Hastings, Northumberland

Hastings is a beautiful quaint town situated in the municipality of Trent Hills, Northumberland County, Ontario. It is a popular anglers' spot and is termed the fishing town of Canada. It is located on the Trent river and tucked away amidst the valley between Lake Seymour and Lake Rice. This town is ideal for summer events like antique boat shows and fishing Derby. It has a charming downtown equipped with modern amenities, shops and services. The weather here is pleasing, and the waterfront is always in high demand, with bustling water activities all year round. Hastings' major economic boost is due to fishing and tourism. It has well-established connectivity with neighbouring places like Cobourg and Peterborough. Additionally, Hastings is just a 90-minute drive away from Toronto.

The Hastings neighbourhood has an impressive liveability score of 74 out of 100, higher than many other parts of Ontario and Canada. Hastings is equipped with good housing and satisfactory amenities for a comfortable lifestyle. The cost of living is moderate and suits all income groups. It has a few good schools. However, unemployment is a significant problem in Hastings. Hastings is moving to become a safe locality, with crime being rated as A+. Its crime rate is 56% lower than the national average. Additionally, Hastings is safer than 75% of the cities in Ontario.

The people of Hastings have a favourable income rate. However, the median household income in Hastings is 30% lower than the national average. The unemployment rate is significantly low, which is a good sign for a growing economy. The unemployment rate in Hastings is 60% less than the national average. The majority of Hastings residents speak English, which proves that this area does not have a multicultural fusion. Only 0.01% speak French, while 4.19% speak both French and English.

The Hastings neighbourhood has a first-rate social infrastructure, including reputable schools, upscale dining establishments, premier shopping malls and medical centres.

Schools

Hastings is home to many renowned schools ranging from elementary to secondary schools and universities for higher education as well. Some of the best schools in the vicinity include the following:

• Hastings Public School
• Campbellford District High School
• Norwood District High School

Restaurants

Hastings has many upscale restaurants, bars, cafes and eateries. Some of the best dining options that serve delicious cuisines are listed below:

• Jiang's Restaurant
• Captain Table's restaurant
• McGillicafe's Pub and Eatery
• Antonia's Bistro
• Bridgewater Cafe and Pizza
• Roma Pizzeria
• Subway
• Country Style

Shopping Mall

Hastings has a number of affluent shopping centres, local shops and departmental stores. The shopkeepers are very friendly, and you can find anything from grocery to branded apparel here.

• Bell Front Shopping Centre
• Giant Tiger
• Lansdowne Place
• Canadian Tire

Hospitals

The people of Hastings can avail excellent healthcare services at the following facilities:

• Campbellford Memorial Hospital
• Trent Hills Family Treatment
• QHC Trenton Memorial

Hastings is the safe haven and ultimate destination for anglers. It boasts world-class waterways and hosts multiple water events all year round. Some of the best places to visit in Hastings are detailed below:

Hastings Village Marina

Boaters on the Trent-Severn Waterway have access to 64 slips at the Marina for both temporary and seasonal docking. Hastings is a short stroll from the cutting-edge marina, which is situated at the entrance of Rice Lake near Lock 18.

National Airforce Museum of Canada

The Royal Canadian Air Force's history is archived at the National Air Force Museum of Canada, an aviation museum. It has a wide range of aircraft on display that narrates the heritage of Canada. As a lasting homage and legacy to all the men and women who served in the RCAF, the museum is a permanent archive that gathers, conserves, and showcases information pertaining to the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Hastings Pisces Pete

This park presents a huge fish sculpture to stand as a symbol of the importance of fishing in this neighbourhood. The gigantic fish, made of stainless steel, is 12 feet long and 12 feet tall. It was designed by the famous artist Bill Lishman. You can spend a few hours at this park revisiting the culture of Canada's fishing.

The Hastings Neighbourhood offers a wide range of outdoor activities for everybody. Though this town is an Anglers' favourite, it has other options like trailing and site seeing and picnicking for visitors and residents. Some of the most popular things to do in Hastings are listed below:

Go Fishing on the Hastings Bridge

The Hastings Bridge is renowned as the only roadway bridge in Ontario you can legally fish. The bridge is located in a prime location in the Hastings neighbourhood. It is a top-rated anglers' destination. You can fish using a wide variety of perch, muskie, pickerel, huge mouth bass, walleye, pike, and panfish. The bridge is close to a number of eateries and quaint shops. There are many exciting anglers' events that take place every year, like a bass tournament.

