Sara Rosales had a checklist to help select the Canadian city to move to from Mexico with her family.

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The city needed to be close to good universities and colleges, since she was going back to school and her children would eventually need somewhere to study too. It had to be in a central location for job hunting. And most importantly, it had to be family-friendly.

Oakville, Ont. checked all of her boxes. “Being able to raise a family was one of the key points why we stayed here,” said Rosales, 43.

In addition to being this year’s overall winner, Oakville took the top spot in our ranking of the best places to live for New Canadians. Over the past 10 years, the percentage of visible minorities in Oakville has increased from 18 per cent to 31 per cent, according to the census. It is the 35th most linguistically diverse city in the country, with about 30 per cent of residents speaking a language other than English or French. People from all over the world see the same things in Oakville as Rosales.

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Living in Oakville allowed Rosales to continue her studies at Sheridan College, her husband to find a job in IT service management and her children to take advantage of the city’s many family-focused activities and events. For New Canadians who want access to the Toronto-area job market without paying downtown prices for housing, it’s easy to see why Oakville is a popular pick.

Still, affordability is a challenge, Rosales said. It would be difficult to make ends meet here for a family that didn’t have at least one breadwinner with a middle class job, she said.

“You really need to be stable economically in order to live there,” she said. “It’s hard to afford.”

Our ranking of the best places for new Canadians is based on the same 10 categories as the main Best Places to Live ranking, but with the weightings adjusted to reflect the needs and interests of immigrants. We award points to cities with a large percentage of the population speaking languages other than English or French and increase the importance of a low unemployment rate, affordable rents and access to an airport. For more information, please see the methodology page.

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Best Places for New Canadians — by region

Atlantic Canada: Halifax, N.S. (no. 194)
Quebec: Mont-Royal (no. 3)
Ontario: Oakville (no. 1)
Prairies: Brandon, Man. (no. 28)
Alberta: Red Deer (no. 17)
British Columbia: Delta (no. 8)

