#1Burlington
Ontario · 197,737 peopleOverall A+·#61 of 2,556
Strongest: schools A+, safety A·lowest: cost of living C−
Burlington, #1 on this list · Photo: Canmenwalker (CC BY 4.0)Canada · 2026
Best big towns to live in Canada
Burlington, Ontario, tops the list at A+. Second and third places go to Blainville (A+) and North Vancouver (A). A grades go to 18 of the towns on the list. Furthest down the list is Cornwall, at D−. The list’s top ten come from 4 provinces and territories.
Overall grade, the rank among places of 50,000 or more (a city’s neighbourhoods count as places) How grades work
#1A+Overall
#2Blainville
Quebec · 61,739 peopleOverall A+·#64 of 2,556
Strongest: health A+, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D
#3North Vancouver
British Columbia · 97,845 peopleOverall A·#98 of 2,556
Strongest: health A+, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
The top 98 of 98
Ranked by its measure (Overall), best first; each town’s overall grade and national rank sit beside it.
98 towns
#TownOverallGrade · national rankWhat drives it
1BurlingtonOntario · 197,737 peopleA+A+#61 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, safety A·lowest: cost of living C−
2BlainvilleQuebec · 61,739 peopleA+A+#64 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety A·lowest: hazard risk D
3North VancouverBritish Columbia · 97,845 peopleAA#98 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
4LévisQuebec · 160,882 peopleAA#107 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, jobs & income A·lowest: hazard risk D
5OakvilleOntario · 243,107 peopleAA#147 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D
6GeorgetownOntario · 68,265 peopleAA#178 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, health A·lowest: cost of living D
7St. AlbertAlberta · 74,621 peopleAA#211 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living B−
8SaguenayQuebec · 151,972 peopleAA#221 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income B+·lowest: hazard risk C+
9RimouskiQuebec · 51,756 peopleAA#226 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A−·lowest: hazard risk D
10MiltonOntario · 157,345 peopleAA#228 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, safety A·lowest: cost of living D
11RepentignyQuebec · 91,290 peopleAA#237 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A+, walkability A·lowest: cost of living C+
12SaanichBritish Columbia · 126,011 peopleAA#253 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability A+·lowest: cost of living D−
13TerrebonneQuebec · 126,872 peopleA−A−#310 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, walkability A−·lowest: hazard risk C+
14Strathcona CountyAlberta · 107,345 peopleA−A−#343 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: safety B−
15MascoucheQuebec · 56,897 peopleA−A−#436 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, health B+·lowest: hazard risk C+
16AuroraOntario · 67,385 peopleA−A−#474 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, schools A+·lowest: cost of living D
17StouffvilleOntario · 58,010 peopleA−A−#532 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, schools A·lowest: cost of living D
18NewmarketOntario · 95,763 peopleA−A−#555 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D
19WhitbyOntario · 162,413 peopleB+B+#607 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living C
20Richmond HillOntario · 222,031 peopleB+B+#614 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A+, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
21SherbrookeQuebec · 184,135 peopleB+B+#689 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability A·lowest: cost of living C−
22MirabelQuebec · 68,471 peopleB+B+#691 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, jobs & income B+·lowest: hazard risk D
23RoseboroughOntario · 54,539 peopleB+B+#725 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living C−
24BoltonOntario · 90,201 peopleB+B+#744 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, safety A·lowest: cost of living C−
25BradfordOntario · 51,346 peopleB+B+#747 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, safety A·lowest: cost of living D
26PickeringOntario · 118,378 peopleB+B+#751 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D
27North VancouverBritish Columbia · 66,624 peopleB+B+#760 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability A+·lowest: cost of living D−
28WaterlooOntario · 142,450 peopleB+B+#769 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D
29AjaxOntario · 141,111 peopleB+B+#792 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D
30Trois-RivièresQuebec · 149,934 peopleB+B+#807 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living C+
31Saint-HyacintheQuebec · 60,874 peopleB+B+#809 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D
32AirdrieAlberta · 92,544 peopleB+B+#818 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, safety A−·lowest: schools C−
33Saint-Jean-sur-RichelieuQuebec · 100,806 peopleBB#876 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living C−
34GuelphOntario · 160,760 peopleBB#906 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools A−·lowest: cost of living D
35Port CoquitlamBritish Columbia · 67,724 peopleBB#925 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
36AllistonOntario · 50,739 peopleBB#945 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D
37ChâteauguayQuebec · 53,508 peopleBB#949 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health A·lowest: hazard risk C−
38ShawiniganQuebec · 51,739 peopleBB#976 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A−·lowest: jobs & income C−
39BrossardQuebec · 97,597 peopleBB#988 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: hazard risk C−
40DeltaBritish Columbia · 124,670 peopleBB#1,041 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
41InnisfilOntario · 50,686 peopleBB#1,076 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, safety A·lowest: cost of living D
42Dollard-Des OrmeauxQuebec · 50,246 peopleBB#1,088 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health A·lowest: hazard risk C
43GranbyQuebec · 72,180 peopleBB#1,100 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living C−
44DrummondvilleQuebec · 85,560 peopleBB#1,127 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living C−
45CambridgeOntario · 165,354 peopleBB#1,158 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living D
46BowmanvilleOntario · 114,180 peopleB−B−#1,175 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, safety A−·lowest: cost of living C−
47CoquitlamBritish Columbia · 173,599 peopleB−B−#1,240 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
48BarrieOntario · 174,469 peopleB−B−#1,290 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D
49St. CatharinesOntario · 153,865 peopleB−B−#1,309 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living D−
50LangfordBritish Columbia · 59,664 peopleB−B−#1,318 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
51KingstonOntario · 149,527 peopleB−B−#1,369 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, schools A−·lowest: cost of living D
