Best Places to Live in Calgary
Calgary is Alberta’s largest city and is situated just 80 kilometres from the Canadian Rockies. It is known as the sunniest major city in Canada and is home to the Calgary Stampede, a 10-day outdoor event with incredible shows, amazing food and non-stop entertainment. Its close proximity to the mountains makes Calgary a great home base for those wanting to spend time skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of the many ski resorts in the winter.
Calgary real estate has always been a hotspot in Alberta, with young and old alike flocking to the diverse city. So, what are the best neighbourhoods in Calgary to buy a home? Based on liveability factors such as access to shopping, dining and green spaces, proximity to public transit, work, preferred schools, and cultural and community centres, here are some of the best places to buy in Calgary.
10 Most Liveable Neighbourhoods in Calgary
- Beltline – Located immediately south of Calgary’s downtown, Beltline is one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in Calgary, filled with entrepreneurs, young professionals, artists, and the most urban. It has a reputation for being one of Calgary’s primary areas for eclectic nightlife, restaurants, and urban culture.
- Downtown East Village – Like Beltline, Downtown East Village is centrally located with easy connections to everywhere in the city by walking, cycling, driving, or public transit. This urban hub is home to everything from eateries, to boutiques, to green spaces, all of which showcase the many things Calgary has to offer.
- Downtown West End – The Downtown West End is a dense residential community that caters largely to young professionals and is almost entirely made up of condominiums and apartment buildings (only 25 single-family detached homes remain in the neighbourhood). However, it offers easy access to multi-use paths and has various cultural features, such as Contemporary Calgary, a public art gallery.
- Downtown Commercial Core – The population of Calgary that lives in its Core compared to the East Village or West End is relatively low but has been growing in recent years. Those who inhabit the lively neighbourhood enjoy quick commutes to their workplaces and easy access to the many cultural events and amenities downtown Calgary offers.
- Mission – This inner-city neighbourhood is considered part of Calgary’s downtown but is separate from the other downtown neighbourhoods. It boasts a rich mix of single-family residences, duplexes, apartments, commercial establishments, and institutional uses and contains the very popular 4th Street with its trendy restaurants and shops.
As noted above, the most liveable neighbourhoods in Calgary offer good walkability and easy access to bike lanes and walking paths. They also have great proximity to green space and dog parks.
Other notable mentions include:
- Sunalta
- Lower Mount Royal
- Rundle
- Southview
- Greenview
Calgary Liveability Trends
Calgary is a city that was originally intended to house 1 million plus people. However, despite its population of 1.3 million, the city still feels very spacious since it continues to grow horizontally and vertically. With effective, forward-thinking planning, the positive liveability trends in Calgary can be expected to continue.