#108 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk C−
63WaterlooOntario · 142,450 people+15.7%B+#769 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D
64Bowen IslandBritish Columbia · 4,501 people+15.7%A#103 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, safety A+·lowest: cost of living D−
65AlexanderManitoba · 4,032 people+15.6%D#2,486 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B·lowest: safety D−
66Saint-Lin--LaurentidesQuebec · 26,673 people+15.6%C+#1,655 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety B, health B·lowest: jobs & income C−
67InvermereBritish Columbia · 4,305 people+15.5%B#1,007 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, walkability A+·lowest: cost of living D
68OrfordQuebec · 5,698 people+15.4%A#174 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A−·lowest: walkability D
69Saint-GillesQuebec · 3,521 people+15.2%A−#396 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk D
70Sainte-Brigitte-de-LavalQuebec · 9,084 people+15.2%A+#17 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, health A+·lowest: walkability D
71Sainte-SophieQuebec · 19,467 people+15.2%B+#592 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety A·lowest: walkability C−
72BoltonOntario · 90,201 people+15.2%B+#744 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, safety A·lowest: cost of living C−
73Val-des-MontsQuebec · 14,473 people+15.1%B+#685 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, health B·lowest: hazard risk C−
74La CrèteAlberta · 14,488 people+14.6%D−#2,535 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income B·lowest: schools D
75Highlands EastOntario · 4,372 people+14.6%D−#2,526 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: jobs & income D−
76MordenManitoba · 11,578 people+14.5%B−#1,341 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income B+, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living C
77Minden HillsOntario · 7,841 people+14.5%C#1,930 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
78SackvilleNew Brunswick · 6,572 people+14.4%C#1,943 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health B−·lowest: hazard risk C
79StrathroyOntario · 26,497 people+14.4%B+#587 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, safety A·lowest: cost of living D
80Haliburton VillageOntario · 8,100 people+14.4%C+#1,631 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, safety A−·lowest: cost of living C−
81CanmoreAlberta · 17,341 people+14.3%A#250 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
82Lac du BonnetManitoba · 3,592 people+14.2%D#2,432 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B·lowest: jobs & income D
83Montréal-EstQuebec · 5,112 people+14.1%C−#2,202 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A−·lowest: jobs & income D
84Saint-IsidoreQuebec · 3,550 people+14.1%A#134 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk D
85Mont-TremblantQuebec · 11,879 people+14.0%B−#1,193 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A−, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living C−
86FarnhamQuebec · 11,315 people+13.9%B−#1,462 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A−, walkability B+·lowest: hazard risk C
87SpringwaterOntario · 24,144 people+13.9%A−#503 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, hazard risk A+·lowest: cost of living C−
88CollingwoodOntario · 28,366 people+13.8%B#929 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D−
89Douro-DummerOntario · 8,379 people+13.8%C#1,814 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, hazard risk B−·lowest: cost of living C−
90Greater MadawaskaOntario · 3,234 people+13.7%Strongest: safety A+, hazard risk C+·lowest: jobs & income D
91LeducAlberta · 39,966 people+13.7%B#1,073 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, health B+·lowest: safety C
92WoodstockOntario · 55,572 people+13.6%C#1,958 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, health B−·lowest: cost of living D
93Vaudreuil-DorionQuebec · 46,413 people+13.5%A−#460 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, health A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
94KelownaBritish Columbia · 167,654 people+13.5%C−#2,183 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
95MillbrookOntario · 11,507 people+13.4%B−#1,387 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk B·lowest: health C
96Electoral Area L, CaribooBritish Columbia · 5,358 people+13.4%Strongest: health C, schools C−·lowest: hazard risk D−
97La SalleManitoba · 9,215 people+13.4%B+#815 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, cost of living B+·lowest: health C+
98NorwoodOntario · 5,308 people+13.4%C−#2,212 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, walkability B·lowest: cost of living D
99SuttonQuebec · 4,775 people+13.4%C+#1,672 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living C−
100Saint-Denis-de-BromptonQuebec · 5,249 people+13.3%A#149 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, health A·lowest: walkability D
Method
How this list is made
Population change between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, on 2021 boundaries, for places of 2,500 people or more in 2016 (a city’s neighbourhoods have no 2016 count, so they are not on this list). Towns of 2,500 or more in Canada are listed by it, best first; a tie goes to the town with the better overall rank. How grades work
Rankings
More lists across Canada
Best places to liveBest big townsBest small townsMost affordableSafestHealthiestJobs & incomeMost walkableLowest hazard riskCivic lifeHighest incomesFastest-growingMost historicMost bilingualYoungestOldestMildest wintersColdest wintersWarmest summersCoolest summersFewest frostsLeast snowSnowiestDriestWettest
Province by province
Best places to live, province by province
Photos: East Gwillimbury, Sdeschenes at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Georgian Bay, P199 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Thornbury, Skytrain3514 at English Wikipedia (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking Canadian towns against each other only, run #73 of 10 November 2026. 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).