The 11 Best Canadian Cities to Raise Kids

In a 2017 study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), it was revealed that Montreal (and Quebec cities, in general) accounted for the most affordable childcare services across Canada. Montreal was named the least expensive city for full-time infant care, with parents paying fees of $168 per month on average — a cost that increased tenfold in Toronto, laying claim as the country’s most expensive city for childcare.

In a Canadian census where households were ranked by median family income, Calgary takes the top spot with $104,410, with Edmonton following close behind in second place. In 2015, Calgary was credited with being home to the highest number of millionaires per capita amongst all major Canadian cities and in 2018, The Economist placed Calgary in fourth place on its annual Global Livability Index.

According to 2021 report by Re/Max, Saint John's takes top spot as one of the most affordable housing markets in Canada for 2021, with an average selling price at $307,619. Factoring in families and double-incomes, this only becomes a more attractive selling feature when considering what city to call home.

Once named Canada’s “most Canadian city” (based on factors like the number of Tim Hortons locations and the bilingual nature of the city) Moncton boasts a growing metropolitan economy, vibrant arts and culture scene and plenty of parks and natural amenities — making it a family-friendly area that’s on the rise. The Moncton community is known to be welcoming to newcomers, as well — for example, amid war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Club of Moncton recently made news for renovating a former church’s basement to provide temporary housing to Ukrainian newcomers to Canada.

Little ones grow up fast – and an aspect of life that’s never far from a parents’ mind is education. Beyond daycare and primary school, secondary and post-secondary education are key factors for families in narrowing down where to plant roots. Often coined Canada’s “smartest city,” Ottawa, as reported by The National Post, takes top spot for the city with the highest number of university degrees at 31.5 per cent, with Toronto and Calgary trailing close behind at the time of this study.

Of Canada’s most “family-friendly” cities, CanadianFamily.ca once listed Quebec City in the top spot, highlighting their excellent health care, affordable housing, medical system and low crime rate as key factors for what the article notes as a “clear number-one finish.”

For Canadians, job security plays a crucial role in the stability and long-term success of any growing family, which is why a healthy employment rate is always attractive when weighing the options of where to live. In the final quarterly Regional Labour Market Report Card for 2018 from the Bank of Montreal, the numbers indicate that the city of Guelph is thriving in the top spot, with an employment rate of just over 67 per cent and an unemployment rate of 2.3 per cent.

Expedia.ca ranked Vancouver as Canada’s “most active city” in 2018, citing it’s vast green space and popular recreational activities as main factors. From running and hiking, bicycling, gyms and outdoor activities, Vancouver is the ultimate playground for active-living enthusiasts. A city that sets that bar high for healthy lifestyles and offers countless year-round options for staying active, it’s not surprising so many families weigh these pros over the otherwise high costs of daily life in this booming city.

Remember when BBC Radio crowned Toronto as the most diverse city in the world? It's also a great place to raise a family — especially if representation, exposure to different cultures and people are part of your family values. In addition to being a busy city with a ton of parenting resources, Toronto is great for racial diversity and has a great LGBTQ+ community. Never forget, Toronto slang is especially unique as it is made up of words from Jamaican, Trinidadian and Guyanese communities (and more!) It's a great city to raise little ones.

Because not all families can afford big city living, you may want to consider spots that allow you to optimize income, while minimizing said living costs. Gibsons, British Columbia provides this ideal combination and then some. Located on the appealingly named Sunshine Coast, Gibsons is a commute away from Vancouver, without the Vancouver housing costs. It's also a place with many residents opting for jobs you can do from anywhere.

From daycare to recreation, household income, climate and transportation – just to name a few variables – the Montreal suburb of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville in southwestern Quebec ranks in at the top of best places in Canada to raise kids. Of it’s most impressive highlights: high median household income of just over $97,000 (according to AreaScore.ca), low unemployment rates (below five per cent in 2018) and affordable housing at an average value of $454,000 for primary real estate, according to MoneySense, who tapped this as the “best place to raise a family” in Quebec in 2018.