Compare towns: Restaurant or café

How this is worked out

This is an indication only: a quick summary of the figures on this page, not a forecast, market study or advice. Each of six signals is rated Favourable (2 points), Neutral (1) or Watch (0):

Demand: the community's 2016–21 population growth. At or above the county (7.3%) is Favourable; at or above Ontario (5.8%) is Neutral; below Ontario is Watch.
Competition: only businesses of your chosen type (for a restaurant or café: restaurants + cafés; not pubs or other food types). We compare how many are mapped with how many the community would have at the county-wide rate per resident. If fewer than 2 would be expected, the sample is too small and it says Not enough data. 70% of expected or fewer is Favourable; 70–130% Neutral; more than 130% Watch (crowded). "Anywhere in Dufferin" is always Not enough data.
Labour: unemployment above the county rate (more people looking for work) is Favourable; otherwise Neutral.
Space: at least one reviewed WhyDufferin listing that fits your budget is Favourable, none is Watch; if we have no reviewed listings at all it is Not enough data.
Funding: 2 or more open or check-intake programs matching your type and stage is Favourable, 1 Neutral, 0 Watch.
Internet: share of ISED map areas where most homes get 50/10 Mbps. 75% or more Favourable, 40–74% Neutral, under 40% Watch.

Signals with Not enough data are left out. The score is the points earned divided by the points possible, out of 100. If fewer than 4 signals have data, no score is shown. 67 or more reads "Promising", 45–66 "Mixed", under 45 "Challenging".

Shelburne 83/100 (10 of 12 points) · Indication only · How scoring works

Market

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Demand Favourable
Population +10.7% 2016–21 (county 7.3%, Ontario 5.8%) Verified fact
Why Favourable: +10.7% growth is at or above the county's 7.3% (Favourable) · 2 of 2 points

Population 2021: 8,994 (10.7% since 2016)
Median household income: $99,000
Participation: 70.1%
Unemployment: 10%
Commute out of town: 72.4%
Renters: 19.8%

Verified fact StatCan 2021 Census.

Competition

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Competition Neutral
14 restaurant or café businesses mapped (restaurants and cafes) vs about 11.3 expected at the county rate Indication only
Why Neutral: 14 restaurants and cafes mapped vs about 11.3 expected at the county rate (124%; Neutral is 70–130%) · 1 of 2 points

Our directory lists 7 food & drink businesses in Shelburne (61 county-wide).

Beyond the Gate, Jelly Bakery, Johnny's Pizza & Restaurant (Shelburne), Main St. Cafe, Reggae Flava Kitchen, The Bread Depot, The Tipsy Fox Pub & Grill

Our directory is incomplete. A low count is not proof of demand.

🗺 Pub / bar in Shelburne: 0 mapped vs ~1 expected; nearest Terra Nova Public House (~16.2 km) · score 66
🗺 Brewery / winery / distillery in Shelburne: 0 mapped vs ~0.8 expected; nearest Grand Valley Brewery (~4.3 km) · score 12

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Labour & wages

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Labour Neutral
Unemployment 10% (county 10%); 72.4% of workers commute out of town Verified fact
Why Neutral: unemployment 10% is not above the county's 10% (Neutral; Labour is never rated Watch) · 1 of 2 points

Job (NOC)	Region $/h	Ontario $/h
Restaurant and food service managers (60030)	27.47	27.47
Chefs (62200)	22	22
Cooks (63200)	18	18
Food and beverage servers (65200)	18	17.6
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (65201)	17.6	17.6
Food service supervisors (62020)	19.23	19

Verified fact Job Bank 2025, ER3540.

Industry	NAICS code	Shelburne	Dufferin
Food services and drinking places	722	18	116
Full-service and limited-service eating places	7225	16	108
Accommodation and food services (all)	72	18	127

Business locations with employees, January 2026. Business locations with employees, counted where each establishment is located. Excludes businesses without employees (sole proprietors, most home businesses). Source: Statistics Canada, January 2026 (released 2026-08-14).

NOC = National Occupational Classification, Canada's standard job codes used for wage data. NAICS = North American Industry Classification System, the standard industry codes used for business counts. Codes link to the official Statistics Canada definitions (NOC 2021 Version 1.0, NAICS Canada 2022 Version 1.0).

