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Harriston, ON
Ontario
Harriston is a small town in Ontario with a population of 1,797. Residents earn $82,573 per year, which is 10% above the national average.
Data updated June 2026
Discover Harriston, ON
Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
Use the tabs and dropdown menus below to navigate every data point we track for this city.
How Harriston Compares to the U.S. Average (100% = U.S. avg)
People
Economy
B+Housing
B+Crime
C+Climate
Education
B+Community
Is Harriston a Good Place to Live?
Based on current data, Harriston receives an overall livability score of 3.4 out of 5.0, earning a grade of B. Key strengths include abundant sunshine. Areas to be aware of include high housing costs, above-average unemployment. Harriston offers a solid quality of life with a good balance of affordability, safety, and opportunity.
Economy & Jobs
The median household income in Harriston is $82,573, roughly in line with the national average of $75,149. The unemployment rate of 5.1% is somewhat elevated compared to the national rate of 3.6%. 13.5% of residents live in poverty, near the national average of 12.4%. Workers commute an average of 27 minutes.
Cost of Living & Housing
The median home value in Harriston is $461,770, making it a premium housing market at 64% above the U.S. median of $281,900. Renters pay a median of $1,012 per month, below the national average / a plus for affordability. The price-to-income ratio of 5.6x means housing costs are stretched relative to local earnings.
Safety & Crime
Property crime occurs at a rate of 3,500 per 100,000, 79% above the national average.
Education
32.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree, below the national average of 33.7%. 87.4% have completed high school.
Climate & Weather
Harriston has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 43°F. Winters average 18°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. With 260 sunny days per year, residents enjoy well above the national average of sunshine. Annual precipitation totals 42.1 inches, including 13.2 inches of snow.
Population
Gender Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Harriston vs U.S. Average
Language Spoken at Home
Social Characteristics
Harriston vs U.S. Average
Income: Harriston vs U.S.
Commute Mode
Income
| Median HH Income | $82,573 |
| 10% above US avg | |
| Per Capita Income | $47,716 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $918 |
Employment & Poverty
| Unemployment | 5.1% |
| 42% above US avg | |
| Poverty Rate | 13.5% |
| 9% above US avg | |
| Establishments (County) | 56 |
Business (County)
Tax & Cost of Living
Commute & Transportation
| Commute Time | 26.6 min |
| Drive Alone | 83.6% |
| Public Transit | 1.0% |
| Work from Home | 23.8% |
Walkability
Home Value Sources
Ownership Split
Home Values
| Census Median | $461,770 |
| 64% above US avg |
Real Estate Market (Redfin)
Rental Costs
| Census Median Rent | $1,012 |
| 13% below US avg | |
| Rent Burden | 27.7% |
Ownership & Property
| Homeownership | 66.5% |
| Owner-Occupied | 66.5% |
| Renter-Occupied | 33.5% |
| Housing Units | 719 |
Property Tax
Crime Rates: Harriston vs U.S. Average (per 100,000)
Violent Crime
Property Crime
| Total Property | 3,500.0/100K |
| 79% above US avg | |
| Burglary | 483.9/100K |
| Theft | 2,503.4/100K |
| Vehicle Theft | 504.8/100K |
Traffic Safety
Safety Score
| Safety Grade | C+ |
| Safety Score | 2.5 / 5.0 |
Temperature
| Annual Average | 43.0°F |
| 20% below US avg | |
| January Average | 18°F (-8°C) |
| July Average | 67°F (19°C) |
| Sunny Days | 260 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,260 ft (384 m) |
| Area | 258.2 sq mi (668.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 7/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 43.9120°N, 80.8720°W |
| Timezone | America/Toronto |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 2.7 m (9 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1855 | OWEN SOUND, LAKE HURON | Unknown | 2.7 m | - | 121 km |
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18°F (-8°C) | 3.8 in | Coldest |
| February | 18°F (-8°C) | 2.9 in | |
| March | 27°F (-3°C) | 2.7 in | Driest |
| April | 40°F (5°C) | 3.0 in | |
| May | 53°F (12°C) | 3.5 in | |
| June | 62°F (16°C) | 3.2 in | |
| July | 67°F (19°C) | 3.5 in | Warmest |
| August | 65°F (18°C) | 3.9 in | |
| September | 58°F (15°C) | 4.2 in | Wettest |
| October | 47°F (9°C) | 3.6 in | |
| November | 36°F (2°C) | 4.1 in | |
| December | 25°F (-4°C) | 3.8 in |
Harriston has a seasonal temperature swing of 48°F / from 18°F in January to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 42.1 inches, with September being the wettest month (4.2") and March the driest (2.7").
