Situated in Eastern Ontario, Cornwall sits on the Saint Lawrence River in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor.
The city is home to a number of communities and is located 100 km from Ottawa, the capital.
Cornwall enjoys a humid continental climate, which consists of fairly cold, snowy winters and hot summers, reaching highs of around 27°C in the height of summer.
Cornwall has an incredibly rich history that dates back to the late 1700s.
It is a very picturesque city and the area offers a waterfront lifestyle.
Founded in 1784, Cornwall now has a diverse population of 46,000 and a land area of 61.5 sq. km. Roughly 68% of the population state English to be their first language, while 24% count French as their first language. Other mother tongues include Greek, Italian, Urdu, Mohawk, and Arabic.
Eastern Ontario has an incredibly mixed heritage since it was once a corridor for settlers and migrants, and still to this day it has a diverse population of different ethnic backgrounds.
Cornwall has a very strong economy which is growing at a rapid rate. Primary industries in Cornwall include logistics, distribution, automotive, high tech, food processing, and call centres.
Cornwall is also home to the largest Walmart distribution centre in Canada, which accounts for over 1,000 jobs, and it’s a hub for HQs and distribution centres, which create a large number of job opportunities. The area has an unemployment rate of just 4%.
The city is also an entry point into Canada as it borders the United States.
Cornwall has a good transport system which runs 6 days a week. It’s also served by Cornwall Regional Airport which provides domestic and international flights.
Cornwall hosts a number of festivals and is very culturally diverse and vibrant.
Popular festivals include Canada Day celebrations, the Kinsmen Cornwall Lift Off, and an annual music and hot air balloon festival. Ribfest is another popular event, which is hosted yearly every July and attracts around 60,000 attendees each year.
Entertainment and Tourism
Cornwall boasts beautiful scenery, vast landscapes, and a number of nature trails including the 90km long Waterfront Trail which is a popular attraction. It also has a number of scuba diving sites, beaches, a ski hill, and conservation areas.
Cornwall has a rich sporting history and is home to many sporting champions, with hockey and lacrosse being two of the most popular sports. The city has 2 indoor arenas, the Cornwall Civic Complex and the Benson Centre, as well as three ice rinks. The city also has “The Square”, a large 2-story shopping mall.
Neighbourhoods
Cornwall is a great place to raise a family due to its choice of French and English education facilities, a growing college, great hospital, affordable housing, and abundance of recreational activities. Neighbourhoods include:
Primarily a residential area, North End has a few businesses along Pitt Street and Cornwall Centre road and has a mix of characterful homes and new-build properties.
There are a number of parks, schools, and churches, making this a great area for families.
St Andrew’s West
St Andrew’s West offers a quaint lifestyle and is a small place with only a few hundred homes. The area has a church, a great pub, a convenience store, and a breakfast restaurant, as well as one English language school. This is perfect if you’re looking for quiet and rural living, and, for accommodation, either new build homes or farms.
Sunrise Acres
With family homes and semi-detached properties, Sunrise Acres is a lovely place to live that offers a safe and easy lifestyle.
It’s perfect for families, with tree-lined streets and great access to schools.
Featuring a mix of luxury homes, single-family houses, and beautiful quiet streets, Riverdale is a very popular neighbourhood for families of all ages. It has great access to schools as well as the Benson Centre (within walking distance), Big Ben (the ski area), and Cornwall’s large shopping district. It also has a number of sports fields and parks.
Cornwall offers a variety of real estate and a safe, growing community.
Residents enjoy a great quality of life, with big-city amenities but a small-town feel.
Real estate is inexpensive and there’s something to suit everyone.
Average housing prices sit at almost half the Canadian average, making Cornwall one of the most affordable areas in the country.
Ranch-style homes and brick bungalows are also affordable in this area.
Average Home Price: $206,566
Home Style
Median Price
Home
$209,900
Apartment
$209,900
The table above is based on data from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) National MLS® Report for April 2016 (the latest information available). Median prices are based on data from www.canadianrealestatemagazine.ca.
Education
Cornwall has a number of educational institutes of all levels, and is home to the oldest school in Canada. Cornwall Collegiate Vocational School is a grade 7-12 school and offers a complete French immersion program. St Joseph’s Secondary School also offers French immersion, and Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School is a recent addition for grades 7-12. Cornwall also has 2 French high schools, and an Islamic Institute which provides higher education with a boarding facility.
A St. Lawrence Campus is located in Cornwall, and the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations is also based here, which provides training for military members.