Census industry employment Verified fact

Accommodation and food services employs 5.6% of the labour force living in Shelburne, vs 5.2% county-wide and 5.3% in Ontario.

Share of the employed labour force living in the area (by place of residence), 2021 Census. Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 (income: 2020).

Wages for key occupations Verified fact

Occupation	NOC code	Low	Median	High	Ontario median
Restaurant and food service managers	60030	$17.60	$27.47	$48.08	$27.47
Chefs	62200	$17.60	$22.00	$34.19	$22.00
Cooks	63200	$17.60	$18.00	$24.00	$18.00
Food and beverage servers	65200	$17.60	$18.00	$28.00	$17.60
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations	65201	$17.60	$17.60	$20.00	$17.60
Food service supervisors	62020	$17.60	$19.23	$24.43	$19.00
Bartenders	64301	$17.60	$20.00	$33.00	$20.00

Hourly wages, economic region ER3540 Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie (includes Dufferin), Job Bank 2025. "–" = not published for the region. Source: Employment and Social Development Canada, 2025 wages (mostly Labour Force Survey 2023–2024), revised 2025-11-19.

Shelburne at a glance Verified fact

Commuting: 72.4% of commuters with a usual workplace work outside Shelburne.
Labour force participation 70.1%, unemployment 10% (county 69.3%, 10%).
Median household income (2020) $99,000 (county $108,000).
Renter households 19.8%; median tenant shelter cost $1,100/month.
CMHC rent data is published for Orangeville only (average $1,532, October 2025).

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 (income: 2020); Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, October 2025.

Internet and transit Verified fact

Broadband: in 1 of 1 ISED hexagons in Shelburne, more than 75% of households can get 50/10 Mbps.

Orangeville and Shelburne fibre to the home · Under way (Wightman construction updates)

Providers: Wightman Telecom 1-888-477-2177 (check). All provider contacts

ISED hexagons (~24 km²) assigned by centre; share of hexagons where more than 75% of households can get 50/10 Mbps. Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, files dated 2026-05-05; provider details checked 2026-10-20 on official sites.

No GO Transit stops in Shelburne (GTFS feed 20261005110625).

JSON for this section · All data

Space & rent

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Space Favourable
3 reviewed listings fit your budget Indication only
Why Favourable: 3 reviewed listing(s) fit your budget (Favourable is 1 or more) · 2 of 2 points

Downtown rear-access unit, Unit 104 · lease · Retail · About 740 sq ft · $700/month (as shown)

Main Street storefront, Unit 104 · lease · Retail · 1,650 sq ft · $2,300/month

Industrial land, 1 to 10 acres · lease · Land · 1 to 10 acres · $2,500/acre/month

All properties

The Mullin Group (Mike Mullin, Broker; Shane Mullin, REALTOR®)
Royal LePage RCR Realty · 519-827-2119

Amanda Ross, Sales Representative
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc. · 519-942-8700

Ann Butler, Sales Representative
iCloud Realty Ltd. · 519-940-0004

James Tasca, Broker of Record
ICI Source Real Asset Services Inc. · 855-517-6424

Listed for information, not an endorsement. WhyDufferin is independent and receives nothing for these listings. Check any agent's registration on the RECO public register before you work with them. All

Infrastructure

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Internet Favourable
100% of ISED map areas have 50/10 Mbps for most homes Verified fact
Why Favourable: 100% of ISED map areas have 50/10 Mbps for most homes (Favourable is 75%+, Neutral 40–74%, Watch under 40%) · 2 of 2 points

Power: Hydro One (Town of Shelburne)
Gas: Enbridge Gas is the county's gas utility; confirm the address with Enbridge
Water: Municipal water and sewer (Town of Shelburne)
Internet: Wightman fibre to the home under way; see /data#fibre

Verified fact Utilities page

Funding

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Funding Favourable
2 open or check-intake programs may fit Verified fact
Why Favourable: 2 open or check-intake program(s) match your type and stage (Favourable is 2+, Neutral 1, Watch 0) · 2 of 2 points

Starter Company Plus Check intake
Province of Ontario, delivered locally by the Orangeville & Area SBEC · up to $5,000

