Goodbye big city, hello fresh air!
Simply put, Gravenhurst is a great place to live, work and raise a family. People are moving to Gravenhurst from all over, for one simple thing - the Muskoka Lifestyle.
Are you juggling a fast-paced career and high cost of living? Maybe you have kids and/or pets and a long commute that doesn't leave much time to relax and enjoy the things that matter to you most. It's time to bring some balance to your life. By living and working in Gravenhurst you can dramatically decrease your daily commute to 5-15 minutes, even in the winter! These are just some of the many benefits to moving here.
See what a day in the life looks like for a few Gravenhurst residents who decided to make our town their permanent home and learn about just some of the many entrepreneurial success stories!
Gravenhurst is a safe community in a beautiful environment that offers a strong sense of belonging to its residents. Gravenhurst affords people space to breathe and room to grow. With a lower cost of living and a variety of housing options, you can choose what fits your dream and not just what fits your budget.
There are a variety of affordable housing options available; how about a quaint bungalow with a large yard, or a spacious urban condo near the Wharf, or maybe a rural home where you can also run a business while the kids play outside. Or perhaps one of the prestigious clubs for the young professional or the newly retired is more your style, it's really up to you!
View our Community Profile and Find out below why people are choosing Gravenhurst!
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Gravenhurst’s population has grown steadily year after year and currently sits at 12,936. In addition to a year-round population, there is a sizeable seasonal base that doubles population in the summer, for a total of 25,183. This influx of seasonal residents creates a buzz of activity in the summer and there is never a shortages of things to see and do.
Lifestyle - Gravenhurst and the surrounding Muskoka area offers wonderful outdoor recreation, arts and cultural activities, as well as access to lakes, forests, beaches and hills and is like being on a Muskoka vacation all year round. We are a warm and friendly community and proudly embrace and support our thriving artistic community. Take in a show or concert at the Historic Opera House, visit galleries and take part in workshops/classes or enjoy the many festivals and events, all year round. In between recreation and cultural activities, indulge your taste buds with a fresh, locally prepared dish or try something sweet at the our many bakeries and cafes Downtown Gravenhurst or on the Muskoka Wharf! Check out Community Directory to find local products and services and the Community Calendar to find out what's happening. Telecommuting - Does your job allow you to telecommute? Can you work from just about anywhere? Join our ever growing group of telecommuters in Gravenhurst. With the ever-expanding fibre network in Gravenhurst, telecommuting is a great option. The Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) network has speeds of up to a Gigabit (1,000 MB) per second speed, one of the fastest internet speeds available all throughout our Urban Centre. You no longer need the hustle and bustle of the city to stay connected!
Gravenhurst is home to 3 public elementary schools, a high school, and the Adult Education Training Centre. Our close proximity to post-secondary institutions means students can stay at home longer and reduce educational costs. The Trillium Lakeland District School board provides education and learning in Gravenhurst and the broader region, including French Language opportunities. Our kids have great teachers and resources. The Gravenhurst High school recently added a full culinary kitchen and works closely with local construction, technology and skilled trades. |
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Lifestyle and Community |
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Why work and live anywhere else? Gravenhurst offers you the opportunity to have it all. Innovative entrepreneurs are settling in Gravenhurst because they value work-life balance and can do the same business as in a big city right from their lakefront cottage. 4 Season Recreation
Arts and CultureGravenhurst honours the historic vision of the past but continues to grow into the future. The community is vibrant in arts, culture and heritage while incorporating modern lifestyle and conveniences - there is something for everyone.
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Housing Gravenhurst residents have a lower cost of living. Average Rental Rate for a 2bd apt is approximately $980/Month and the Average home purchase price is $340,000.
Source: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation - Housing Portal (Oct 2020)
Source: Canadian Real Estate Magazine, CREA website, Toronto Real Estate Board & Barrie Real Estate Board (Dec 2021) *Non-waterfront Contact one of the knowledgeable Local Realtors or to see if they can find a home that’s right for you. Want something custom? Find one of the talented Muskoka Builders to learn more about having a house built just for you.
Property Taxes Gravenhurst offers affordable tax rates both for residential and commercial properties. Lower taxes for multi-residential properties support and encourage private investment in rental housing developments, while lower assessments provide further savings.
Utility Costs Gravenhurst offers residential competitive electrical rates. If you want to take a closer look, the Ontario Energy Board's website allows you to calculate potential electricity and natural gas rates for your home or office. Detailed pricing for property taxes, energy, waste management, water and sewer, as well as building and development fees are available in the Gravenhurst Community Profile.
Fuel Costs In addition to saving time, you can save money at the pump by cutting down your commute time and working where you live. Toronto and Barrie residents spend an average of 66 and 59 minutes, respectively, in traffic every day. By contrast, people who live in areas like Gravenhurst have an average commute time between 5-15 minutes, that's a difference of 9 to 11 days of extra time per year that you could be spending with your family, working on a hobby or enjoying the sunshine from your boat! By moving to Gravenhurst, first time buyers can stop paying rent and finally get into the property market. Current owners can upgrade for the same price, or choose to cut expenses and live a simpler lifestyle. |
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Gravenhurst is Great at Doing Business |
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Gravenhurst is a vibrant yet cost-effective location for your business. Need to go to the city to connect face-to-face? You’ll only need one hour to drive from Gravenhurst to Barrie, or about one and a half hours to get to Toronto or can also quickly get to the City by plane from the Muskoka Airport, only 10 km outside of downtown Gravenhurst. Gravenhurst businesses pay lower commercial property taxes. The cost of purchasing land or buildings is significantly lower than what you would have to pay in Toronto or other town/cities and eliminated all commercial and development charges to help encourage expansion and new buildings both in town and in the rural community.
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Quality of Life - Gravenhurst has a healthy average family (two parents + children) household income of $104,227. The average income per full time employee is $52,528. Reduced commutes, affordability, more time with friends and family and access to world class outdoor recreation puts Gravenhurst high on the quality of life index.
Education and Community Services - The District of Muskoka has built a network of community services to assist and support families, persons with disabilities and seniors in the region. Locally, Gravenhurst is home to many of these offices, in addition to many others including
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