Is Hamilton a good place for a family to live?

Located partway between Toronto and Niagara Falls, Hamilton is a bustling port city on the western shore of Lake Ontario. It’s a city that offers a wonderful lifestyle, with a multicultural community, great urban amenities and plenty of natural beauty right on its doorstep. In recent years, it has become a popular place for Ontario residents looking for a change of pace or a more affordable lifestyle, with families no exception. 

In this article, discover why Hamilton is a great place for families and just some of the perks it offers. If you’re thinking about making the move, you’ll find a diverse range of accommodation online at rentola.ca, which lists family-friendly apartments and homes in neighbourhoods across the city. It’s a good starting point to get a feel for what is available in Hamilton and if it’s the right place for you. Read on to discover just some of the reasons why Hamilton is a great place to live. 

It is well suited to families

One of the main reasons why Hamilton is so attractive to families is its amenities and its growing economy, which offers plenty of job opportunities in manufacturing, healthcare and technology. It boasts a strong public school system providing government-funded education, as well as a good choice of private schools. 

For parents who prefer to send their children to a school in Toronto, the commute is manageable thanks to the public transport system. There are hourly trains connecting the two cities, with the journey taking just over an hour. Additionally, buses travel throughout Hamilton and into its suburbs to help residents get to where they need to be. 

When it comes to healthcare, Hamilton is home to several hospitals and specialist centres, including the Juravinski Cancer Centre. Through the Hamilton Public Health Services, families can access a range of services and support, including counsellors and mental health professionals. 

There’s lots to see and do

While Hamilton can’t compete with Toronto in terms of tourist attractions, it does offer a wealth of things to do for residents. At the Hamilton Farmers’ Market, you can pick up fresh produce and artisan foods, as well as hearty sandwiches and European-style pastries. The city also enjoys a diverse range of dining options, whether you’re after a romantic “date night” for parents or a family-friendly meal from a local food truck. 

Aside from boasting one of the country’s top art galleries, Hamilton is home to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum where you can get up close to a de Havilland Tiger Moth and a Supermarine Spitfire. The city’s arts and culture scene is thriving, with festivals taking place in Hamilton throughout the year. Among the most popular is the Supercrawl Festival, which features live music, art installations and plenty of family-friendly fun. 

The cost of living is relatively low

One of the advantages of moving to Hamilton with your family is the relatively low cost of living. Currently, the average rental cost of a three-bedroom house in Hamilton is $2,800, which is significantly less than in Toronto where it is $4,100 and in Vancouver where it is around $4,800. 

While the average purchase price of a home is now $1,127,000 in Toronto, that figure is just $789,000 in Hamilton. These relatively low housing costs make Hamilton a good alternative to Toronto for families wanting to remain close to everything the Ontario capital has to offer, without exceeding their budget. 

Aside from lower housing costs, Hamilton residents benefit from lower property taxes compared to those living in Toronto. Transportation and utilities are also slightly cheaper, helping to alleviate the budgets of families. While wages tend to be lower in Hamilton compared to Toronto, the transport connections make it easy to connect to the capital for those who want to.

It’s surrounded by natural beauty

Located on the shores of Lake Ontario and framed by rolling hills, Hamilton is a city surrounded by nature. It’s on the doorstep of sandy beaches where you can swim and sunbathe in the warmer months, as well as picturesque marinas for getting out on the water. 

In Hamilton, you’ll find around 3,500 acres of public parks, giving you plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and allow the kids to let off some steam. Among the city’s most popular green spaces is Confederation Beach Park with its family-friendly amusement rides, water park and lakeside walking trail.

When you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, a short drive will see you in the scenic countryside or hiking to waterfalls, with Hamilton dubbed the “Waterfall Capital of the World”. More than 100 cascades can be found in the surrounding region while the world-renowned Niagara Falls is easily accessible as a day trip.

Less well known but equally loved by Hamilton residents is the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that protects some of the oldest trees in North America. It’s a popular destination for skiing, camping and hiking, with one of Canada’s oldest walking routes, the Bruce Trail, passing through the area. 

Sprawling to the northwest of Hamilton is the Cootes Paradise Sanctuary, a large tract of marshland that provides a habitat for migratory and resident bird species. Managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, it offers a magnificent backdrop for hiking and canoeing around an inlet of Lake Ontario. The sanctuary forms part of Canada’s largest botanic garden, which encompasses more than 2,400 acres across Hamilton and Burlington. 

Families wanting to live surrounded by nature should consider moving to the small town of Dundas, which nestles in a valley on the western outskirts of Hamilton. Alternatively, you may want to consider the village of Waterdown on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment for a “treechange”.

An affordable alternative to Toronto

If you’re looking for a change of pace or a more affordable alternative to Toronto, then Hamilton may be the answer. This attractive city offers wonderful amenities, schools and green spaces - everything a family needs to thrive in a new home. What it lacks in big-ticket attractions it more than makes up for in its vibrant arts, culture and dining scene, not to mention being just a stone’s throw from abundant natural beauty.