52Rocky View CountyAlberta · 50,260 peopleB−B−#1,466 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, hazard risk B+·lowest: safety D
53Niagara FallsOntario · 113,983 peopleB−B−#1,469 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living D−
54OshawaOntario · 213,592 peopleB−B−#1,496 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A·lowest: cost of living D−
55VictoriaBritish Columbia · 103,888 peopleB−B−#1,507 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A+·lowest: cost of living D−
56LangleyBritish Columbia · 163,885 peopleC+C+#1,519 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D−
57New WestminsterBritish Columbia · 92,124 peopleC+C+#1,530 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
58WellandOntario · 66,480 peopleC+C+#1,534 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: schools A, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D−
59CaledoniaOntario · 56,059 peopleC+C+#1,555 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A−·lowest: health D
60Cape BretonNova Scotia · 106,752 peopleC+C+#1,623 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income C−
61BrandonManitoba · 59,444 peopleC+C+#1,644 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: safety C−
62SimcoeOntario · 75,618 peopleC+C+#1,689 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, safety B+·lowest: health D
63ChomedeyQuebec · 81,813 peopleC+C+#1,716 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: hazard risk D
64St. John'sNewfoundland and Labrador · 128,693 peopleC+C+#1,726 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A·lowest: cost of living C−
65LethbridgeAlberta · 113,671 peopleC+C+#1,760 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B+·lowest: safety D
66LindsayOntario · 85,351 peopleCC#1,781 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living D
67Medicine HatAlberta · 68,714 peopleCC#1,830 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A+, walkability B+·lowest: safety C
68Maple RidgeBritish Columbia · 105,925 peopleCC#1,836 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D−
69Red DeerAlberta · 115,409 peopleCC#1,847 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability A−·lowest: safety D
70RichmondBritish Columbia · 239,584 peopleCC#1,877 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
71Grande PrairieAlberta · 71,160 peopleCC#1,889 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A, hazard risk B+·lowest: safety D
72WoodstockOntario · 55,572 peopleCC#1,958 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, health B−·lowest: cost of living D
73Greater Sudbury / Grand SudburyOntario · 188,504 peopleCC#1,997 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A−, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living C−
74KamloopsBritish Columbia · 108,793 peopleCC#2,020 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living D
75Saint-JérômeQuebec · 85,160 peopleC−C−#2,027 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: health A+, walkability B+·lowest: cost of living D
76FrederictonNew Brunswick · 74,655 peopleC−C−#2,037 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
77MonctonNew Brunswick · 102,378 peopleC−C−#2,080 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk C−
78KeswickOntario · 53,630 peopleC−C−#2,088 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, health B+·lowest: cost of living D−
79Fort McMurrayAlberta · 81,611 peopleC−C−#2,111 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: cost of living A, jobs & income B−·lowest: hazard risk D−
80FleetwoodBritish Columbia · 63,957 peopleC−C−#2,120 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
81Thunder BayOntario · 117,671 peopleC−C−#2,136 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: safety C−
82AbbotsfordBritish Columbia · 175,358 peopleC−C−#2,162 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living D
83KelownaBritish Columbia · 167,654 peopleC−C−#2,183 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income A·lowest: cost of living D−
84ChilliwackBritish Columbia · 105,520 peopleC−C−#2,198 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, schools B·lowest: cost of living D
85Quinte WestOntario · 50,385 peopleC−C−#2,199 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: safety B+, walkability B−·lowest: cost of living C−
86PeterboroughOntario · 97,834 peopleC−C−#2,238 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, hazard risk B·lowest: cost of living D−
87Saint JohnNew Brunswick · 79,371 peopleC−C−#2,249 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk C+·lowest: health C
88SarniaOntario · 80,539 peopleDD#2,327 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: cost of living D
89NewtonBritish Columbia · 51,222 peopleDD#2,334 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
90North BayOntario · 62,062 peopleDD#2,355 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: cost of living C−
91WhalleyBritish Columbia · 52,642 peopleDD#2,366 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
92NanaimoBritish Columbia · 111,845 peopleDD#2,373 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, jobs & income B·lowest: cost of living D−
93BellevilleOntario · 62,914 peopleDD#2,395 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, schools B−·lowest: cost of living D
94ChathamOntario · 112,716 peopleDD#2,408 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability B+, safety C+·lowest: cost of living D
95Prince GeorgeBritish Columbia · 85,944 peopleDD#2,437 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: jobs & income A−, walkability B+·lowest: safety D
96Sault Ste. MarieOntario · 81,182 peopleDD#2,462 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: hazard risk A, walkability A−·lowest: health C−
97BrantfordOntario · 123,521 peopleDD#2,476 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A−, health C+·lowest: cost of living D
98CornwallOntario · 54,346 peopleD−D−#2,523 of 2,556 nationallyStrongest: walkability A, health B−·lowest: cost of living D
Method
How this list is made
Overall grade, the rank among places of 50,000 or more (a city’s neighbourhoods count as places). Towns of 2,500 or more in Canada are listed by it, best first; a tie goes to the town with the better overall rank. How grades work
Rankings
More lists across Canada
Best places to liveBest big townsBest small townsMost affordableSafestHealthiestJobs & incomeMost walkableLowest hazard riskCivic lifeHighest incomesFastest-growingMost historicMost bilingualYoungestOldestMildest wintersColdest wintersWarmest summersCoolest summersFewest frostsLeast snowSnowiestDriestWettest
Province by province
Best places to live, province by province
Photos: Burlington, Canmenwalker (CC BY 4.0) · Blainville, P199 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · North Vancouver, Xicotencatl (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranking Canadian towns against each other only, run #73 of 10 November 2026. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).