Looking for the best places to live in Alberta? You can find them here! Also check out all my adventures in the Canadian Rockies!
Calgary
With a population of 1.4 million, Calgary is the biggest city in Alberta and the fourth biggest in all of Canada, with an increasing number of its population emigrating from other countries. In other words, it’s the perfect location for those whose tastes run towards the multicultural and metropolitan.
Annual events like the Lilac Festival, the Sun and Salsa Festival, and the self-described “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” the Calgary Stampede, mean residents of the city are never at a loss for things to do. With all that, and the fact that Calgary is home to the third highest number of bars and restaurants in the country, you might think the city has a problem with litter. Quite the opposite, since 2007 Calgary has proudly held the title of “cleanest city in the world.”
Despite a high 8% unemployment rate, Calgary’s economy is currently on the upswing, thanks in large part to numerous gas and oil drilling companies headquartered there, resulting in a not inconsiderable median household income of $132,000.
Canmore
On the opposite end of the spectrum from Calgary, the small town of Canmore has a population of just 14,000, with the fifth highest percentage in all of Canada of people who bike instead of drive, and the eight highest percentage of people who prefer to walk. All in all, it’s a laid back, easygoing place.
It’s also a beautiful place. Located near the Rocky Mountains, Canmore benefits greatly from bordering Banff National Park, the oldest national park in Canada. There are five different ski resorts in and around Canmore, and more than 70 kilometers’ worth of hiking trails. To say that this place is an ideal fit for those who enjoy the great outdoors is an understatement.
Not all is rosy in Canmore though. The median household income is just $75,000, and housing prices are rising. Then again, Canmore has one of the highest percentages in the country of people employed in the arts, so doing what they love for less money might be an attractive choice for many locals. And with a low 5% unemployment rate, the town makes up for its small income average by offering greater job stability.
St. Albert
If the non-stop hustle and bustle of big-city Calgary is too much for you, but the small-town charm of Canmore is not enough, St. Albert might be your best bet. Sporting a population of 70,000, consider this the “Goldilocks choice.” It’s not too big and not too small. This one is juuuust right.
Consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in all of Canada, this medium-sized city is just a short drive away from the much larger Edmonton, which means that if you do you get the itch to visit “the big city,” you can do that. Then once you’re reminded of why you wanted to steer clear of it in the first place, you can return home to the relative peace and quiet of St. Albert.
Of course, St. Albert has plenty of worthwhile features of its own, including a provincial park, Western Canada’s largest outdoor farmer’s market, and Alberta’s largest public rose garden. Pair all that with a low 6% unemployment rate and a median household income of $123,000, and it’s no surprise that St. Albert real estate is becoming a very hot commodity.
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