Ontario · area guide · 19 communities · checked October 8, 2026
Home energy audits, radon and well water testing in Grey County
The nine towns and townships on this page are home to 100,905 people (2021 Census), and 34% of their houses were built before 1961. This guide covers 19 communities, from Owen Sound, Meaford, Hanover and Thornbury to the smallest hamlets, with the local numbers that shape an energy audit or a home health test.
Population (2021)
100,905
Communities listed
19
Houses built before 1961
34%
Heating degree-days
4,188
Thornbury Slama
How Grey County is built
- Before 1961 34%
- 1961–1990 36%
- 1991–2000 10%
- 2001 or later 20%
This page covers the nine member municipalities of the County of Grey, from Owen Sound and Meaford on Georgian Bay to Hanover, Durham and Dundalk inland.
Six local guides for Grey County
Energy audits and heat pump sizing
Grey County at a glance
People and homes
100,905 people and 50,183 private dwellings in 2021, up 7.5% in population since 2016. On census day (May 11, 2021), 16% of the 50,183 private dwellings in Grey County were not anyone's permanent home.
Housing
Of the 36,295 houses in Grey County (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses, duplexes and mobile homes), 34% were built before 1961 and 69% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. The typical house dates from 1971–1980.
Climate
Environment and Climate Change Canada's 1981–2010 climate normal at Thornbury Slama (27.4 km from the middle of the area) is 4,188 heating degree-days a year, with a January mean of −6.3°C. The building code's 2.5% January design temperatures for the area run from −19°C to −22°C.
Radon
In Health Canada’s 2012 survey, 11.1% of 99 homes tested in the Grey Bruce Health Unit were above the guideline. The larger 2024 Cross-Canada survey reports 12.4% (1 in 8) of homes at or above the guideline for Ontario as a whole.
Wells
Free bacteria testing for private drinking-water systems, run by Public Health Ontario. Kits are picked up and samples dropped off at 14 Grey-Bruce locations, including Owen Sound and Walkerton; a Public Health Ontario courier collects Grey County samples on Thursdays.
Energy advisors
NRCan's list (checked October 8, 2026) shows 21 service organizations registered for postal codes in Owen Sound, Meaford and Hanover. Confirm they travel to your community.
Heating
Province-wide, 58% of Ontario households heat mainly with natural gas, 18% with electricity, 4% with propane and 1% each with oil and wood (Statistics Canada, 2023); there's no published breakdown for this area alone.
Every community in Grey County
Grouped by municipality, with 2021 Census populations. Names come from Natural Resources Canada's geographical names database and Statistics Canada's population centres.
- City of Owen Sound 21,612
- Municipality of West Grey 13,131Durham
- Municipality of Meaford 11,485
- Township of Georgian Bluffs 11,100
- Municipality of Grey Highlands 10,424Feversham, Flesherton, Kimberley, Markdale, Maxwell, Priceville
- Town of The Blue Mountains 9,390Clarksburg, Thornbury
- Township of Southgate 8,716Dundalk
- Town of Hanover 7,967
- Township of Chatsworth 7,080
Who does the work in Grey County
- Energy evaluations and heat loss calculations: NRCan's list (checked October 8, 2026) shows 21 registered service organizations for postal codes in Owen Sound, Meaford, Hanover. See them with phone numbers; confirm they travel to your community.
- Radon: certified measurement and mitigation professionals are listed in the C-NRPP directory ↗.
- Wood stoves and chimneys: WETT-certified professionals are listed in the WETT directory ↗; see wood-burning inspections in Grey County.
- Well water: free bacteria tests through the local public health unit; chemistry through a licensed private lab. Details for Grey County.
Rebates and financing for Grey County homes
Nearby city pages and guides
Sources
- Statistics Canada — 2021 Census population and dwelling counts (table 98-10-0002-01)
- Statistics Canada — 2021 Census, households by period of construction and dwelling type (table 98-10-0233-01)
- Statistics Canada — 2021 Census population centres (table 98-10-0011-01)
- NRCan — Canadian Geographical Names Database (official place names)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada — Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010
- National Research Council — National Building Code of Canada 2020, Appendix C, Table C-2 (climatic design data)
- Health Canada — Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes, final report (2012), Table 5
- NRCan — Service organizations for existing homes (list checked October 8, 2026)
- Land Information Ontario — municipal boundaries (lower and single tier)
- Evict Radon National Study with Health Canada — 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure (report v1.1)
- Statistics Canada — Census dictionary: private dwelling occupied by usual residents
- Grey Bruce Public Health — private well water testing
- Statistics Canada — Households and the Environment Survey 2023, primary heating systems (table 38-10-0286-01)
Planning upgrades in Grey County?
Tell us where you are and what you’re planning. We’ll connect you with a registered service organization for your area — no spam, no shared lead lists.