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    Canada’s top 25 best places to live in 2018

    The No. 1 spot has a strong economy, low crime rates and great weather according to a new study

    MoneySense
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    (City of Whitby)

    This article first appeared on MoneySense.ca. Learn more.

    —Updated 08/08/2018 to reflect correct figures for ‘property tax as percentage of income’— 

    Aerial view of Whitby, Ontario. (Town of Whitby)

    25. Whitby, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 103
    Population: 136,657
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
    Median Household Income: $101,792
    Average Household Net Worth: $817,453
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.7%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 100
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 3,251
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 81
    See more stats about Whitby, Ont. here.

    (Town of New Tecumseth)

    24. New Tecumseth, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 170
    Population: 36,745
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
    Median Household Income: $96,041
    Average Household Net Worth: $755,965
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.6%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 122
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,906
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 95
    See more stats about New Tecumseth, Ont. here.

    Jason Wighton/City of Newmarket

    23. Newmarket, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 56
    Population: 90,908
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
    Median Household Income: $95,636
    Average Household Net Worth: $947,429
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.7%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 107
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,749
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 95
    See more stats about Newmarket, Ont. here.

    Brandon Born/Town of Bonnyville

    22. Bonnyville No. 87, Alta.

    Rank in 2017: 228
    Population: 14,658
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
    Median Household Income: $103,652
    Average Household Net Worth: $789,157
    Property Tax as % of Income: 1.4%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 86
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 4,899
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 93
    See more stats about Bonnyville No. 87, Alta. here.

    St-Isidore in The Nation municipality of Ontario, Canada (P199/Wikipedia)

    21. The Nation, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 123
    Population: 13,275
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.1%
    Median Household Income: $88,088
    Average Household Net Worth: $478,620
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.2%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 113
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,186
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 142
    See more stats about The Nation, Ont. here.

    Whistler at night (David McColm/Tourism Whistler)

    20. Whistler, B.C.

    Rank in 2017: 84
    Population: 13,193
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.3%
    Median Household Income: $86,423
    Average Household Net Worth: $1,460,422
    Property Tax as % of Income: 1.2%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 83
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 14,137
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 159
    See more stats about Whistler, B.C. here.

    Downtown St. Albert

    19. St. Albert, Alta.

    Rank in 2017: 7
    Population: 70,874
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 6.8%
    Median Household Income: $123,948
    Average Household Net Worth: $900,192
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.0%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 84
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 5,313
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 129
    See more stats about St. Albert, Alta. here.

    (City of King)

    18. King, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 68
    Population: 26,697
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
    Median Household Income: $110,816
    Average Household Net Worth: $2,655,435
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.6%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 114
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,749
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 95
    See more stats about King, Ont. here.

    City of Levis

    17. Lévis, Que.

    Rank in 2017: 9
    Population: 147,403
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 3.4%
    Median Household Income: $79,323
    Average Household Net Worth: $387,146
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.0%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 94
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,784
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 106
    See more stats about Lévis, Que. here.

    People skate at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, Ontario (Benson Kua/Wikipedia)

    16. Toronto, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 129
    Population: 2,933,262
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
    Median Household Income: $55,945
    Average Household Net Worth: $906,663
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.0%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 117
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 3,847
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 75
    See more stats about Toronto, Ont. here.

    (City of Fort St. John)

    15. Fort St. John, B.C.

    Rank in 2017: 160
    Population: 21,251
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
    Median Household Income: $106,327
    Average Household Net Worth: $440,481
    Property Tax as % of Income: 1.1%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 64
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 14,000
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 104
    See more stats about Fort St. John, B.C. here.

    (Town of Saugeen Shores)

    14. Saugeen Shores, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 17
    Population: 14,109
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.9%
    Median Household Income: $105,210
    Average Household Net Worth: $777,845
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.7%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 110
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 5,113
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 107
    See more stats about Saugeen Shores, Ont. here.

    Aerial view of Mount Royal (Photograph by Yves Tremblay – Photo HŽlico)

    13. Mont-Royal, Que.

    Rank in 2017: 8
    Population: 21,172
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 6.3%
    Median Household Income: $145,853
    Average Household Net Worth: $2,392,238
    Property Tax as % of Income: 3.3%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 117
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 4,594
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 124
    See more stats about Mont-Royal, Que. here.