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The Top 100

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Rank	City	Province	Population	5-year population change	March 2018 economic region unemployment rate	Average household income	Average household discretionary income	Average household net worth	Average value of primary real estate	Average rent for two-bedroom apartment [1]	Average one-year rent increase for two-bedroom apartment [2]	Home price to income ratio	Population that takes transit to work	Population speaking language other than English or French
1	Oakville	ON	209,039	7.9%	5.7%	$161,540	$77,643	$1,742,036	$1,218,967	$1,456	4.0%	7.55	8.3%	13.8%
2	Ottawa	ON	999,183	6.7%	5.1%	$114,275	$57,511	$695,242	$510,363	$1,236	2.0%	4.47	13.8%	12.9%
3	Mont-Royal	QC	21,172	5.0%	6.3%	$191,671	$92,172	$2,392,238	$1,146,801	$1,110	0.0%	5.98	12.3%	14.0%
4	King	ON	26,697	18.4%	5.7%	$191,070	$93,863	$2,655,435	$1,428,993	$1,394	4.2%	7.48	3.3%	13.4%
5	Toronto	ON	2,933,262	5.6%	5.7%	$105,338	$52,182	$906,663	$880,923	$1,426	4.3%	8.36	19.2%	14.6%
6	Milton	ON	120,556	22.4%	5.7%	$125,802	$59,651	$1,129,276	$1,146,379	$1,249	3.8%	9.11	4.8%	13.9%
7	Brossard	QC	89,699	7.8%	4.9%	$97,129	$49,210	$610,855	$456,437	$804	2.2%	4.7	15.7%	14.3%
8	Delta	BC	108,076	4.5%	4.3%	$114,588	$59,173	$1,159,633	$1,038,841	$1,162	3.6%	9.07	6.9%	13.7%
9	Westmount	QC	21,083	3.3%	7.5%	$240,205	$115,822	$3,953,205	$1,588,535	$1,554	0.0%	6.61	10.1%	13.1%
10	Vaughan	ON	332,250	8.2%	5.7%	$130,190	$63,927	$1,667,910	$1,359,665	$1,394	4.2%	10.44	6.7%	14.8%
11	Markham	ON	358,416	10.2%	5.7%	$120,656	$61,094	$1,558,876	$1,329,714	$1,394	4.2%	11.02	8.4%	14.9%
12	Richmond Hill	ON	211,034	7.3%	5.7%	$116,651	$57,761	$1,506,729	$1,330,432	$1,393	3.4%	11.41	7.7%	14.9%
13	Saint-Lambert	QC	22,432	2.5%	4.9%	$114,114	$54,777	$881,272	$511,602	$862	1.1%	4.48	13.4%	9.7%
14	Whitchurch-Stouffville	ON	50,099	17.9%	5.7%	$137,283	$68,055	$2,150,564	$1,952,512	$1,167	3.4%	14.22	4.0%	13.4%
15	North Vancouver (DM)	BC	90,687	4.1%	4.3%	$137,752	$69,919	$1,869,495	$1,527,070	$1,757	6.2%	11.09	9.0%	13.3%
16	West Vancouver	BC	44,690	2.9%	4.3%	$209,629	$108,980	$4,536,269	$2,881,458	$2,434	6.5%	13.75	6.3%	14.0%
17	Red Deer	AB	107,564	8.7%	4.9%	$115,055	$62,584	$628,900	$409,163	$1,011	-0.4%	3.56	3.3%	11.3%
18	Halton Hills	ON	65,782	6.0%	5.7%	$131,026	$64,075	$1,190,923	$1,088,359	$1,394	4.2%	8.31	3.1%	11.2%
19	Caledon	ON	73,540	13.4%	5.7%	$137,824	$68,182	$1,321,060	$954,983	$1,394	4.2%	6.93	2.3%	13.0%
20	Brampton	ON	657,141	13.8%	5.7%	$101,848	$50,979	$777,012	$924,715	$1,285	2.6%	9.08	6.9%	14.6%
