Little Portugal is a Toronto neighbourhood that is located in the west end of what is sometimes known as “Old Toronto.” The neighbourhood’s boundaries are College Street in the north, Lansdowne Avenue in the west, Ossington Avenue in the east and Queen Street and the CNR/CPR mainline railway tracks in the south.
The area in the west of the neighbourhood, between Dufferin Street and Lansdowne is part of a Toronto neighbourhood known as Brockton Village.
As the Little Portugal name suggests, a number of Portuguese businesses and residents call the area home. Most Portuguese businesses and storefronts are located along the neighbourhood’s major streets such as Dundas Street West and College Street. The remaining streets are mostly residential, with a number of single-family homes in the region.
There are a number of schools within the Little Portugal neighbourhood including Shirley Street Public School, Alexander Muir/Gladstone Avenue Public and St.Helen’s Catholic School. McCormick Recreation Centre and Arena is also located with the Little Portugal neighbourhood.
Little Portugal, Toronto Crime
When analyzing the crime of an area, it is also important to look at the surrounding neighbourhoods to get a clear picture of crime in the entire region. Criminals do not stop at neighbourhood boundaries which are just streets in many cases. Neighbourhoods near the Little Portugal neighbourhood include Trinity-Bellwoods, Dufferin Grove, Parkdale and Queen West. Here are the Little Portugal crime rates against people and property. All rates are per 1,000 living and working in the area.| Region | Crime Against People in Little Portugal | Crime Against Property in Little Portugal |
| Bordered by Ossington, Dundas, Queen, Dovercourt Road | 6.02 per 1000 | 24.09 per 1000 |
| Bordered by Ossington, College, Dundas, Dovercourt | 6.5 per 1000 | 25.07 per 1000 |
| Bordered by College, Dundas, Dovercourt, Dufferin | 5.69 per 1000 | 18.03 per 1000 |
| Bordered by Dovercourt, Queen, Dundas, Dufferin | 8.48 per 1000 | 22.48 per 1000 |
| Bordered by Dundas, Dufferin, Lansdowne & the Railway Tracks | 11.22 per 1000 | 27.25 per 1000 |
| Bordered by College, Dovercourt, Dundas & Brock Avenue | 5.69 per 1000 | 18.03 per 1000 |
| Bordered by Brock, College, Dundas & Lansdowne | 8.69 per 1000 | 23.22 per 1000 |
Little Portugal, Toronto Crime
Little Portugal has transformed dramatically from its reputation a decade ago, now ranking among Toronto’s safer neighbourhoods with impressive statistics. According to 2024 data, the area reports just 272 total crimes annually—earning a Crime Score of 24.8 and ranking as the 119th most dangerous of 158 Toronto neighbourhoods, which places it firmly in the “Very Safe” category.
Residents face a 1 in 37 overall chance of experiencing crime, with violent incidents particularly rare at 1 in 143 odds. Property crime occurs at approximately 1 in 50, representing the neighbourhood’s primary security concern but still performing 35% better than national averages. Perhaps most encouraging: Little Portugal has achieved a 15% year-over-year decrease in crime rates, reflecting successful community safety initiatives and increased economic investment.
The neighbourhood’s main commercial corridors along Dundas Street West and College Street see higher foot traffic and correspondingly elevated activity levels, particularly during evening hours when restaurants, cafĂ©s, and bars draw crowds. However, even these busier zones maintain crime rates well below city averages. McCormick Recreation Centre and Park on Brock Avenue serves as a community focal point, fostering the neighbourhood watch mentality that contributes to Little Portugal’s strong safety record.
Recent gentrification has brought visible improvements: better street lighting, renovated storefronts, and increased property values that correlate with enhanced security awareness among both residents and business owners. The Portuguese heritage businesses that anchor the neighbourhood’s identity continue alongside newer establishments, creating natural surveillance through consistent street presence.
For Little Portugal homeowners—particularly those in the area’s characteristic single-family homes and older walk-up apartments—property crime prevention remains essential despite low overall rates. Package theft, bicycle theft, and opportunistic break-ins still occur in neighbourhoods with vintage housing stock that may lack modern security features. Professional alarm systems provide the protection layer that older homes weren’t originally designed to include, deterring criminals who consistently target properties advertising the easiest access.