The Vibe

The sleepy town of Milton is nestled at the foot of Halton Hills, where nature figures prominently, and hints of local history are noticed at every turn. Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to hang your hat, or raise a family, Milton is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.   

The Story

The Town of Milton is located within the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation who continued to live, fish, and travel throughout this area of south-western Ontario into the 1800s. 

The Brant Tract, located where Milton borders Burlington, was purchased by the Crown in 1795 for Chief Joseph Brant who led Six Nations warriors into battle during the American Revolutionary War. In 1805, the Head of the Lake purchase included the land within Milton which was then surveyed into separate lots for farming. By 1818, Milton was located across four growing Townships in Halton County. 

The first European families arrived around 1821 from England, including Jasper and Sarah Martin who settled around what is now Martin Street and the Mill Pond area. The town circled around the Martin’s gristmill as industry expanded into farming, brickyards and resource industries including logging and lime operations. 

The town was named after English poet John Milton with the arrival of the town’s post office in 1836 and in 1857 Milton was incorporated.

After World War II, the development of new housing for veterans led to the extension of the 401 and a boost in the population. In 1974, surrounding townships and the Town of Milton were amalgamated. 

Today, Old Milton’s downtown features original heritage buildings including the post office and the original blacksmith’s shop. Homes in Old Milton are lovingly preserved examples of 1800s and 1900s architecture. A sought-after neighbourhood, Old Milton has charm galore including one-of-a-kind houses with pretty front porches overlooking well-manicured gardens and lawns. Other popular areas of Milton’s growing housing market includes young professional hot spot Harris, family-friendly Timberlea and conveniently located Dempsey close to the GO station and local highways. 

The Convenience

Located west of Mississauga on the 401, Milton is ideal for people working in areas such as Mississauga, Guelph, Kitchener and Waterloo. Commuting to Toronto isn’t unheard of, with a local GO train station handy, and access to the 400 series of highways right there. Milton also has a transit system, with buses running within the Town of Milton. 

A charming historic downtown area offers a diverse, fun shopping and dining experience, while the mall and assorted big box stores keep you well supplied with all of your day-to-day needs. The town also has big plans to revitalize the downtown district to create an exciting civic precinct area. However, what really sets Milton apart is the beautiful parks and conservation areas including downtown’s charming Mill Pond as well as Hilton Falls, Rattlesnake Point, Crawford Lake, Kelso, and Mountsberg to name just a few. 

The Residents

Milton has a surprisingly young population with just 9.2% of residence retired seniors. The town is home to large families with three or more children, with 50% of Milton residents identifying as a visible minority. As a result, the town is highly diverse, welcoming people from many different cultures who are looking for a safe community to set down their roots. Miltonians are also highly educated with 40% having completed university degrees and 62% of the labour force holding knowledge-based jobs. They also enjoy above average wealth with 72% of residents earning an annual income of over $100,000 and just over 81% owning their homes.  

The Best Part

The breathtaking backdrop of the hills (out of this world colours in fall BTW) combines beautifully with locally owned shops and bistros housed in 19th-century heritage buildings in downtown Old Milton. In hand with local fairs, picturesque farmland and fresh seasonal produce at local farmers’ markets, life in Milton is good.