Here are the 10 Most Livable Cities in Ontario

Here are the 10 most livable cities in Ontario, showcasing a diverse range of communities that offer unique benefits and amenities. They include: 1. Burlington, 2. Ottawa, 3. Pickering, 4. Oakville, 5. Vaughan, 6. Hamilton, 7. Guelph, 8. Tecumseh, and more. Each city has its own charm and appeal.

Settling in an Ontario city can be expensive for newcomers and international students. However, cities in Ontario remain by far the most popular with immigrants to Canada, so let’s look at the 10 best Ontario cities to live in. 

First, rent prices in Ontario cities, particularly those in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), are among the highest in the country, except for Vancouver.

The unemployment rate in Ontario in June was 6.8 percent, up from 0.3 percent from May. Nationally, it is 6.4 percent.

Ontario’s Quality of Life Matters to Newcomers

However, city life in Ontario, Canada’s largest and most populated province, is about more than rent prices. Quality of life and job opportunities are also crucial to newcomers when choosing the best city in Ontario to live in.

Settlement services, vital for newcomers, are also different in each Ontario city, as are job market opportunities and the cost of living (inflation).

Many settlement experts regard selecting the correct city as the best job strategy for newcomers.  

Recently, The Globe and Mail published research* listing the most livable cities in Canada for immigrants.

The Globe, one of Canada’s premier news outlets, collected data from 439 Canadian cities with a population of at least 10,000 in partnership with Environics Analytics Group Ltd.

Criteria to Assess Best Cities in Ontario

• ECONOMY: Jobs, earnings, taxes, and economic stability.

• DEMOGRAPHICS: Population, stability, diversity, languages spoken.

• HEALTHCARE: Ease of access and satisfaction with care.

• SAFETY: Crime rates and feeling of safety.

• EDUCATION: Residents’ academic qualifications and availability of schools and universities.

• COMMUNITY: Social spaces, events, volunteering opportunities, and the sense of connection residents feel.

• AMENITIES:  Number of recreational places, shopping options, and other facilities, plus cannabis stores, gyms, movie theatres, and essential services such as childcare, grocery stores, libraries, and parks.

• TRANSPORTATION: Public transit, ease of getting around, and proximity to airports and public transportation.

• WEATHER: Extreme conditions, overall climate, humidity and coldness.

Housing was rated as one of THE most important concerns of newcomers to Canada. As the Globe pointed out:

“As housing costs have marched steadily upward in Canada, discussing real estate prices has become as common as chatting about the weather. And so often, the conversation about where to live focuses on one number: The cost of buying a home.”

Quick Facts About Time and Weather in Ontario

Time Zone: Ontario spans two time zones: Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Central Standard Time (CST). Most of Ontario, including major cities like Toronto and Ottawa, follows EST.

Climate: Ontario experiences a diverse climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid, while winters can be cold and snowy.

Average Temperatures:

Summer (June to August): Highs range from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F).

Winter (December to February): Lows can drop to -10°C to -20°C (14°F to -4°F).

Precipitation: Ontario receives a fair amount of precipitation throughout the year, with the wettest months being June and October.

Sunshine: July is the sunniest month, with an average of 10 hours of sunshine per day.

Humidity: Relative humidity varies, with May being the driest month and December having the highest humidity

Burlington is Ontario’s Most Livable City

Unsurprisingly, Globe research determined that Burlington, at the western end of the GTA, is Ontario’s most livable city (it was also ranked as the fifth most livable in Canada). 

Burlington’s geographic location makes it the perfect commuter city. For work or play, people can travel by road or rail to Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, and the Niagara region. 

While Burlington rent prices are not cheap, a one-bedroom apartment there is over $300 cheaper per month than in Toronto. Also, Burlington scored extremely high regarding amenities.

In a recent Point2 research study**, Burlington was rated as the top Ontario city among the country’s 10 best for juggling professional and personal life. According to the Point2 study, “Burlington enjoys a balanced mix of positive health perceptions, with 93 percent of its residents reporting high levels of life satisfaction.”

10 Most Livable Cities in Ontario

1. Burlington

Rent: $2,196 *** (for a one-bedroom)

(Average) House Price: $1.16 million ***

Unemployment rate (as of June 2024): 7.3 percent

Read more about living in Burlington, Ontario

2. Ottawa 

Rent: $1,967

House Price: $686, 535

Unemployment rate (as of June 2024): 6 percent

Read more about living in Ottawa, Ontario

3. Pickering

Rent: $1,885

House Price: $941,000

Unemployment rate (as of June 2024): 5.9 percent

4. Oakville

Rent: $2,305

House Price: $1.48 million

Unemployment rate (as of June 2024): 7.8

5. Vaughan

Rent: $1,991

House Price: $1.1 million

Unemployment rate (as of June 2024): 7.9 percent

6. Hamilton

Rent: $1,806

House Price: $831,190

Unemployment rate (as of June 2024): 7.3 percent

Read more about living in Hamilton, Ontario

7. Guelph 

Rent: $2,046

House Price: $850, 226

Unemployment rate (as of June 2024): 3.7 percent

8. Tecumseh 

Rent: $1,534

House Price: $795, 276

Unemployment rate (as of June 2024): 9.1 percent

9. Lincoln

Rent: $1,476

House Price: $643,111

Unemployment rate (as of March 2024): 8.4 percent

10. Markham

Rent: $2, 062

House Price: $1.1 million

Unemployment rate (as of June 2024): 7.8 percent

Read more about living in Markham, Ontario

CITATIONS:

* Globe and Mail 

**Point2

*** Prices as of June 2024, subject to fluctuations monthly

SOURCES:

Rentals for Newcomers, CREA, Rentals.ca, Statistics Canada, Zoocasa, Zumper, WOWA, Zolo, Environics Analytics Group Ltd., Point2

Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.

*Prepare for Canada did not use AI-generated content in writing this story; all sources are cited and credited where possible.

© Prepare for Canada 2024

WRITTEN BY

Steve Tustin

Senior Editor, Prepare for Canada

Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.

© Prepare for Canada 2025