Ontario continues to be a desirable place to live, as evidenced by a recent ranking where the province had seven locations featured among the top places to live in Canada. Despite some common complaints from residents, Ontario’s charm and livability have been recognized on a national level.
Real estate listing site Zolo evaluated various factors such as housing prices, average income levels, crime and unemployment rates, walkability, the number of sunny days per year, access to medical care, and other criteria that contribute to a city’s overall appeal.
Top Ontario Cities in the Nationwide Top Ten
1. Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa clinched the top spot with an average home price of $643,700, which is below the national average of $696,179. Residents enjoy a high average income of $126,700 per year, and the city boasts a low unemployment rate of 5.3 percent. Additionally, Ottawa’s population growth is relatively modest at 8.9 percent, making it attractive for those seeking less competition for housing and services compared to rapidly growing cities.
2. Simcoe & District, Ontario
Located just 1.5 hours from Toronto, Simcoe & District offers an average home price of $563,500, significantly lower than the GTA’s $1,162,167. The area also benefits from an average household income of $110,900, a high walk score of 90, and a low unemployment rate of 5.4 percent. However, its crime severity index is slightly higher than Ottawa’s, at 58.47 compared to 52.91.
3. Guelph, Ontario
Guelph ranks highly despite a higher average home price of $821,200 and household income of $119,100. The city has an impressive unemployment rate of just 3.1 percent. While Guelph’s crime index and population growth rate are higher than those of Ottawa and Simcoe, it still offers a strong walk score and nearly as many sunny days per year.
Other Top Ontario Cities
Barrie, Ontario
Barrie stands out for its high household incomes and low unemployment rates. Its less dense population makes it ideal for those seeking more space.
Tilsonburg, Ontario
Tilsonburg combines small-town charm with proximity to London. It boasts high household incomes and low unemployment rates.
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
Known for its universities and major tech companies, Kitchener-Waterloo offers high household incomes and a blend of urban and suburban amenities.
Conclusion
Zolo’s ranking considered housing affordability along with other key factors that make a city desirable. The top Ontario cities, including Barrie, Tilsonburg, and Kitchener-Waterloo, offer high household incomes and low unemployment rates, along with less dense populations, making them perfect for those seeking more space.
Ottawa, with its affordability, low crime severity index, and strong household incomes, is a standout among Ontario cities.
In additional rankings, Zolo also highlighted Barrie, Ottawa, Simcoe, Guelph, and Kitchener, as well as the GTA, Mississauga, and Hamilton, as top places for families to live. Guelph, Ottawa, and Kitchener were also recognized as some of the best places for young adults to reside.
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