If you’re planning to retire or simply planning for the future, one province in Canada is home to three of the top cities for retirees, even beating Ontario, B.C., and Alberta.
Canadians looking to retire have several factors to consider, such as housing affordability, healthcare, the cost of living, safety, and weather. Zolo, a Canadian online real estate marketplace, has released its ranking of the 10 best places to retire in Canada.
“As over 20 per cent of Canada’s population will be over 65 or older by 2030, many will be considering where to live in retirement,” reads the report. “Some will age in place, staying in their family homes during retirement, while others will downsize and choose another locale to live out their golden years.”
Zolo compared 38 cities across Canada and scored them based on eight factors:
Age characteristics — the percentage of the population 65 years and older
Health care access — percentage of population with regular access to a health-care provider
Cost of living — affordability of goods and services, groceries, healthcare, housing, transportation, and utilities
Home price — average home prices
Crime rate — crime severity
Sunshine — number of sunny days per year
Freezing days — number of days at or below 0°C
According to Zolo, the top three cities to retire are all in New Brunswick. Several cities in Ontario make the list, while none of the cities in B.C. or Alberta even made the top 10.
These are the top three cities for retirees and what makes them Zolo’s top choices.
1. Saint John, N.B.
@kingswood_golf/Instagram
Cost of living: 16 per cent lower than the national average
Benchmark average home price: $341,100
Percentage of population over age 65: 20.6 per cent
St. John’s has low home prices and cost of living, which means you can afford to live here on a smaller income once you retire. The city has a population of 63,000 and has two hospitals and several medical clinics.
With a crime severity index of 58.4, it’s a pretty safe place to live. And if you’re not a fan of gloomy weather, the good news is that St. John residents enjoy 285 sunny days a year. Unfortunately, it only has a walkability score of just 26, so you’ll definitely need a vehicle to visit trails, beaches, and the famous Bay of Fundy.
2. Moncton, N.B.
@destinationmonctondieppe/Instagram
Cost of living: 17 per cent lower than the national average
Benchmark average home price: $381,800
Percentage of population over age 65: 19.4 per cent
Not only is life in Moncton more affordable, but the city also offers several amenities, hospitals, clinics, retirement communities, and assisted living facilities. In addition to being a busy entertainment and shopping hub, it also has an international airport for seniors who enjoy travelling. The downside is that Moncton has a relatively higher crime severity index score of 93.83.
3. Fredericton, N.B.
CandyRetriever/Shutterstock
Cost of living: 15 per cent lower than the national average
Benchmark average home price: $351,200
Percentage of population over age 65: 19.4 per cent
Fredericton is frequently ranked among the most affordable cities to live in Canada, thanks to a cost of living that sits below the national average and home prices that are nearly half the average cost of a home across the country.
Among the top three cities in New Brunswick, it has the lowest walkability score of 25, so you’ll definitely need a vehicle to get around. If you love festivals, you’ll have plenty of events to look forward to, such as the Harvest Music Festival and NB Spirits Festival.
The following cities make up the remainder of the list:
4. Kingston, Ont.
5. Simcoe, Ont.
6. Tillsonburg, Ont.
7. Cobourg, Ont.
8. Quinte, Ont.
9. Peterborough and the Kawarthas, Ont.
10. Sudbury, Ont.
Read the full report on Zolo’s website. World Atlas also recently named one Alberta city as the best place to retire in the Prairies.