    An aerial view of the city of Red Deer, Alberta. (Dwight Arthur/City of Red Deer)

    12. Red Deer, Alta.

    Rank in 2017: 330
    Population: 107,564
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.9%
    Median Household Income: $90,844
    Average Household Net Worth: $628,900
    Property Tax as % of Income: 1.6%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 83
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 19,460
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 99
    See more stats about Red Deer, Alta. here.

    11. Camrose, Alta.

    Rank in 2017: 216
    Population: 19,488
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
    Median Household Income: $61,873
    Average Household Net Worth: $519,846
    Property Tax as % of Income: 1.8%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 83
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 9,520
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 99
    See more stats about Camrose, Alta. here.

    (Town of Halton Hills)

    10. Halton Hills, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 24
    Population: 65,782
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
    Median Household Income: $108,410
    Average Household Net Worth: $1,190,923
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.6%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 120
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,133
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 91
    See more stats about Halton Hills, Ont. here.

    Downtown Saint Lambert, Quebec (waferboard/Wikipedia)

    9. Saint-Lambert, Que.

    Rank in 2017: 55
    Population: 22,432
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.9%
    Median Household Income: $83,626
    Average Household Net Worth: $881,272
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.7%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 118
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 3,724
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 96
    See more stats about Saint-Lambert, Que. here.

    Westmount, Quebec (City of Westmount)

    8. Westmount, Que.

    Rank in 2017: 52
    Population: 21,083
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 7.5%
    Median Household Income: $117,755
    Average Household Net Worth: $3,953,205
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.7%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 117
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 4,594
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 124
    See more stats about Westmount, Que. here.

    (Nick Fox/Shutterstock)

    7. Canmore, Alta.

    Rank in 2017: 29
    Population: 14,930
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.1%
    Median Household Income: $75,848
    Average Household Net Worth: $1,478,315
    Property Tax as % of Income: 1.2%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 64
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 7,482
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 138
    See more stats about Canmore, Alta. here.

    Aerial view of Milton, Ontario (City of Milton)

    6. Milton, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 151
    Population: 120,556
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
    Median Household Income: $111,875
    Average Household Net Worth: $1,129,276
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.0%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 120
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,133
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 91
    See more stats about Milton, Ont. here.

    Main Street in Lacombe, Alberta (Glen Larson/Wikipedia)

    5. Lacombe, Alta.

    Rank in 2017: 299
    Population: 13,906
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.9%
    Median Household Income: $97,800
    Average Household Net Worth: $754,291
    Property Tax as % of Income: 1.8%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 81
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 7,932
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 99
    See more stats about Lacombe, Alta. here.

    Vue aŽrienne (Photograph by Air Image)

    4. Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que.

    Rank in 2017: 6
    Population: 27,171
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 4.9%
    Median Household Income: $96,757
    Average Household Net Worth: $864,221
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.6%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 118
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 3,724
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 96
    See more stats about Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que. here.

    Castor River in Russell Township, Ontario (Sylvie Brault)

    3. Russell Township, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 21
    Population: 17,155
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.1%
    Median Household Income: $112,644
    Average Household Net Worth: $509,564
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.2%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 78
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,540
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 142
    See more stats about Russell Township, Ont. here.

    Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario (Kovyrina/Shutterstock)

    2. Ottawa, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 1
    Population: 999,183
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.1%
    Median Household Income: $93,975
    Average Household Net Worth: $695,242
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.4%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 117
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 3,782
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 142
    See more stats about Ottawa, Ont. here.

    Aerial view of Oakville, Ontario (Town of Oakville)

    1. Oakville, Ont.

    Rank in 2017: 15
    Population: 209,039
    Estimated Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
    Median Household Income: $112,207
    Average Household Net Worth: $1,742,036
    Property Tax as % of Income: 2.6%
    Total Days Above 20°C: 107
    Crime Rate Per 100,000:* 2,133
    Family Doctors Per 100,000:* 91
    See more stats about Oakville, Ont. here.

    *See the 2018 Canada’s Best Places to Live methodology for more details about this category.

    tags:affordable citiesbest citiesCanada's Best Places to Live 2018