Muskoka’s overall growth rate in the past five years has far exceeded that of the province, with Huntsville leading the way in terms of number of new residents.
Statistics Canada has begun releasing data from the 2021 census, and it shows that Muskoka’s growth rate is almost double that of both the province and the country.
Muskoka grew 10 per cent overall, with 6,060 new residents between 2016 and 2021. The provincial growth rate was 5.8 per cent, while nationally the population grew by 5.2 per cent.
Huntsville gained 1,331 people for a new population total of 21,147, an increase of 6.7 per cent.
Population growth in Muskoka’s other municipalities between 2016 and 2021 was:
- Bracebridge up 1,295 to 17,305 (8.1 per cent)
- Muskoka Lakes up 1,064 to 7,652 (16.2 per cent)
- Georgian Bay up 927 to 3,441 (36.9 per cent)
- Gravenhurst up 846 to 13,157 (6.9 per cent)
- Lake of Bays up 592 to 3,759 (18.7 per cent)
Muskoka’s population growth rate in the past five years is fourth highest in the province among census divisions, behind only Haliburton (13.9 per cent), Simcoe (11.2 per cent), and Lanark (10.3), although it lags far behind some individual municipalities. The fastest growing municipalities in Ontario are East Gwillimbury (44.4 per cent) and The Blue Mountains (33.7 per cent).
Muskoka’s population has grown by almost 15 per cent since 2011, when the district’s population was 58,022.
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Can we not put a cap on our “VILLAGE”? Its getting ridiculous living here now. People walk into you on the street and are too rude to even mumble “excuse me” or “sorry”. No one says “hi, how are you”, no more idle chit chat on the streets anymore and I could go on. We now have lifelong residents migrating North for the peace and quiet they grew up with. In my opinion, Huntsville growing out of its ‘seams’ does not sound like something to be proud of.
Can we afford rental for locals in Huntsville since it is impossible for our families starting out to purchase housing? ????
Can our local hospital support this increase? A follow-up commentary from our local government and hospital board would be helpful and hopefully reassuring.