21	Mississauga	ON	791,672	5.8%	5.7%	$107,385	$53,886	$850,977	$811,224	$1,333	3.8%	7.55	8.9%	14.7%
22	Calgary	AB	1,359,777	12.1%	8.0%	$132,568	$71,277	$861,346	$563,463	$1,247	-1.1%	4.25	10.2%	13.8%
23	Waterloo	ON	109,671	5.1%	5.7%	$113,386	$57,000	$834,766	$557,790	$1,186	2.7%	4.92	4.5%	13.4%
24	Vaudreuil-Dorion	QC	40,303	12.6%	4.9%	$85,720	$41,639	$423,823	$392,047	$772	0.0%	4.57	4.2%	12.3%
25	Burlington	ON	197,683	6.5%	5.9%	$121,990	$62,773	$1,054,536	$870,475	$1,366	5.0%	7.14	5.3%	12.5%
26	Vancouver	BC	672,719	5.8%	4.3%	$93,520	$45,463	$1,157,164	$1,514,621	$1,552	6.2%	16.2	18.4%	14.7%
27	Lacombe	AB	13,906	9.1%	4.9%	$112,174	$62,227	$754,291	$353,740	$874	0.0%	3.15	0.7%	8.8%
28	Brandon	MB	51,483	7.8%	4.9%	$90,226	$48,147	$370,002	$349,576	$853	0.0%	3.87	3.1%	12.8%
29	Greater Vancouver	BC	17,507	17.6%	4.3%	$101,671	$52,631	$1,737,120	$1,578,431	$2,188	4.9%	15.52	8.5%	15.0%
30	Wood Buffalo	AB	76,980	3.3%	5.7%	$221,681	$118,753	$699,903	$927,164	$1,531	-1.4%	4.18	15.8%	12.9%
31	Richmond	BC	210,767	5.8%	4.3%	$92,384	$47,543	$1,204,103	$1,110,726	$1,375	1.8%	12.02	10.0%	14.9%
32	Pickering	ON	98,642	6.0%	5.7%	$122,258	$61,743	$899,725	$754,649	$1,394	4.2%	6.17	8.2%	12.7%
33	Canmore	AB	14,930	8.9%	5.1%	$129,959	$70,711	$1,478,315	$912,436	$1,044	0.0%	7.02	0.9%	11.6%
34	Edmonton	AB	1,020,976	13.4%	6.8%	$105,795	$56,716	$585,611	$470,962	$1,119	-1.2%	4.45	9.8%	13.8%
35	North Vancouver (CY)	BC	56,176	8.9%	4.3%	$84,888	$40,887	$742,379	$997,974	$1,584	4.8%	11.76	14.0%	14.1%
36	Port Moody	BC	35,592	4.0%	4.3%	$117,829	$57,833	$1,043,799	$1,015,383	$1,151	6.2%	8.62	9.9%	13.7%
37	Coquitlam	BC	148,747	9.6%	4.3%	$99,736	$50,993	$878,780	$853,016	$1,226	9.6%	8.55	10.1%	14.5%
38	Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville	QC	27,171	2.6%	4.9%	$118,951	$58,642	$864,221	$454,278	$801	0.0%	3.82	9.4%	5.4%
39	St. Albert	AB	70,874	8.2%	6.8%	$147,201	$80,174	$900,192	$481,835	$1,274	-2.9%	3.27	4.7%	9.4%
40	Abbotsford	BC	149,466	7.0%	4.3%	$91,624	$46,995	$698,184	$644,132	$951	2.6%	7.03	1.7%	14.1%
41	Kingston	ON	133,328	3.5%	4.9%	$92,469	$48,666	$523,250	$392,953	$1,157	3.3%	4.25	5.3%	9.9%
42	Burnaby	BC	248,047	5.8%	4.3%	$87,254	$44,081	$926,533	$1,042,812	$1,381	6.8%	11.95	16.8%	14.8%
43	Newmarket	ON	90,908	7.2%	5.7%	$115,331	$55,510	$947,429	$920,758	$1,269	4.2%	7.98	5.6%	13.0%
44	Notre-Dame-de-l'ële-Perrot	QC	10,863	0.9%	4.9%	$108,516	$53,538	$722,418	$487,889	$707	1.1%	4.5	4.2%	11.6%
45	Saskatoon	SK	274,104	11.5%	6.5%	$102,341	$52,504	$511,633	$421,338	$1,084	-1.4%	4.12	3.5%	12.5%
46	Surrey	BC	552,455	9.8%	4.3%	$100,979	$51,555	$901,133	$969,519	$1,077	7.6%	9.6	7.9%	14.6%
