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(Photo: Township of Muskoka Lakes)

Muskoka Lakes was the fastest growing small municipality in Ontario last year

According to MPAC (the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation), in 2024, Ontario’s property inventory reached a new milestone with over $42.7 billion in new assessment captured, including new construction and improvements to existing properties.

Among municipalities with a population under 15,000 both Gravenhurst and Muskoka Lakes Township rank in the top five in Ontario in terms of new assessment.

Residential homes, including condominiums, accounted for nearly $31 billion of this increase, while commercial and industrial properties contributed more than $5.7 billion.

The total assessed value of Ontario’s nearly 5.7 million properties is estimated at approximately $3.2 trillion, based on January 1, 2016 assessed values. These changes are outlined in the annual assessment rolls delivered to Ontario’s 444 municipalities.

“MPAC has achieved a significant milestone this year by capturing over $42.7 billion in new assessment across the province, surpassing last year’s record,” says Daniel DeVellis, Vice-President of Valuation & Assessment Operations. “Our work never stops to keep property assessment records updated and capture the value of ongoing construction and renovation projects throughout the year.”

In Ontario, 10 municipalities accounted for 54 per cent of the new property value. Leading the way was Toronto with $12.11 billion, followed by Ottawa at $2.88 billion. Vaughan contributed $1.62 billion, Oakville added $1.57 billion, and Mississauga rounded out the top five with $1.56 billion.

When looking at the new assessment by region:

· In Central Ontario, Barrie leads with $389 million in new assessment.

· Ottawa tops the list in Eastern Ontario with $2.88 billion.

· Within the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, Hamilton is at the forefront with $1.10 billion.

· In Northeast Ontario, Greater Sudbury leads with $181 million.

· In Northwest Ontario, Thunder Bay recorded $75 million.

· In Southwest Ontario, London achieved $526 million.

In examining the growth rates for municipalities with populations under 15,000, the top five municipalities included:

· Muskoka Lakes experienced the highest overall growth this year, totaling $208 million.

· Blue Mountains followed with $191 million.

· Adjala-Tosorontio came in third with $186 million.

· Wellington North and Gravenhurst rounded out the top five, with growth rates of $125 million and $91 million, respectively.

Property assessments for the 2025 property tax year will continue to be based on January 1, 2016 assessed values. This means property assessments remain the same as the 2024 tax year unless changes have been made to the property.

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One Comment

  1. Kathryn Henderson says:

    We are turning from a nice getaway town to a city. This is too much expensive subdivisions and no affordable housing. Where do us minimum wage earners like staff in restauraunts and stores suppose to live? There is no affordable rent or housing. Soon we will have no workers. They will have to move north where it is a little more affordable. This is not a nice town anymore. The more subdivisions and new housing puts our house taxes up instead of way down to minimal taxes. The town is raking in millions with the new housing but it doesnt flow down to us tax folks.