Economy

Best communities in Canada with affordable real estate 2019

These are some of the most ideal places to live in Canada with affordable homes
SALMON-ARM-AFFORDABLE-COMMUNITIES-CANADA
Salmon Arm, B.C. (Photograph by Kathleen Fisher)

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Salmon Arm, B.C. (Photograph by Kathleen Fisher)

Buying a home in Canada can be a challenge, especially in major cities where average Canadians with modest earnings are almost entirely priced out of the real estate market. Affording a home can be especially tough for single millennials, who can’t rely on the power of two incomes to qualify for a mortgage.

But if you’ve ever considered escaping the metropolitan rat race in search of a calmer, more affordable place, you’ll do no better than settling in Salmon Arm, B.C.. It’s a town of 18,000 east of Kamloops, and it also took the no. 6 spot in our overall ranking.

READ: This is the best community in Canada

Located on the shores of Shuswap Lake and surrounded by mountains, Salmon Arm provides beautiful trails for cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and hiking. The tourist hotspot also has a robust local economy with a healthy job market. All these factors have contributed to a population increase of 8.7 per cent over the last five years.

For anyone chasing the goal of homeownership but finding the prospect demoralizing, Salmon Arm’s housing prices are actually within reach of the average person. The average primary residence in the town is just $429,000. Salmon Arm is also in the top 25 per cent of all cities for lowest taxes, and if you enjoy close-knit community culture with lots of jobs in the arts and tourism sectors, Salmon Arm is also in the top 25 per cent in the culture and community category. It has a campus of Okanagan College that offers many programs in a wide range of fields.

READ: Why these small towns offer more than big cities

However, if Salmon Arm isn’t for you, consider the Eastern Ontario Township of Russell. Located south-east of Canada’s capital of Ottawa with the average home valued at around $420,000, this small community is in the top 25 per cent of all cities for safety, and it’s less than a 30-minute drive from the amenities of Ottawa.

Our ranking of the best affordable communities in Canada is based on the same 10 categories as the main ranking: Wealth and economy, affordability, population growth, taxes, commute, crime, weather, access to health care, amenities and culture. However, we eliminate any community with average housing prices over $500,000 from consideration. For more information, please see the methodology page.

