Canada's Top 25 Best Places to Live in 2018

—Updated 08/08/2018 to reflect correct figures for ‘property tax as percentage of income’—

Aerial view of Whitby, Ontario. (Town of Whitby)

25. Whitby, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 103 Population: 136,657 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7% Median Household Income: $101,792 Average Household Net Worth: $817,453 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.7% Total Days Above 20°C: 100 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 3,251 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 81 See more stats about Whitby, Ont. here.

24. New Tecumseth, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 170 Population: 36,745 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7% Median Household Income: $96,041 Average Household Net Worth: $755,965 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.6% Total Days Above 20°C: 122 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,906 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 95 See more stats about New Tecumseth, Ont. here.

23. Newmarket, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 56 Population: 90,908 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7% Median Household Income: $95,636 Average Household Net Worth: $947,429 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.7% Total Days Above 20°C: 107 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,749 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 95 See more stats about Newmarket, Ont. here.

22. Bonnyville No. 87, Alta.

Rank in 2017: 228 Population: 14,658 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 3.9% Median Household Income: $103,652 Average Household Net Worth: $789,157 Property Tax as % of Income: 1.4% Total Days Above 20°C: 86 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 4,899 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 93 See more stats about Bonnyville No. 87, Alta. here.

St-Isidore in The Nation municipality of Ontario, Canada (P199/Wikipedia)

21. The Nation, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 123 Population: 13,275 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.1% Median Household Income: $88,088 Average Household Net Worth: $478,620 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.2% Total Days Above 20°C: 113 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,186 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 142 See more stats about The Nation, Ont. here. Compare mortgage rates: MoneySense Mortgage Rate Finder »

Whistler at night (David McColm/Tourism Whistler)

20. Whistler, B.C.

Rank in 2017: 84 Population: 13,193 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.3% Median Household Income: $86,423 Average Household Net Worth: $1,460,422 Property Tax as % of Income: 1.2% Total Days Above 20°C: 83 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 14,137 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 159 See more stats about Whistler, B.C. here.

19. St. Albert, Alta.

Rank in 2017: 7 Population: 70,874 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 6.8% Median Household Income: $123,948 Average Household Net Worth: $900,192 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.0% Total Days Above 20°C: 84 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 5,313 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 129 See more stats about St. Albert, Alta. here.

18. King, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 68 Population: 26,697 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7% Median Household Income: $110,816 Average Household Net Worth: $2,655,435 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.6% Total Days Above 20°C: 114 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,749 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 95 See more stats about King, Ont. here.

17. Lévis, Que.

Rank in 2017: 9 Population: 147,403 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 3.4% Median Household Income: $79,323 Average Household Net Worth: $387,146 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.0% Total Days Above 20°C: 94 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,784 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 106 See more stats about Lévis, Que. here.

People skate at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, Ontario (Benson Kua/Wikipedia)

16. Toronto, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 129 Population: 2,933,262 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7% Median Household Income: $55,945 Average Household Net Worth: $906,663 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.0% Total Days Above 20°C: 117 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 3,847 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 75 See more stats about Toronto, Ont. here. See today’s best rates: MoneySense Mortgage Rate Finder »

15. Fort St. John, B.C.

Rank in 2017: 160 Population: 21,251 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7% Median Household Income: $106,327 Average Household Net Worth: $440,481 Property Tax as % of Income: 1.1% Total Days Above 20°C: 64 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 14,000 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 104 See more stats about Fort St. John, B.C. here.

14. Saugeen Shores, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 17 Population: 14,109 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.9% Median Household Income: $105,210 Average Household Net Worth: $777,845 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.7% Total Days Above 20°C: 110 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 5,113 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 107 See more stats about Saugeen Shores, Ont. here.

Aerial view of Mount Royal (Photograph by Yves Tremblay – Photo Hlico)

13. Mont-Royal, Que.

Rank in 2017: 8 Population: 21,172 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 6.3% Median Household Income: $145,853 Average Household Net Worth: $2,392,238 Property Tax as % of Income: 3.3% Total Days Above 20°C: 117 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 4,594 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 124 See more stats about Mont-Royal, Que. here.

An aerial view of the city of Red Deer, Alberta. (Dwight Arthur/City of Red Deer)

12. Red Deer, Alta.

Rank in 2017: 330 Population: 107,564 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.9% Median Household Income: $90,844 Average Household Net Worth: $628,900 Property Tax as % of Income: 1.6% Total Days Above 20°C: 83 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 19,460 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 99 See more stats about Red Deer, Alta. here.

11. Camrose, Alta.

Rank in 2017: 216 Population: 19,488 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 3.9% Median Household Income: $61,873 Average Household Net Worth: $519,846 Property Tax as % of Income: 1.8% Total Days Above 20°C: 83 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 9,520 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 99 See more stats about Camrose, Alta. here. Find the lowest rates: MoneySense Mortgage Rate Finder »

10. Halton Hills, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 24 Population: 65,782 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7% Median Household Income: $108,410 Average Household Net Worth: $1,190,923 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.6% Total Days Above 20°C: 120 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,133 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 91 See more stats about Halton Hills, Ont. here.