Community Futures business loans Open
Community Futures South Georgian Bay (serves Dufferin County)

Summer Company Closed
Province of Ontario, delivered by Small Business Enterprise Centres · up to $3,000

Funding finder (3)

Orangeville 67/100 (8 of 12 points) · Indication only · How scoring works

Market

○

Demand Watch
Population +4.4% 2016–21 (county 7.3%, Ontario 5.8%) Verified fact
Why Watch: +4.4% growth is below Ontario's 5.8% (Watch) · 0 of 2 points

Population 2021: 30,167 (4.4% since 2016)
Median household income: $103,000
Participation: 69.9%
Unemployment: 10.8%
Commute out of town: 56.3%
Renters: 24.3%

Verified fact StatCan 2021 Census.

Competition

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Competition Watch
52 restaurant or café businesses mapped (restaurants and cafes) vs about 37.8 expected at the county rate Indication only
Why Watch: 52 restaurants and cafes mapped vs about 37.8 expected at the county rate (138%; Watch is above 130%) · 0 of 2 points

Our directory lists 41 food & drink businesses in Orangeville (61 county-wide).

Angel's Diner, Auntie Joy's Springrolls, Barley Vine Rail Co, Bluebird Cafe & Grill, Broadway Beat, Broadway Café and Grill, Broadway Fish & Chips, Cafetown, Chillout Cove, Coriander Kitchen, Curry Mantra, Deja Vu Diner

Our directory is incomplete. A low count is not proof of demand.

🗺 Farm shop / market in Orangeville: 1 mapped vs ~3.6 expected; nearest Reid's Potatoes & Farm Market (~8.6 km) · score 73

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Labour & wages

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Labour Favourable
Unemployment 10.8% (county 10%); 56.3% of workers commute out of town Verified fact
Why Favourable: unemployment 10.8% is above the county's 10%, so more people are looking for work (Favourable) · 2 of 2 points

Job (NOC)	Region $/h	Ontario $/h
Restaurant and food service managers (60030)	27.47	27.47
Chefs (62200)	22	22
Cooks (63200)	18	18
Food and beverage servers (65200)	18	17.6
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (65201)	17.6	17.6
Food service supervisors (62020)	19.23	19

Verified fact Job Bank 2025, ER3540.

Industry	NAICS code	Orangeville	Dufferin
Food services and drinking places	722	73	116
Full-service and limited-service eating places	7225	70	108
Accommodation and food services (all)	72	74	127

Census industry employment Verified fact

Accommodation and food services employs 5.8% of the labour force living in Orangeville, vs 5.2% county-wide and 5.3% in Ontario.

Share of the employed labour force living in the area (by place of residence), 2021 Census. Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 (income: 2020).

Wages for key occupations Verified fact

Occupation	NOC code	Low	Median	High	Ontario median
Restaurant and food service managers	60030	$17.60	$27.47	$48.08	$27.47
Chefs	62200	$17.60	$22.00	$34.19	$22.00
Cooks	63200	$17.60	$18.00	$24.00	$18.00
Food and beverage servers	65200	$17.60	$18.00	$28.00	$17.60
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations	65201	$17.60	$17.60	$20.00	$17.60
Food service supervisors	62020	$17.60	$19.23	$24.43	$19.00
Bartenders	64301	$17.60	$20.00	$33.00	$20.00

Orangeville at a glance Verified fact

Commuting: 56.3% of commuters with a usual workplace work outside Orangeville.
Labour force participation 69.9%, unemployment 10.8% (county 69.3%, 10%).
Median household income (2020) $103,000 (county $108,000).
Renter households 24.3%; median tenant shelter cost $1,360/month.
CMHC, Orangeville: average rent $1,532, median $1,405, vacancy 3.5% (CMHC Rental Market Survey, October 2025 (primary rental market, row and apartment)).

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 (income: 2020); Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, October 2025.

Internet and transit Verified fact

Broadband: in 1 of 1 ISED hexagons in Orangeville, more than 75% of households can get 50/10 Mbps.

Orangeville and Shelburne fibre to the home · Under way (Wightman construction updates)

Providers: Wightman Telecom 1-888-477-2177 (check) · Execulink Telecom 1-866-706-1991 (check). All provider contacts

GO Transit: 19 stops, 37 Orangeville / Brampton, up to 12 departures a day at the busiest stop (GTFS feed 20261005110625).

