Ontario is home to many charming small towns, each with its own unique character and appeal. Here are some of the best small towns in Ontario to live in for seniors and great options for retirees. Ultimately, the best town will depend on each individual’s lifestyle preferences and needs, but let’s take a look at what each has to offer.
Highlights
- Towns like Stratford and Niagara-on-the-Lake offer vibrant cultures and affordable living with senior-specific financial benefits.
- Elora and Collingwood provide stunning natural scenery and activities like hiking and skiing, ideal for active seniors.
- These towns ensure strong community ties, easy access to healthcare, and numerous recreational and cultural amenities for retirees.
Stratford, Ontario
Stratford is known for its world-class theatre festival, beautiful parks, gardens and historic downtown, such as Queen’s Park and the Stratford Arboretum. Active seniors can enjoy the community with a wide range of activities and social events throughout the year — such as the Tom Patterson Island, a peaceful park and nature reserve on an island in the Avon River. In comparison to many larger urban centers, Stratford is an excellent choice for seniors who is looking for affordable cost of living. Overall, this Southern Ontario town has plenty to offer and is affordable, including property tax relief programs for low-income seniors and subsidized public transit. According to Zolo in March 2023,
- House Median Asking Price was $760K
- Townhouse Median Asking Price $627K
- Condo Median Asking Price $450K
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Niagara-on-the-Lake is famous for its wineries, quaint boutiques, and picturesque streets. It’s mostly mild climate and beautiful natural scenery in Southern Ontario, is a draw for most tourist and locals. It’s town is located just an hour and 30 minutes away from Toronto, and also has quick access to high-quality health care services in Niagara region. There is a continuous vibrant arts and cultural scene that can run year round including music and wine festivals. Low income seniors can access tax rebate programs such as the Water and Property Tax Rebate Tax. Seniors can also enjoy discount programs for many local attractions and services. Niagara-on-the-Lake is the best place to live in Ontario if you’re looking for a large checklist of recreational activities. According to Zolo in March 2023,
- House Median Asking Price was $1.6M
- Townhouse Median Asking Price $940K
- Condo Median Asking Price $1.0M
Elora, Ontario
Elora is known for its stunning natural scenery, charming downtown, and historic architecture. There is plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities for seniors. The historic architecture in downtown makes Elora a blast from the past. It’s community, lifestyle and culture is laid-back and friendly, much like the golden days when neighbours talked to neighbours. This small town has an affordable housing market and options for seniors as well as subsidized public transit for seniors. Another bonus is the reduced fees for seniors’ recreational programs and services offered from the Town. According to Zolo in March 2023,
- House Median Asking Price was $1.1M
- Townhouse Median Asking Price $800K
- Condo Median Asking Price $740K
Collingwood, Ontario
Collingwood is located on the shores of Georgian Bay, it offers year-round outdoor activities, a thriving arts scene, and a picturesque city center. If you live in Ontario, you’ve probably ventured out to Collingwood before, as its four-season outdoor recreational opportunities can include skiing, hiking, and golfing as Blue Mountain is closeby. It’s thriving arts and cultural scenes keep seniors busy and involved. It’s affordable cost of living and access to healthcare services makes this a great choice. Only 1 hour away from Toronto, it’s a smaller town with some bigger amenities located near by. But it’s not just for seniors, many young professionals have also moved to Collingwood for these same reasons, making Collingwood one of Ontario’s fastest growing towns, with it’s population increasing by 13.8 per cent to 24,811, between 2016 and 2021. According to Zolo in March 2023,
- House Median Asking Price was $1.1M
- Townhouse Median Asking Price $730K
- Condo Median Asking Price $570K
Picton, Ontario
Picton located in Prince Edward County, it offers beautiful beaches, wineries, and a laid-back lifestyle. If you live in Ontario, this maybe somewhere you’ve stopped by already on your way to the capital city. It has beautiful beaches and natural scenery all over Picton. It’s has award-winning wineries and farm-to-table restaurants which are perfect for any foodies out there. Picton also has a thriving arts and cultural scene, including galleries and music festivals. It has an affordable cost of living while also acess to affordable healthcare services. According to Zolo in March 2023,
