Top 10 Best Cities to Live in Ontario, Canada
Are you thinking of moving to the Province of Ontario in Canada? Wondering, which city to move and settle down? Here we present a collection of the 10 Best Cities to Live in Ontario, Canada.
Cities in Ontario, Canada
The Ontario cities offer greater access to housing, food, healthcare, employment, and quality of education. It also assures freedom, political stability, a quality environment, and job security. These cities are considered safe places to live and offer an incredible lifestyle. While there are amazing cities in this part of Canada, there are also some places to avoid. Here are the 10 best places to live in Ontario, Canada.
Best 10 Cities to Live in Ontario, Canada
Let's catch up with the preferred Ontario cities and dig deeper into the pros and cons of living there.
1. Burlington
Burlington is tagged as one of the best cities to live in Ontario. A great city located on Lake Ontario between Hamilton and Oakville. It is about a 45 to 60 minutes drive from Toronto and offers a good location and natural scenery. Its proximity to major industrial hubs and nearby cities makes Burlington a great place to settle down.
The average home price of a detached house in Burlington is about $1.1 million. The city is a waterfront city that offers a unique balance of greenspace, city living, and tranquility. Plus a bustling environment that features restaurants, nightlife, malls, and local businesses. Crime rates are lower when compared to major cities, making it a safe place to live.
2. Oakville
Oakville is a suburban town within the Halton Region and part of the Greater Toronto Area. It is known for its beauty, cleanliness, and safety, with green recreational spaces and several parks. The city is a family-friendly place to live, with excellent schools and family-oriented activities.
Oakville's median a detached house price is around $1.5 million. The city has been ranked as one of the best places to live in Canada for many reasons. The diversity of the housing stock and beautifully designed homes make it a desirable place for many residents.
To get more information, don't forget to discover, Is Oakville in Ontario a good place to live?
3. Waterloo
Waterloo is the best for you if affordability is one of your prime concerns when moving to Ontario. It offers a unique blend of urban and rural living with a growing tech and innovation hub, top learning institutions, and business parks. Its proximity to Toronto also makes the region an attractive place to settle.
Waterloo's housing price is just over $700,000, making it far more affordable than the properties in Toronto. Also, there are job opportunities in Waterloo. So its residents do not necessarily need to find employment in Toronto.
4. Thunder Bay
Do you want to live somewhere safe with an outdoor lifestyle and job opportunities? You might think of living in Thunder Bay in Ontario. It is a large city near Lake Superior. Its location on a freshwater lake makes it spectacular and nature friendly. There are many outdoor adventures for the residents. These include fishing, hunting, and hiking.
Also, this city is ideal for people who want reasonably affordable housing with many amenities.
5. Stratford
Stratford is a city on the Avon River and one of the best places to settle in Ontario, Canada. The city offers the best of both worlds with the comforts of urban living alongside a small-town feeling. It is known for its incredible annual festivals.
Each year, a different part of the city acts a variety of the noble Shakespeare plays as drama viewed as part of their annual Stratford Festival. Stratford's weather is not harsh, and the crime rate is low compared to Ontario. The unemployment rate in Stratford is low due to the diverse job opportunities in the area. It's also a safe place to live.
6. Kingston
Kingston is a beautiful city with a lot of history and islands. It is family-friendly and thus suitable for anyone that wants a peaceful life for their children. The city has a cultural community, making it ideal for someone interested in theatre, arts, or music. Kingston has a good food scene and great restaurants, and the housing is affordable compared to other cities.
7. Barrie
Barrie is a city with every amenity you need to live a happy and fulfilled life. It offers city living on the beautiful Lake Simcoe in proximity to Toronto. The average cost of a home in Barrie is just over $700,000, with an abundance of nature, sports, and many activities.
Barrie's is home to several gourmet restaurants, cafes, bars, breweries, and nightclubs. The city also has a mountain resort and spa.
8. Hamilton
Hamilton is one of Canada’s leading industrial centers and the hub of an extensive fruit-growing district. It is considered one of the best places to live in Ontario, with natural landscapes, trails, waterfalls, and beautiful lookouts. It is known for its high-quality life, arts, heritage, and cultural scenes.
Hamilton is also conveniently located within a network of highways making it easy to commute to other cities for work or leisure activities.
9. Toronto
Toronto, the Capital of Ontario Province, is one of the preferred cities to move not only for Canadians but immigrants too. The city has over two million residents and is one of the best places to live in Ontario. It has people from different communities and is the most populated city in Canada.
You also have a lot of fun activities to do in Toronto, and this makes it a favorite tourist destination.
Toronto is Canada’s financial capital and home to many private IT companies with a stable economy, making it conducive for business. It offers the perfect mix of business, culture, and entertainment and is one of the world’s most economically powerful cities.
However, it is an expensive city to live, owing to the rising inflation, increased housing rents, higher mortgage rates, etc. Toronto has an average home price of $1 million for a two bedroom house. Doesn't that sound too much? If yes, you can also think of moving to one of the Best Toronto Suburbs to live and grow.
No doubt, Toronto is one of the best options if finding good employment is your priority as there are opportunities across numerous industries.
10. Ottawa
Do you prefer living in an urban environment where many things are going on? Then Ottawa is ideally the best place for you. It is one of the most affordable places to live in Canada, as the average price of a home is under $800000. Also, it is the best place to live for job opportunities across multiple sectors.
The city is rich in history from the buildings and museums. It is highly populated and the best place with beautiful nature for walking, skating and hiking. This beautiful city is known for hosting a series of festivals year-round with ideal and pleasant weather conditions. Ottawa is known for low crime rates and guaranteed healthcare services in the city.
Note: The housing prices stated above are based on Housing Market Report for September 2022. These are subject to change as per changes in market scenario. The Canadian real estate market prices are fluctuating at a much faster rate owing to changes in interest rates and demand/supply factors.
Which are the best cities in Ontario for living?
Moving to one of the best cities in Ontario can be a big decision with a lot of challenges. Therefore, make adequate efforts to ensure you understand what you are getting yourself into. Do proper research, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of living in a particular city, and then go ahead to get your dream home.
What do you think? Which is the best city to live in Ontario? Feel free to share your feedback and suggestions.
Last Updated:
2022-12-07