Opt for Boating in Trent River and Rice Lake

This 60 km distance between Lock 18 and Lock 19 is considered the most popular route for pleasure boating. It is a preferred recreational spot amidst the beauty of nature. You will enjoy the scenery and crystal clear waters. It is the perfect spot to spend cool summer afternoons with family and friends. You can try some other water activities like wakeboarding and skiing as well.

Go on an Antique and Collectible Tour

Either head to the treasure chest flea market at Campbellford or Lana Taylor Antiques and folk art. People interested in collecting antique pieces of art will find plenty of options in the Trent Hills area. There are plenty of artistic furniture pieces available. You can spend a day marvelling at vintage goods and collectables. There are many stores and old wood revival centres that depict Canadian artistry.

Walk Down Hastings Hub Trail

The Hastings Hub Trail, which connects the Trans Canada Trail sections in Lang-Hastings and Northumberland County, offers a winter pathway and a summer by-pass option. In order to create a pleasant, level 4-5 km track for strolling and exploring Hastings, the Hub Trail includes a winter strolling loop that links the winter and summer loops. You can spend quality time with family and friends trailing in both summer and winter.

Hastings has amazing road connectivity to nearby localities. Some of the nearby localities include the following:

• It is situated on Highway 45, and one can easily drive to Cobourg in 30 minutes.
• Peterborough is 36.3 km away from Hasting via Hwy 7/Trans-Canada Hwy.
• Toronto, one of the most upscale cities in Canada, is 168 km away from Hasting.
• The North Hasting Railway Station is in close vicinity to Hastings.
• Kingston or Norman Rogers Airport is the nearest airport to Hastings Neighbourhood. It is 139 km via ON-401 W.

The opulent shopping malls and popular farmers' markets in the Hastings neighbourhood are favourites among the locals. Hastings is home to a wide array of products, from high-end brands to organic groceries. Some of the most visited markets are detailed below:

Trent Hills Flavour Trail

Enjoy a shopping spree of locally produced, best-quality food and drinks. From delicious chocolate to cottage cheese, this flavour trail has a wide range of options. You can soothe your taste buds with freshly baked cakes and fresh fruits from the farm. This trail includes Centre and Main Chocolate Company which is a tiny artisan chocolate firm that creates limited quantities of handmade chocolates by combining the purest candy bars and chocolate products from around the world with delectable, organic foods and aromas. You can also visit Dooher's Baker for delicious pastries.

Campbellford Farmers' Market

This farmers' market operates on Saturdays, from 9 am to Noon, during the months of May to October. The Campbellford Farmers Market is committed to supporting locally grown and produced goods. Amazing locally produced delicacies, mouthwatering baked goods, take-home local crafts, and ready-made foods are all available at the market. You can find meat, fresh vegetables, fruits and plants straight out of locally grown farms.

Substantial diversity best describes Hastings' demography. There are 1159 people living in the area, with 306 persons per square kilometre. 71% of the population consists of married couples, and 30% of the couples have children at home.

There is a wide range of activities you can do in Hastings with your kids and pets. Hastings beach is the perfect spot to spend a day with kids and family. This beach is pet-friendly. You can plan a picnic or indulge in water activities. You can also visit the Centre & Main Chocolate Co. to treat your kids to one of the best handmade authentic chocolates in Canada. You can spend time with your kids boating and kayaking. Additionally, dogs are allowed to be a part of boat rowing here as well.

The cost of living in Hastings is 8% lower than the national average. While transportation and utilities are slightly higher, the cost of housing is highly affordable. It is 48% lower than the national average. Check the below table for further details.

The median listing price in Hastings, Ontario, is $638K. The average house price in the neighbourhood is $637,500, and the average number of days a property remains on the market here is 22. There are several affluent townhouses, swanky bungalows, posh apartments with 3 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms, 1 bedroom, and semi-detached homes available in the Hastings neighbourhood. The prices vary as per size and location. The Hastings real estate market is growing significantly.