JSON for this section · All data

Space & rent

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Space Favourable
10 reviewed listings fit your budget Indication only
Why Favourable: 10 reviewed listing(s) fit your budget (Favourable is 1 or more) · 2 of 2 points

Industrial building and land for sale · sale · Industrial · 12,250 sq ft building on 3.17 acres · Price not shown

Retail unit at Orangeville Shopping Centre · lease · Retail · 683 sq ft · Rent not shown

Downtown offices, The Foley House · lease · Office · Up to 1,500 sq ft (6 offices) · Gross lease, rate not shown

Third-floor office or studio, Unit 3A · lease · Office · About 488 sq ft · $1,220.60/month + HST (year 1 of 5-year lease, includes utilities and taxes)

Industrial unit sublease, Unit 6 · sublease · Industrial · 1,650 sq ft plus office · $2,800/month incl. rent, TMI and HST (utilities extra)

Loft-style upper-floor office, Unit B · lease · Office · 1,850 sq ft · $18/sq ft net + TMI

Downtown retail/service unit, Unit 20 · lease · Retail · About 1,838 sq ft · $24/sq ft net + TMI

Downtown corner main-floor unit · lease · Retail · About 1,200 sq ft · $24 (as shown) + TMI about $9.74

Industrial unit, Unit 4 · lease · Industrial · 1,450 sq ft · $14/sq ft/yr + TMI, utilities, insurance

Commercial unit in established plaza · lease · Retail · About 1,900 sq ft · $33/sq ft net + about $12/sq ft additional rent

All properties

The Mullin Group (Mike Mullin, Broker; Shane Mullin, REALTOR®)
Royal LePage RCR Realty · 519-827-2119

Amanda Ross, Sales Representative
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc. · 519-942-8700

Ann Butler, Sales Representative
iCloud Realty Ltd. · 519-940-0004

James Tasca, Broker of Record
ICI Source Real Asset Services Inc. · 855-517-6424

Infrastructure

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Power: Orangeville Hydro (Town of Orangeville)
Gas: Enbridge Gas is the county's gas utility; confirm the address with Enbridge
Water: Municipal water and sewer (town)
Internet: Wightman fibre to the home (Wightman construction updates); see /data#fibre

Verified fact Utilities page

Funding

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Starter Company Plus Check intake
Province of Ontario, delivered locally by the Orangeville & Area SBEC · up to $5,000

Community Futures business loans Open
Community Futures South Georgian Bay (serves Dufferin County)

Summer Company Closed
Province of Ontario, delivered by Small Business Enterprise Centres · up to $3,000

Funding finder (3)

Next steps

Talk to the free SBEC before spending money.
Visit the area and the comparable businesses; talk to owners.
Shortlist locations and check zoning with the municipality.
Draft a business plan and cash flow, then check funding.

Make my launch plan

Commercial realtors

The Mullin Group (Mike Mullin, Broker; Shane Mullin, REALTOR®)
Royal LePage RCR Realty · 519-827-2119

Amanda Ross, Sales Representative
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc. · 519-942-8700

Ann Butler, Sales Representative
iCloud Realty Ltd. · 519-940-0004

James Tasca, Broker of Record
ICI Source Real Asset Services Inc. · 855-517-6424

Utilities

Power: Hydro One (Town of Shelburne)
Gas: Enbridge Gas is the county's gas utility; confirm the address with Enbridge
Water: Municipal water and sewer (Town of Shelburne)
Internet: Wightman fibre to the home under way; see /data#fibre

Verified fact Utilities page

Compare towns: Restaurant or café

Shelburne 83/100 (10 of 12 points) · Indication only · How scoring works

Business counts Verified fact

Census industry employment Verified fact

Wages for key occupations Verified fact

Shelburne at a glance Verified fact

Internet and transit Verified fact

Orangeville 67/100 (8 of 12 points) · Indication only · How scoring works

Business counts Verified fact

Census industry employment Verified fact

Wages for key occupations Verified fact

Orangeville at a glance Verified fact

Internet and transit Verified fact

Next steps

Commercial realtors

Utilities

Who to call