Education
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 32.9% |
| 2% below US avg | |
| High School+ | 87.4% |
| Graduate Degree+ | 17.0% |
Area & Infrastructure
| Population Density | 7/sq mi |
| Total Area | 258.2 sq mi |
Services
Commute & Transportation
| Avg Commute | 26.6 min |
| Drive Alone | 83.6% |
| Public Transit | 1.0% |
| Work from Home | 23.8% |
Schools in Harriston
3 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).
| School | Level | Enrollment | Teachers | Student/Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minto-Clifford Central Public School | - | - | - | - |
| Palmerston Public School | - | - | - | - |
| Norwell District Secondary School | - | - | - | - |
Radio Stations near Harriston
17 stations within ~55 km.
| Station | Genre | Quality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 570 News Kitchener | local news | AAC+ 47 kbps | |
| Blown | 60's, 70's | MP3 192 kbps | |
| Crucial Velocity Radio | classic metal, hard rock | MP3 192 kbps | |
| CBC Radio One - Kitchener-Waterloo, ON (MP3 stream) | features, news | MP3 128 kbps | |
| CKNX-AM 920 Wingham, ON | commercial, country | AAC+ 48 kbps | |
| Radio Laurier | alternative, college radio | MP3 128 kbps | |
| CIWN 88.7 "The River" Mount Forest, ON | community radio | MP3 | |
| CKGL "City News 570" Kitchener, ON | news talk | AAC+ 47 kbps | |
| CKNX-FM 101.7 "The One" Wingham, ON | commercial, hot adult contemporary | AAC+ 48 kbps | |
| CIBU-FM "Cool 94.5" Wingham, ON (AAC Stream) | classic hits, new format rebranding | AAC+ 48 kbps | |
| CIBU-FM "Cool 94.5" Wingham, ON (MP3 Stream) | classic hits, new format rebranding | MP3 96 kbps | |
| CICW-FM 101.1 "The Grand 101" Centre Wellington, ON | community radio, hot adult contemporary | MP3 160 kbps | |
| CKMS-FM Radio Waterloo DI | community alternative | MP3 128 kbps | |
| CKMS-FM Radio Waterloo S2 | community radio | MP3 128 kbps | |
| CIKZ "Country 106.7" Kitchener, ON | country | AAC+ 47 kbps | |
| 98.5 CKWR Real Community Radio | community, local radio | MP3 320 kbps | |
| CKWR 98.5 "Real Community Radio" Kitchener, ON | community radio, multingual | MP3 320 kbps |
Libraries in Harriston
| Name | Address | Staff | Annual Visits | Circulation | Collection | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce County Public Library - Mildmay Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| Hanover Public Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Huron County Library - Howick Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| North Perth Public Library - Atwood Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| North Perth Public Library - Listowel Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| Wellington County Library - Clifford Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| Wellington County Library - Drayton Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| Wellington County Library - Harriston Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| Wellington County Library - Mount Forest Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| Wellington County Library - Palmerston Branch | 0.0 | |||||
| West Grey Public Library - Neustadt | 0.0 | |||||
| West Grey Public Library - Normanby/Ayton | 0.0 |
Cafes in Harriston
2 cafes within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Monuments in Harriston
1 monuments within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Clinics in Harriston
3 clinics within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Veterinaries in Harriston
2 veterinaries within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Gas Stations in Harriston
17 gas stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Banks in Harriston
2 banks within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Gyms in Harriston
1 gyms within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Ski Resorts Near Harriston
8 ski resorts within range.
| Resort | Slopes (km) | Lifts | Peak (m) | Price | Season | Night | Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devil's Glen Country Club | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Beaver Valley Ski Club | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Highlands Nordic | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Osler Bluff Ski Club | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Blue Mountain Ski Resort | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Craigleith Ski Club | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Alpine Ski Club | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Georgian Peaks Club | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
Airports Near Harriston
50 airports within the area.
