Over the past few weeks, we have been discussing the individual cities that make up the Greater Toronto Area. This investigation, along with previously shared analysis of the Greater Vancouver Area, provided us with some helpful insights into what the housing market looks like in these two notoriously expensive cities by zooming in and assessing each area city by city. We were able to draw some conclusions; while they are still living up to their notorious expensive name, the pricing of properties seems to be the same or decreasing, along with the number of sales in the city. With this background information in mind, what places in Canada can be said to be the best places to call home in Canada overall?Recently, Re/Max published their Liveability Report, which looks at the most liveable Canadian neighbourhoods, by persona. The categories they look at are the best neighbourhoods for first-time homebuyers, for retirees, for big-city lovers, best suburban neighbourhood for families or move-up buyers, best for luxury seekers, for the climate-conscious buyer, for the arts and culture lover, for foodies, and for the health and wellness lover.&nbsp;In the fine-print at the bottom of the report, Re/Max explains how they reached their conclusions. The liveability scores of the neighbourhoods come from housing data, census data, and Local Logic’s Location Score Data (“calculated using thousands of open, commercial, and proprietary datasets”). They say “Local Logic identified key location characteristics and assigned them to each lifestyle.” The example they give is for city lovers with kids, which considers factors such as walkability, affordability, and proximity to daycares, schools, and healthcare.&nbsp;Let’s now look at the specifics. For the best neighbourhoods for first-time homebuyers, every neighbourhood is within major cities in Western Canada, including Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, and Edmonton. The obvious answer - housing affordability. By this measure, we can conclude it is likely Toronto would not be preferred for those who are trying to break into the housing market.&nbsp;Similarly, the best suburban neighbourhood for families or move-up buyers are also all in the West, including Winnipeg, Edmonton, Regina, and Calgary.&nbsp;To the surprise of absolutely no one, this logic tells us the best neighbourhoods for luxury seekers, all being in notoriously unaffordable and relatively unattainable cities, namely Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. The top luxurious neighbourhood is Governor’s Bridge of Toronto, described by Armin Group Toronto Real Estate to be home to “well-educated and accustomed to affluent living” and that “residents embrace a refined upscale lifestyle” and “shop at some of Toronto’s finest boutiques, frequent world-class eateries, and high-profile soirees and social gatherings.” They also acknowledge the “exclusive status” that has “attracted numerous elite Torontonians.” Houseful states that their homes are selling “for a medium price of $5M.”Also unsurprising, the best places for arts and culture lovers are in the country’s more diverse cities, including Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Winnipeg. It is well acknowledged that Toronto is the most diverse city in Canada, and Pearson PTE credits the other cities that Re/Max listed, highlighting their multiculturalism.&nbsp;A unique yet unsurprising appearance is made by St John’s Newfoundland in the best neighbourhoods for foodies, taking up two of the spots. While the other Canadian cities may be stronger in cultural diversity, Newfoundland’s own distinctive and famous seafood cuisine had to make the cut.Liveability depends on what you, the homeowner, are looking for. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer valuing affordability or a luxury seeker craving exclusivity, the best neighborhoods will vary based on your goals. Canada offers a range of living options to suit various lifestyles. As you consider your next move, keep in mind what aspects of liveability are most important to you and use this information to guide your decision.

Best Places to Live in Canada in 2024

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