Moneysense Canada has always printed an article on the best places to live in Canada for the past few years now.
Best places 2010
http://www.moneysense.ca/property/best- … -live-2010
Best places to live 2013
http://www.moneysense.ca/best-places-2013
Best places to live 2014
http://www.moneysense.ca/canadas-best-p … ll-ranking
Best large cities to live 2014
http://www.moneysense.ca/canadas-best-p … zed-cities
Canada's Best Places to Live 2014: Time to think small
http://www.moneysense.ca/property/canad … hink-small
and here are some of the criteria use by them
http://www.moneysense.ca/property/canad … ideal-city
I am hoping to gather thoughts on what's the criteria for choosing a city and giving it a star for a place to live here in Canada?
Here are my expectations and my verdict (note this is very biased to folks like me and in my industry). I personally choose and prefer mid-sized city and I've chosen Halifax to be my home base. Here are my reasons why?
1) Size (very general and high level): I pick size because its a good indicator of other things. Large megapolis city is bound to be filled with the common problems like higher housing prices (or small cramped up apartments in downtown, like Singapore or HK), over population, longer commuting time, more road congestion, not so friendly folks (in general too)...
2) Housing: This is probably one of the most important thing. I am sure should someone want to stick it out here for the long haul, would prefer that their rental be use to pay for their mortgage instead. Thus a lower home price would be ideal. Not like the monstrously outrageous prices in other major cities like Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. I bought a semi-detached home 3000 sq ft (less than 5 yrs) with completed basement and sizeable backyard and 10 minutes drive to downtown core, 2 min drive to the outlet stores and shopping mall for approx 360K. Don't think you'll get that in those places.
3) Short commute: You still can buy / rent homes and reasonable distance from your work place. Population size means less cars on the road, means less congestion too.
4) Jobs: Now, some may disagree which is true. More people are headed out west because of job opportunities presented there through the oil and gas industry. But, small-mid sized cities have been reinventing themselves with opportunities for tech start-ups. The fact that you don't have to be based at the centre like Toronto and that tech allows things to be done remotely means, more and more tech companies (especially newer ones), prefer to setup shop in these cities. If one is not in the tech industry, then that's a different story.... Personally, going to a city that is not your typical large city means less competition from other potential candidates. Not many folks would want to settle in the small-mid size cities, I am sure of that - which is a good thing for us who wants to.
5) Universities/Colleges: Access to reasonably good universities (for my kid in the future)... Saint Mary's, Acadia, Mt St Vincent, St Fx, Dal, NSCAD
6) Culture: It may be mid sized but its steep in culture and the arts scene is great. Yearly festivals here like the Jazz festival, Buskers, Tall ships, Celtic Colors etc.
7) Food & drinks: Love the access to local and seasonal food. Annapolis Valley has some of the best greens ever and now they too are going to go big into the wine industry. So yea, I do support local economy sometimes when it makes sense...
8) Free medical
9) Public transport: reasonably good public transport within the downtown core (I used to live downtown and depended on it which ain't that bad. On time, frequent and fair price)
10) Weather: If you ask me, I believe Halifax gotta a better deal than folks inland like Quebec, Moncton, even Toronto! We don't get as much snow and have lesser -20 days in winter than they do! That's because its closer to the ocean and thus brings the temperature slightly higher.
Now here's what is not so good about the place:
1) Higher provincial tax. Yes, second highest in Canada (after Ontario) despite being a small province. But you do benefit from cheaper housing.
2) For those not in tech like I am, then job is scarce.
3) Lesser malls. True. But its all relative right. Do you really want to visit every mall?
4) Lesser choice for goods. True for me, but listen, I'd pay a visit to a major city like Toronto (for pleasure and for business) either ways every year. So I'll hold any major purchases I need to make until then.
5) Not as many like minded immigrant communities. For me, this is a bummer, but I've learned to lived with it. You can't get everything. If you can meet at least 60 - 70% of your criteria, then you're in good hands.