The city features the highest percentage of single-detached home ownership in Canada. The electricity rates in Thunder Bay are among the lowest in the Province of Ontario. Paul is the nearest major U.S.A. center. Thunder Bay, the largest metropolitan center in all of Northern Ontario , serves as the regional centre for Northwestern Ontario by providing government, medical, and educational services.
Thunder Bay is Ontario's largest port , and Canada's sixth largest port, rated by tonnage of cargo.
Thunder Bay is one of the largest grain handling ports in the world , with grain elevators having an estimated 2 million tonnes of storage capacity. The city is home to 4 major pulp and paper mills producing roughly 900,000 tons of paper and 450,000 tons of kraft pulp yearly. Thunder Bay is the headquarters for the largest lumber company in Ontario, Buchanan Forest Products. Total production of this firm is approximately 1 billion board feet per year. Thunder Bay and the surrounding area is also a major tourist destination.