Large cities are yet the most well known choice for newbies to Canada, yet more individuals are beginning to consider more modest communities. What’s more, what difference would it make? More smaller cities are generally more reasonable than the major metropolitan communities.
However affordability is only one factor among many, as small urban communities pull in newcomers for a lot of different reasons as well.
We went through Stat Canada’s information, including the 2021 census, and discovered probably the fastest developing little urban communities in Canada. These urban communities will quite often be famous among new families who are searching for a good place to bring up their kids.
These five cities are incorporated among the “best” not just as a result of population increase in five years, yet in addition on the grounds that on average their cost of living are not as much as what you would see in greater urban communities. A significant number of them are close enough to the big cities for you to enjoy in the vibrancy of city life.
East Gwillimbury, Ontario
If you dream of raising your family in suburbia, East Gwillimbury may be the place for you.
Located within the Metropolitan Area of Toronto, East Gwillimbury is well-known for being Canada’s fastest growing municipality. According to the 2021 census, East Gwillimbury grew 44 percent in five years. Its new-immigrant population grew more twice in that time.
Population of East Gwillimbury is around 35,000. It is about an hour away by car or public transit from downtown Toronto, which means it’s not the most affordable destination on our list. Cost of living in is somewhere around $3,200 CAD, whereas in Toronto you may have to shell out $4,000 CAD just to enjoy a reasonable living style.
East Gwillimbury is a good place for families with two incomes and maybe some kids. According to Point2Homes, about 30 percent of the population is under age 24, with the largest share being under 14. And while the largest share of households are made up of two people (~31 percent) about 22 percent are made up of four.
As you would think from a family-friendly community, East Gwillimbury is home to a number of schools and recreational activities. Located in the northern part of the York Region, East Gwillimbury is peaceful than the bustling streets of the city. But quiet does not always means boring — there are still plenty of amenities with over 30 park locations, sports fields, playgrounds, and a mountain bike course.
Other attractions include the historic Sharon Temple, the popular Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park, and one of the few remaining drive-in theaters in Canada, Stardust Drive-In.
Langford, British Columbia
Langford, BC is a city near Victoria, BC. It’s the fastest growing city in the province and the third fastest growing in the country. Over five years, the population increased by almost a third to a reported 46,584 people in 2021.
About a 20 minute drive from downtown Victoria, Langford is a city on the edge of Langford Lake and Glen Lake. The oceanfront at Royal Beach is just a nine-minute drive from downtown.
Langford has a relatively young population. The average age is about 39 years old, compared to the average age in Canada at about 42, and nearby Victoria at 45.
It is cheaper to live in Langford compared to Victoria, and especially Vancouver. According to Livingcost.org, the monthly cost of living for one person is about $1,705 per month to live in Langford, $1,906 to live in Victoria, and $2,298 in Vancouver.
Whether you want to ride a horse down Galloping Goose Trail, check out the annual salmon run or spot a bald eagle at Goldstream Provincial Park, Langford is a place for people who want to live between nature and the city, at a more affordable price.
Other amenities you can find in Langford include the largest climbing facility on the island, a 14-acre bike park, car racing, and golf.
Niverville, Manitoba
The Census Metropolis Area of Winnipeg includes this town, which has seen a 29% increase in immigrants over the last five years, making it the fastest-growing municipality in Manitoba. Niverville, which is home to roughly 6,000 people, has a quarter of foreign-born residents who are from Paraguay and 41% of all recent immigrants are from India.
Driving time from Niverville to Steinbach is 23 minutes and from Niverville to downtown Winnipeg is 42 minutes.
According to Point2Homes, the typical property is worth $357,600, and a majority of them are single detached homes. A little more than half of the population is made up of families with three or more members, and the majority of homeowners are under 44. Compared to Winnipeg, Niverville has a 4 percent lower cost of living.
A water park and a full-service film and television studio are two of the significant developments planned for the area.
Numerous parks with playgrounds, beach volleyball courts, splash pads, splash pads, and baseball diamonds are among the attractions available to Niverville residents. Opening in 2021, the Niverville Community Resource and Recreation Centre offered locals a multipurpose fieldhouse, an indoor track, and an arena. A huge dog park, a skate park, and a 9-hole golf course are also there.
Skating facilities and curling lanes make it possible to enjoy (yes, enjoy!) the long Manitoban winter. Participate in Communities in Bloom during the summer to display your green thumb, or simply stroll down Main Street.
Airdrie, Alberta
It might be ideal for you to raise your family in Airdrie, Alberta.
In just five years, the population of Airdrie increased by more than 20 percent to 74,100. One fifth of the population was made up of recent immigrants, the most of them were from the Philippines, India, and Nigeria. A large portion of people in the city are under 44. Three or more persons live in a household in little under half of all households. As a result, there are many family-friendly activities in the city, including parks, splash pads, and youth sports leagues, to mention a few.
For a single renter, the average cost of living in Airdrie is around $3,157 per month. Between 2016 and 2021, Airdrie’s rent and mortgage payments for housing barely increased. A typical home is worth roughly $418,000.
In general, people favor Airdrie because of its close access to the airport, big-box businesses, and the absence of a provincial sales tax due to its location in Alberta. The majority of the amenities you require are available, with one notable exception of a hospital. For a community of its size, it is surprising that people must travel 20 minutes into Calgary to reach the closest hospital.
Cornwall, Prince Edward Island
Cornwall, Prince Edward Island, is the fastest growing city in Canada’s Atlantic area.
Cornwall, located around 15 minutes from the province’s capital city of Charlottetown, grew its population by more than 20% between 2016 and 2021, reaching 6,574. half of which was new immigrant. China had the greatest number of new immigrants, followed by India and the United Arab Emirates.
When the news of Cornwall’s rapid population rise broke, the mayor, Minerva McCourt, told Saltwire that the cause is related to schools.
“Cornwall’s schools have always been treated upon as favorable and a place to go, bring up your kids. And that’s been a factor in people moving to Cornwall for years,” McCourt reportedly said.
Cornwall is home to Westwood primary school, Eliot River elementary, and East Wiltshire junior high.
Average home value in Cornwall is about $358,000. The cost of living is about 15% below the national average, but home prices are higher than the average price on Prince Edward Island.
If you want to have fun in Cornwall, check out the Rise and Climb Adventure Course, Seven’s Pinball, or the Glen Afton Golf Course. Not to mention, being on PEI, you can drive edge to edge within three hours. Meaning all the island has to offer, including red beaches, is within driving distance.
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