| Airport | IATA | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Centralia / James T. Field Memorial Aerodrome | YCE | Medium Airport |
| Kincardine Municipal Airport | YKD | Medium Airport |
| Owen Sound / Billy Bishop Regional Airport | YOS | Medium Airport |
| Region of Waterloo International Airport | YKF | Medium Airport |
| Arthur (Metz Field) | - | Small Airport |
| Arthur (Peskett Field) | - | Small Airport |
| Arthur South Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Atwood / Coghlin Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Bellamy Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Belwood (Baird Field) | - | Small Airport |
| Belwood (Ellen Field) | - | Small Airport |
| Belwood (Wright Field) Aerodrome | - | Small Airport |
| Blacks Lake Airfield | - | Small Airport |
| Briggs Field | - | Small Airport |
| Brussels (Armstrong Field) Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Brussels / Hemingway Field | - | Small Airport |
| Cambridge / Reid's Field | - | Small Airport |
| Centralia (Essery Field) Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Cherry Hill Field | - | Small Airport |
| Collingwood Regional Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Conestogo / Largo Woods Field | - | Small Airport |
| Conn Field | - | Small Airport |
| Creemore Aerodrome | - | Small Airport |
| Damascus Field | - | Small Airport |
| Dundalk (Tripp Field) Aerodrome | - | Small Airport |
| Dungannon Aerodrome | - | Small Airport |
| East Linton (Kerr Field) | - | Small Airport |
| Elmira (East) Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Elmira Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Elora Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Erin Northwest Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Ethel Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Farrow's Field | - | Small Airport |
| Fergus (Royland Field) | - | Small Airport |
| Flesherton (Smithorrs Field) | - | Small Airport |
| Fordwich Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Glendale Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Grand Valley (Black Field) | - | Small Airport |
| Grand Valley / Luther Field | - | Small Airport |
| Grand Valley North Airfield | - | Small Airport |
| Grand Valley/Martin Field | - | Small Airport |
| Guelph Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Hanover / Saugeen Municipal Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Harkes Field | - | Small Airport |
| Heid Field | - | Small Airport |
| Holyoake Airfield | - | Small Airport |
| Innerkip Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Juergensen Field | - | Small Airport |
| Laurel / Whittington Aerodrome | - | Small Airport |
| Listowel Airport | - | Small Airport |
Post Offices in Harriston
4 post offices.
| Post Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Canada Post | |
| Canada Post | |
| Canada Post | |
| The Old Post |
Churches & Religious Organizations in Harriston
11 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Crossroads Life Church | |
| Harriston Seventh-Day Adventist Church | |
| Harriston United Church | |
| James Street United Church | |
| Knox Presbyterian Church | |
| Knox-Calvin Presbysterian Church | |
| Palmerston Christian Reformed Church | |
| Palmerston Evangelical Missionary Church | |
| Saint Mary's Catholic Church | |
| Saint Paul's Anglican Church | |
| Saint Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church |
Explore Near Harriston
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Get ReportFrequently Asked Questions About Harriston
What is the population of Harriston?
Harriston has a population of 1,797 residents and is located in Ontario. The population density is 7 people per square mile, spread across 258.2 square miles. The median age of residents is 41.8 years, which is older than the national median of 38.9 years. The population is 50.3% female and 49.7% male.
Is Harriston expensive to live in?
The median household income is $82,573, 10% above the national average of $75,149. The median home value is $461,770 (64% above the U.S. median). Renters pay a median of $1,012 per month, below the national average of $1,163. The home price-to-income ratio is 5.6x, which means housing is a stretch relative to local earnings.
Is Harriston safe?
Property crime occurs at a rate of 3,500 per 100,000 (above the national average). Overall, Harriston receives a safety grade of C+ based on combined crime data.
What is the weather like in Harriston?
Harriston has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 43°F (6°C). Winter temperatures average 18°F in January, while summers reach an average of 67°F in July. The area receives 260 sunny days per year, well above the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 42.1 inches, with 13.2 inches of snow.
How is the job market in Harriston?
The unemployment rate in Harriston is 5.1%, somewhat above the national average of 3.6%. Job seekers may face moderate competition. The average weekly wage is $918. There are 56 business establishments in the area. The average commute time is 27 minutes, and 23.8% of workers work from home.
How much does housing cost in Harriston?
The median home value in Harriston is $461,770. For renters, the median monthly rent is $1,012. The homeownership rate is 66.5%.
How are the schools in Harriston?
32.9% of adults in Harriston hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 33.7%. 87.4% have completed high school. 17.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.
What is transportation like in Harriston?
The average commute in Harriston is 27 minutes. 83.6% of workers drive alone to work, and 23.8% work from home.
What are the demographics of Harriston?
The racial and ethnic makeup of Harriston is 94.3% White, 1% Black or African American, 3.1% Asian. 82% of residents speak only English at home, while 6.1% speak Spanish.