47	Candiac	QC	22,478	6.1%	4.9%	$128,753	$61,794	$760,258	$497,374	$741	1.1%	3.86	9.0%	8.4%
48	Oak Bay	BC	18,081	0.1%	5.6%	$152,785	$78,903	$2,269,821	$1,257,417	$1,363	6.3%	8.23	5.4%	10.2%
49	Aurora	ON	59,946	6.8%	5.7%	$143,759	$68,795	$1,532,968	$1,212,006	$1,402	6.2%	8.43	5.5%	13.5%
50	Grande Prairie	AB	69,175	11.2%	5.1%	$124,030	$65,374	$494,559	$443,906	$1,012	-0.4%	3.58	2.7%	9.1%
51	New Westminster	BC	75,570	7.7%	4.3%	$82,968	$40,809	$537,391	$759,425	$1,335	9.6%	9.15	19.1%	14.2%
52	LaSalle	ON	31,124	4.0%	5.9%	$112,717	$61,487	$654,200	$374,053	$885	3.1%	3.32	1.1%	12.2%
53	Port Coquitlam	BC	62,407	6.3%	4.3%	$106,495	$53,196	$658,689	$666,671	$1,211	8.9%	6.26	8.8%	13.7%
54	Whistler	BC	13,193	17.2%	4.3%	$116,362	$59,049	$1,460,422	$1,620,336	$1,450	6.2%	13.92	9.7%	10.8%
55	Saanich	BC	116,964	3.7%	5.6%	$102,652	$51,595	$1,029,461	$832,569	$1,291	9.5%	8.11	8.0%	12.5%
56	Dorval	QC	19,900	5.2%	7.5%	$93,966	$46,167	$651,561	$483,123	$874	0.0%	5.14	12.3%	13.3%
57	Saint-Constant	QC	29,295	8.3%	4.9%	$93,836	$47,213	$334,350	$332,935	$759	0.0%	3.55	7.0%	6.1%
58	Longueuil	QC	248,943	4.3%	4.9%	$71,690	$36,011	$275,080	$315,177	$753	2.0%	4.4	13.5%	11.5%
59	Maple Ridge	BC	87,346	8.2%	4.3%	$100,207	$50,057	$803,882	$858,762	$956	6.6%	8.57	5.7%	12.0%
60	Beaconsfield	QC	20,027	1.6%	7.5%	$170,986	$79,601	$1,686,729	$706,803	$1,109	0.0%	4.13	9.6%	12.7%
61	Ajax	ON	127,977	8.8%	5.7%	$115,913	$57,253	$828,684	$896,749	$1,105	4.2%	7.74	10.5%	13.0%
62	Fort St. John	BC	21,251	6.0%	5.7%	$124,134	$65,534	$440,481	$385,760	$1,024	-4.4%	3.11	0.8%	7.8%
63	Russell	ON	17,155	6.3%	5.1%	$132,583	$68,942	$509,564	$403,638	$1,007	-1.0%	3.04	3.6%	3.7%
64	Pitt Meadows	BC	19,645	5.7%	4.3%	$101,692	$49,891	$776,718	$795,342	$1,218	6.2%	7.82	9.0%	12.6%
65	Pointe-Claire	QC	32,687	3.5%	7.5%	$105,455	$51,153	$718,811	$464,113	$1,151	0.0%	4.4	11.1%	13.1%
66	La Prairie	QC	25,598	3.9%	4.9%	$98,964	$48,880	$429,647	$373,274	$756	0.0%	3.77	9.8%	8.5%
67	Squamish	BC	21,421	13.1%	4.3%	$108,238	$55,347	$713,434	$706,062	$1,161	22.2%	6.52	1.9%	12.0%
68	Guelph	ON	137,187	6.3%	5.7%	$98,572	$49,625	$635,277	$633,889	$1,126	3.4%	6.43	5.5%	12.7%
69	Boucherville	QC	42,912	3.3%	4.9%	$125,089	$63,830	$841,621	$486,259	$686	1.1%	3.89	9.1%	5.1%
70	Springfield	MB	15,839	6.9%	5.4%	$144,143	$78,740	$692,130	$452,706	$1,130	0.0%	3.14	1.1%	11.4%
71	Langley	BC	125,264	11.4%	4.3%	$114,208	$58,640	$1,151,960	$1,004,261	$1,728	6.2%	8.79	2.3%	12.4%
72	Strathcona County	AB	105,899	7.7%	6.8%	$158,095	$85,950	$1,171,105	$599,548	$1,339	-2.2%	3.79	3.7%	9.3%
73	Saint-Lazare	QC	20,631	4.4%	4.9%	$119,771	$58,277	$765,098	$570,543	$874	1.1%	4.76	3.1%	9.2%