- House Median Asking Price was $787K
- Townhouse Median Asking Price $669K
- Condo Median Asking Price $731K
Almonte, Ontario
Almonte is located in Lanark County, it offers a thriving arts scene, charming downtown area, and easy access to outdoor activities. Charming and friendly community perfect for active seniors looking for a large range of activities and social cultural events in small town living but close to a larger city Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. It is situated along the the Mississippi River which makes access to outdoor recreational opportunities, such as kayaking, a breeze. It has an affordable housing market and property tax relief programs for low-income seniors. According to Zolo in March 2023,
- House Median Asking Price was $818K
- Townhouse Median Asking Price $999K
- Condo Median Asking Price $639K
Perth, Ontario
Perth is known for its historic architecture, beautiful parks, and friendly community. This laid-back lifestyle is great for families and seniors. It’s strong sense of community and friendly neighbourhoods is an attraction for many. It has a rich theatre scene and vibrant art festivals. There is a lot of resources for seniors, including relief programs for low-income seniors but also recreational programs. Perth maintains it’s old-world charm with well-maintained historical buildings, and also invites the new with exciting culture and family oriented events. According to OJHomes in March 2023,
- House Median Asking Price was $603K
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is located on the shores of Lake Ontario, it offers a rich history, beautiful parks, and a thriving arts and culture scene. It’s a unique mix of urban flair and rural charm. Seniors can spend mornings picking up fresh veggies at the Farmers’ Markets then head down to the beach during the summer evenings. Port Hope has an active seniors community with all the amenties expected with a range of activities and social cultural events year round.
According to Zolo in March 2023,
- House Median Asking Price was $875K
- Townhouse Median Asking Price $600K
- Condo Median Asking Price $574K
Paris, Ontario
Paris is known for its charming downtown, beautiful natural scenery, and friendly community. This charming downtown area and historic architecture offers seniors a wonderful place to retire. Grand River runs though this quaint town providing a natural beauty backdrop for the laid-back lifestyle it projects. Known as the Cobblestone Capital of Canada, Paris has an old-world feeling with cobblestones and garden walls throughout its town. Seniors can enjoy their tax relief programs and subsidized public transit while being only an hour and a half away from downtown Toronto.
According to Zolo in March 2023, it states that according to current Paris MLS© statistics, the average home listing price in Paris, ON is $1,133,000 with an average detached house has a listing price of $1,175,000 and an average townhouse price of $943,000.
Goderich, Ontario
Goderich is located on the shores of Lake Huron in Southern Ontario and it offers beautiful beaches, historic architecture, and a vibrant arts and culture scene. It is one of the best places to live in Ontario, with its waterfront parks, festivals and galleries. Located in Southwestern Ontario, it’s beaches are a draw for people all over Ontario. It is one of “prettiest towns in Ontario” as described by by Queen Elizabeth II. It is the site of the Huron Historic Gaol, now a National Historic Site. It’s taxes are low and offers affordable housing prices for seniors and families. According to Zolo in March 2023,
- House Median Asking Price was $600K
- Townhouse Median Asking Price $674K
Summary
Many of these towns are great places for retirees to live. Stratford, for example, offers a relaxed pace of life and a variety of cultural and recreational activities that appeal to retirees. Niagara-on-the-Lake is also a popular retirement destination due to its mild climate, stunning natural scenery, and easy access to healthcare services. Elora, Collingwood, and Picton are also great options for retirees looking to enjoy a more laid-back lifestyle, while still having access to cultural amenities and outdoor activities. Perth, Port Hope, Paris, and Goderich also offer a friendly community, affordable cost of living, and access to healthcare services. Ultimately, the best small town in Ontario for retirees will depend on their individual preferences and needs, but these towns are certainly worth considering.