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RankCityProvinceAverage value of primary real estateHome price to income ratioMedian household incomeCrime Severity Index 5-year average*Days per year above 0C
1Salmon ArmBC $428,5175.11 $76,04853214
2RussellON $419,9173.21 $115,79226210
3TecumsehON $426,4743.62 $102,15924249
4TerraceBC $257,9652.77 $88,018143248
5WeyburnSK $287,6272.31 $85,35780169
6Haldimand CountyON $487,6555.21 $84,22542245
7LaSalleON $407,8883.52 $109,20821249
8KingstonON $427,7334.66 $73,00763223
9St. AlbertAB $426,2572.91 $123,65950177
10Prince RupertBC $303,8833.22 $84,518142286
11NelsonBC $400,9435.25 $62,50489262
12Clarence-RocklandON $369,3723.51 $97,55131200
13Deux-MontagnesQC $285,7863.35 $76,06541219
14Norfolk CountyON $435,5095.04 $73,16143217
15BlainvilleQC $434,3113.87 $95,90739199
16CranbrookBC $330,0113.49 $81,16377191
17North GrenvilleON $372,8213.53 $100,41231202
18St. ClairON $327,9832.84 $96,98137234
19Carleton PlaceON $349,8513.74 $79,46551198
20PrévostQC $300,8913.01 $84,61046197
21South DundasON $265,1143.27 $70,92434209
22Trois-RivièresQC $212,3293.14 $53,76858197
23KamloopsBC $474,8294.99 $85,248114246
24Niagara FallsON $475,9725.91 $66,80153241
25ReginaSK $402,7033.79 $85,403117153
26TillsonburgON $434,0865.19 $63,81145217
27West NipissingON $220,3362.96 $60,21154190
28MirabelQC $389,9704.48 $83,10939199
29EssexON $333,7033.92 $76,80026243
30LoyalistON $414,5983.94 $88,43836239
31Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-LacQC $344,5304.03 $87,11241219
32SherbrookeQC $273,9584.01 $55,05753182
33St. ThomasON $285,7483.56 $65,07940230
34VictoriavilleQC $195,7732.92 $55,17746194
35Fort SaskatchewanAB $423,4223.38 $117,35087167
36SaskatoonSK $405,3333.88 $83,053121170
37EdmontonAB $483,5064.59 $88,797109185
38KingsvilleON $388,2394.28 $84,10423246
39MagogQC $330,8524.39 $55,78451198
40Strathroy-CaradocON $350,6043.95 $76,95337227
41LondonON $422,0454.72 $66,82176223
42Central ElginON $397,8633.71 $97,20529230
43St. CatharinesON $471,8455.75 $64,26053238
44ThoroldON $455,8415.2 $70,86153240
45AmherstburgON $390,7503.88 $93,32421243
46RimouskiQC $214,0782.93 $60,85042197
47RosemèreQC $451,3913.45 $109,68051202
48IngersollON $405,9974.53 $81,20143223
49LeamingtonON $325,7634.19 $68,12048246
50BécancourQC $209,6632.72 $65,79441197
51Lambton ShoresON $337,3423.96 $74,72137229
52HalifaxNS $378,5124.36 $73,21365234
53DrummondvilleQC $239,6373.63 $54,89064210
54Greater SudburyON $350,1073.58 $81,60468187
55Quinte WestON $358,9274.28 $72,96339217
56KenoraON $333,6833.54 $82,45589186
57BrantfordON $427,5465.25 $68,63986218
58RepentignyQC $330,9763.67 $82,55632201
59Mississippi MillsON $428,5743.78 $92,50425198
60BoisbriandQC $313,6623.49 $77,51451202
61WellandON $388,6255.11 $61,75353227
62North DundasON $322,0503.53 $84,97634208
63Chatham-KentON $259,6473.33 $63,63567247
64PetawawaON $311,6513.08 $96,83125181
65L'AssomptionQC $290,3933.62 $77,99044211
66Port ColborneON $403,2015.27 $61,74253245
67CornwallON $214,0683.18 $50,88882224
68QuesnelBC $212,4722.39 $68,037191188
69RothesayNB $402,8092.99 $93,77818198
70Vaudreuil-DorionQC $411,7354.58 $83,63131199
71WindsorON $291,0073.95 $59,36185249
72TerrebonneQC $336,9383.72 $84,87047202
73LakeshoreON $442,9884.08 $103,16824249
74PentictonBC $445,9985.71 $64,389132255
75North BayON $310,8903.69 $66,33366190
76BellevilleON $377,5714.65 $65,11187229
77Saint-EustacheQC $279,1603.34 $71,91057202
78EstevanSK $399,0263.31 $104,427104169
79SarniaON $307,9473.23 $72,61279233
80ChâteauguayQC $296,3453.62 $71,26042218
81Saint-ConstantQC $341,2363.5 $92,89437218
82WoodstockON $443,2345.14 $75,86472217
83Elizabethtown-KitleyON $351,6363.4 $83,98138227
84TimminsON $220,3432.28 $81,43190159
85CantleyQC $392,1023.34 $119,03736203
86HanoverMB $327,5863.51 $83,17341166
87The NationON $382,1243.87 $94,43336200
88CobourgON $464,4765.3 $72,69347224
89BrossardQC $445,7864.45 $77,11056206
90Prince GeorgeBC $299,5503.11 $85,028149181
91LacombeAB $339,5043.14 $94,05477156
92Wasaga BeachON $490,3726.04 $68,69835204
93TachéMB $363,4803.36 $103,20039165
94Mont-Saint-HilaireQC $456,1773.81 $98,11937288
95Powell RiverBC $450,2585.95 $64,41464323
96Saint-SauveurQC $397,6614.41 $63,48267197
97MascoucheQC $335,2573.74 $84,51447205
98Saint-ColombanQC $369,5844.25 $87,03539197
99BeloeilQC $341,4773.65 $84,80937206
100SteinbachMB $336,6923.92 $68,93680166