Town of Georgina snapshot
Georgina is geographically one of the largest municipalities in York Region, situated just one hour north of Toronto on the southeast shores of Lake Simcoe. The municipality is comprised of a number of lakefront communities, small rural hamlets and three larger communities, including Keswick, Sutton/Jackson’s Point and Pefferlaw. Keswick is the largest community, with a population representing more than half of Georgina’s total population.
The Town’s proximity to major urban centres, relatively affordable real estate and quality of life offer many competitive advantages. Georgina is recognized as a place with a strong sense of community that works alongside business and community partners to provide multi-levels of business support.
Known for its lakeside living close to Toronto, Georgina is the perfect pairing of cottage country “feel” and urban convenience. With ample year-round recreation, a business environment that fills all service and product needs and “more for your dollar” housing, Georgina is a desired location to live, work and play.
Why Choose Georgina
Why choose Georgina to invest and do business?
Choosing where to invest is one of the most important “to-dos” when starting or expanding a business. Here is why Georgina is an up-and-coming location to do business:
- Within a one-hour drive on Highway 404 to urban centres.
- Some of the most affordable real estate and living costs in York Region and the Greater Toronto Area.
- Skilled and educated Workforce: A large percentage of educated and skilled workers reside within one hour of the municipality. More than 70 per cent of the Town’s workforce commutes beyond Georgina’s borders for employment.
- Incentive programs: The Town offers investment incentives and a Business Class Program that includes municipal staff support and expedited applications.
- A growing population: Georgina’s projected population is forecasted to be 71,900 by 2051.
Small business support
Georgina is also a hub for entrepreneurs looking to start new ventures or expand their existing businesses. You'll find support for every stage of your business, from business planning, funding, skills training and more, right here in Georgina. Learn about the support available to small business owners in Georgina and hear from new and existing businesses about why they chose and continue to choose Georgina.
Why choose Georgina to live and work?
Lakeside living, farm-fresh products, picturesque trails, urban amenities and a substantially lower cost of living than other communities in York Region or the GTA increases the Town’s appeal. With urban desire now shifting to rural interest, Georgina not only fits the bill but exceeds it with 52-kilometres bordering an all seasons recreational playground – Lake Simcoe. Learn more and watch our video on why residents and businesses choose Georgina to live and work.
In the blog:
- Silver Manor Homes chooses the Town of Georgina to develop a mixed-use development. Read blog.
- Why a residential and commercial realtor chose Georgina to live, work and expand his real estate business. Read blog.
- Growing Georgina manufacturer established business more than 40 years ago and shares why they continue to choose Georgina. Read blog.
Future growth
The Town is poised for growth over the next decade and trusts it will be an exciting and prosperous time to do business in Georgina. There are many developments currently in progress and going through the approval process that put the Town on target to reach a population of 71,900 by 2051. Keswick is the area with the most forecasted population growth and development, which includes 550 acres of Business Park lands on the east side of Woodbine Avenue at the terminus of the Highway 404 extension. Jackson’s Point and Sutton are expected to experience a moderate degree of growth. Learn about current development.
Economic statistics and business information
Population
Georgina is a growing community, continually welcoming new businesses, residents, and visitors. In 2022, the Town's population will surpass 50,000 people and is projected to increase steadily to more than 70,000 in the next 30 years.
As one of the most affordable municipalities in York Region, Georgina’s growth is imminent. The average price for a detached home in Georgina is $945,961 (March 2023), according to the Toronto Real Estate Board.
York Region is one of the largest business hubs in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), home to over 600,000 jobs. It has the highest tech talent concentration in the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor and is Canada’s second-largest information and communications technology (ICT) cluster. As we grow, it is important to understand our residents, our communities and why Georgina is a place of choice for many new businesses and families. Explore our resident statistics dashboard.
Location
“Located just minutes from Highway 404, this location has easy access to the major transportation networks across the Greater Toronto Area. Together with the planned east-west transportation corridor situated just a few kilometres south of our new location in Georgina, Scott-Woods Transport will be well-positioned for future expansion and growth. In addition to the fantastic infrastructure the Georgina area provides, many of our employees already live in Northern York Region, including Georgina, making this a great location for the next phase of our business and a place that we are excited to call our new home,” said Mark Alden, owner and President of Scott-Woods Transport Inc.
Georgina is located within 30-45 minutes from major urban centres in the Greater Toronto Area with direct access to Highway 404, which is ideal for commuting and importing/exporting goods. Also, the Highway 400/404-Link was given the green light to move forward and will significantly improve transportation access east and west for residents and businesses.
Driving distance from Georgina to:
- Toronto International Airport: approx. 60 minutes
- Newmarket: approx. 25 minutes
- Markham: approx. 40 minutes
- Toronto: approx. 60 minutes
- Orillia: approx. 60 minutes
- Barrie: approx. 60 minutes
- Brampton: approx. one hour, 10 minutes
- Peterborough: approx. one hour, 30 minutes
Labour Force
A large percentage of educated and skilled workers currently reside within a one-hour drive of the Town. A mix of youthful residents moving into Georgina enables it to have a varied and talented workforce. The pandemic has also seen a shift in young, educated urban residents moving to rural municipalities close to the city where they can afford larger properties and work remotely.
2022 York Region Employment Survey results, which survey brick-and-mortar businesses, indicate that Georgina experienced a 2.2 per cent average annual employment growth from 2012 to 2022. The top growth sector between 2019 and 2022 was retail trade (+178 jobs), followed by real estate and rental and leasing (+127 jobs), and accommodation and food services (+35 jobs). View the report and more workforce statistics below.
Companies
Medium and large-sized employers in Georgina
- Walmart, 230 employees
- Riverglen Haven Nursing Home, 160 employees
- Zehrs Market, 140 employees
- McDonalds, 140 employees
- The Briars Resort Spa and Conference Centre, 131 employees
- Cedarvale Lodge, 130 employees
- Weller Tree Service Ltd., 116 employees
- Sobeys, 100 employees
- Canadian Tire Corporation, 80 employees
- Stock Transportation, 88 employees
- Brouwer Kesmac, 65 employees
- No Frills, 65 employees
- C.A. Sellers Cleaning Services, 51 employees
- Gincor Werx, 52 employees
- Buchner Manufacturing, 50 employees
View maps and indicators using the Business and Investment Assistant to learn more about the Town’s industries and sectors.
Discover how your business can leverage the unique advantages Georgina offers:
- Find available properties and land for sale in Georgina.
- Learn about our Business Park.
- Access business resources and support programs in our community.
- Explore incentives that may be available to your business.
- Subscribe to our Economic Development and Tourism Newsletter
Need more information or to set up an introductory meeting? Connect with the Town of Georgina's Economic Development and Tourism office.