74	Whitby	ON	136,657	6.1%	5.7%	$120,222	$57,535	$817,453	$763,391	$1,124	3.3%	6.35	7.4%	11.9%
75	Regina	SK	232,654	10.1%	5.5%	$103,354	$54,822	$480,562	$410,876	$1,116	0.6%	3.98	3.4%	11.9%
76	North Saanich	BC	11,369	2.0%	5.6%	$140,989	$74,320	$1,919,655	$1,091,042	$1,141	6.3%	7.74	4.1%	8.6%
77	Saugeen Shores	ON	14,109	6.0%	4.9%	$129,294	$66,705	$777,845	$502,673	$852	3.8%	3.89	2.3%	6.6%
78	Tecumseh	ON	23,741	-0.9%	5.9%	$115,124	$63,379	$770,142	$390,909	$885	3.1%	3.4	0.9%	12.3%
79	Chestermere	AB	21,911	24.1%	8.0%	$165,535	$87,884	$1,058,807	$611,958	$1,239	-1.0%	3.7	2.7%	13.6%
80	Kitchener	ON	244,880	5.6%	5.7%	$89,379	$45,051	$489,856	$507,281	$1,067	3.7%	5.68	4.5%	13.6%
81	Hamilton	ON	570,654	4.5%	5.9%	$90,964	$48,481	$593,271	$561,524	$1,027	5.2%	6.17	5.4%	13.2%
82	Kirkland	QC	20,629	-2.6%	7.5%	$152,161	$74,459	$1,155,315	$595,637	$791	2.2%	3.91	7.4%	14.1%
83	Châteauguay	QC	50,987	5.0%	4.9%	$79,267	$41,174	$318,353	$300,633	$723	3.5%	3.79	6.8%	10.3%
84	Brooks	AB	15,346	5.6%	6.5%	$111,445	$60,593	$575,196	$332,561	$840	-0.5%	2.98	2.0%	13.5%
85	Gatineau	QC	288,092	5.1%	5.6%	$84,084	$41,606	$307,189	$324,369	$783	2.2%	3.86	10.9%	10.0%
86	London	ON	406,462	5.2%	6.3%	$87,873	$46,161	$490,772	$361,543	$1,057	2.9%	4.11	5.0%	12.8%
87	Sylvan Lake	AB	16,052	14.7%	4.9%	$124,729	$66,317	$706,294	$418,143	$912	-4.2%	3.35	1.6%	5.0%
88	White Rock	BC	20,863	4.6%	4.3%	$90,177	$45,406	$1,012,789	$819,543	$1,450	6.2%	9.09	3.8%	12.4%
89	C™te-Saint-Luc	QC	33,822	2.7%	7.5%	$94,795	$48,116	$1,145,920	$614,581	$791	2.2%	6.48	10.6%	14.4%
90	New Tecumseth	ON	36,745	12.3%	5.7%	$111,288	$58,344	$755,965	$583,646	$1,024	4.1%	5.24	1.6%	8.9%
91	Winkler	MB	13,768	15.6%	3.2%	$77,581	$41,352	$406,075	$304,858	$697	3.9%	3.93	0.6%	14.7%
92	Dollard-Des Ormeaux	QC	50,925	1.3%	7.5%	$106,674	$52,666	$758,998	$479,459	$870	2.7%	4.49	9.9%	14.5%
93	St. Catharines	ON	136,160	1.0%	5.9%	$81,168	$43,938	$478,551	$403,179	$1,061	3.1%	4.97	2.4%	12.1%
94	Cambridge	ON	135,656	3.0%	5.7%	$96,231	$48,922	$514,627	$490,505	$1,084	3.2%	5.1	3.4%	12.6%
95	Woolwich	ON	26,209	6.8%	5.7%	$138,178	$74,341	$1,138,679	$598,429	$905	4.3%	4.33	1.1%	12.8%
96	Niagara-on-the-Lake	ON	18,026	9.5%	5.9%	$112,098	$62,412	$1,158,477	$651,023	$1,082	4.5%	5.81	0.9%	12.9%
97	Steinbach	MB	16,900	15.7%	5.4%	$85,523	$44,797	$429,081	$337,779	$1,130	0.0%	3.95	1.8%	14.3%
98	Wetaskiwin	AB	13,644	4.6%	3.9%	$85,511	$47,141	$341,272	$257,962	$973	7.8%	3.02	0.7%	11.2%
99	Cochrane	AB	28,789	31.5%	8.0%	$144,132	$77,689	$885,205	$583,169	$925	0.0%	4.05	1.8%	9.3%
100	Camrose	AB	19,488	5.5%	3.9%	$98,525	$56,056	$519,846	$319,733	$924	-4.9%	3.25	0.7%	7.4%	d