Downtown Saint Lambert, Quebec (waferboard/Wikipedia)

9. Saint-Lambert, Que.

Rank in 2017: 55 Population: 22,432 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.9% Median Household Income: $83,626 Average Household Net Worth: $881,272 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.7% Total Days Above 20°C: 118 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 3,724 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 96 See more stats about Saint-Lambert, Que. here.

8. Westmount, Que.

Rank in 2017: 52 Population: 21,083 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 7.5% Median Household Income: $117,755 Average Household Net Worth: $3,953,205 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.7% Total Days Above 20°C: 117 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 4,594 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 124 See more stats about Westmount, Que. here.

7. Canmore, Alta.

Rank in 2017: 29 Population: 14,930 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.1% Median Household Income: $75,848 Average Household Net Worth: $1,478,315 Property Tax as % of Income: 1.2% Total Days Above 20°C: 64 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 7,482 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 138 See more stats about Canmore, Alta. here.

Aerial view of Milton, Ontario (City of Milton)

6. Milton, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 151 Population: 120,556 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7% Median Household Income: $111,875 Average Household Net Worth: $1,129,276 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.0% Total Days Above 20°C: 120 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,133 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 91 See more stats about Milton, Ont. here.

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Main Street in Lacombe, Alberta (Glen Larson/Wikipedia)

5. Lacombe, Alta.

Rank in 2017: 299 Population: 13,906 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.9% Median Household Income: $97,800 Average Household Net Worth: $754,291 Property Tax as % of Income: 1.8% Total Days Above 20°C: 81 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 7,932 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 99 See more stats about Lacombe, Alta. here.

4. Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que.

Rank in 2017: 6 Population: 27,171 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.9% Median Household Income: $96,757 Average Household Net Worth: $864,221 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.6% Total Days Above 20°C: 118 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 3,724 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 96 See more stats about Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que. here.

Castor River in Russell Township, Ontario (Sylvie Brault)

3. Russell Township, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 21 Population: 17,155 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.1% Median Household Income: $112,644 Average Household Net Worth: $509,564 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.2% Total Days Above 20°C: 78 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,540 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 142 See more stats about Russell Township, Ont. here.

Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario (Kovyrina/Shutterstock)

2. Ottawa, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 1 Population: 999,183 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.1% Median Household Income: $93,975 Average Household Net Worth: $695,242 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.4% Total Days Above 20°C: 117 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 3,782 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 142 See more stats about Ottawa, Ont. here.

Aerial view of Oakville, Ontario (Town of Oakville)

1. Oakville, Ont.

Rank in 2017: 15 Population: 209,039 Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7% Median Household Income: $112,207 Average Household Net Worth: $1,742,036 Property Tax as % of Income: 2.6% Total Days Above 20°C: 107 Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,133 Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 91 See more stats about Oakville, Ont. here. *See the 2018 Canada’s Best Places to Live methodology for more details about this category.

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Comments Cancel reply

Sachin Maini says:

March 2, 2021 at 9:33 am

why Brampton is not in the chart tell me.

Reply

Canada’s Top 25 Best Places to Live in 2018

25. Whitby, Ont.

24. New Tecumseth, Ont.

23. Newmarket, Ont.

22. Bonnyville No. 87, Alta.

21. The Nation, Ont.

20. Whistler, B.C.

19. St. Albert, Alta.

18. King, Ont.

17. Lévis, Que.

16. Toronto, Ont.

15. Fort St. John, B.C.

14. Saugeen Shores, Ont.

13. Mont-Royal, Que.

12. Red Deer, Alta.

11. Camrose, Alta.

10. Halton Hills, Ont.

9. Saint-Lambert, Que.

8. Westmount, Que.

7. Canmore, Alta.

6. Milton, Ont.

5. Lacombe, Alta.

4. Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que.

3. Russell Township, Ont.

2. Ottawa, Ont.

1. Oakville, Ont.

What does the * mean?

Comments Cancel reply

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Canada’s Top 25 Best Places to Live in 2018

25. Whitby, Ont.

24. New Tecumseth, Ont.

23. Newmarket, Ont.

22. Bonnyville No. 87, Alta.

21. The Nation, Ont.

20. Whistler, B.C.

19. St. Albert, Alta.

18. King, Ont.

17. Lévis, Que.

16. Toronto, Ont.

15. Fort St. John, B.C.

14. Saugeen Shores, Ont.

13. Mont-Royal, Que.

12. Red Deer, Alta.

11. Camrose, Alta.

10. Halton Hills, Ont.

9. Saint-Lambert, Que.

8. Westmount, Que.

7. Canmore, Alta.

6. Milton, Ont.

5. Lacombe, Alta.

4. Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que.

3. Russell Township, Ont.

2. Ottawa, Ont.

1. Oakville, Ont.

What does the * mean?

Comments Cancel reply

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Why I’m optimistic about the markets in 2025–tariffs or no

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Where is bitcoin headed in 2025?

Buying ETFs in Canada Tool: The MoneySense ETF Screener

What types of tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) exist?

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