My personal top 5 Reasons to Relocate to Oakville, Ontario… the little Hamlet next to Toronto.
If you are searching for a new place to call home, the Town of Oakville is a great choice for new immigrants, a place to raise a family, and those looking to retire.
There are many reasons why online MoneySense Magazine has recognized Oakville as the best place to live overall out of a ranking of 415 cities, towns, and villages. Their comparison criteria include factors such as safety and culture, access to transit, schools and health care, overall affordability, and the economy.
I have lived in Oakville with my husband for 14 years now and we understand the appeal… It is truly a wonderful place to call home! There is a real sense of community here and as we raise our two boys, we can’t help but agree with the assessment that this beautiful lakeside town is an amazing place to bring up a family.
This is not your typical bedroom community as Oakville has established itself with its unique character, a revitalized downtown core with plenty of interesting shops and restaurants. It feels like you have the better of two worlds here with all the amenities you need in a city but with a whole lot of town charm!
Oakville schools are truly top-notch
No matter what specific neighbourhood you choose, Oakville schools are truly top-notch. As a Realtor with a genuine family-focus, a good school is often on the criteria list for the families I work with. It is not uncommon for parents to have specific school requirements in mind when searching for a home.
Perhaps they find the overall ‘score’ of the school to be paramount. A helpful website that lists school rankings is this one: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/school-performance
While I believe there could be some value to the scoring system, I will say from the hundreds of parents I speak to, how the school ‘ranks’ seems to be less critical than the actual quality of teachers and the direction of the principal.
Other families will want to live near a school that offers French Immersion. Sometimes regardless of what specific school it is, the main objective is to be within walking distance because they are a one-car household.
Oakville also offers a number of private schools and if that is a consideration for your family check out this great resource: https://www.ourkids.net/oakville-private-schools.php
Currently, there are 27 public elementary schools and 16 Catholic elementary schools to choose from. Regardless, of the decisive factors that are important to you about school criteria, Oakville definitely has some of the best ones to choose from!
Oakville’s natural landscape
Situated along the picturesque shores of Lake Ontario, another major draw is Oakville’s natural landscape. The great outdoors definitely surround you and it is not uncommon to find homes backing onto ravines, siding on lovely parks, or being near the waterfront.
Oakville’s 17-kilometer shoreline is home to two magnificent harbours and a plethora of lakefront parks, making it a hidden gem for visitors seeking to enjoy life on the water.
The Pileated Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, Baltimore Oriole, and Red-Tailed Hawk are among the forest birds and waterfowl that may be seen in Oakville by both novice and experienced birders.
Among my favourite places to visit to appreciate Oakville’s beauty: Lions Valley Park, Bayshire Woods, Gairloch Gardens, Lakeside Park and Tannery Park to name a few!
My family finds that in Oakville, it is easy to stay active!
Enjoy the numerous acres of parkland, many of which have well-kept hiking paths. Oakville’s 200+ kilometers of recreational trails – great for walking, jogging, cycling- spread across the town’s neighbourhoods and link many areas.
Oakville is home to the impressive Bronte Provincial Park! Here you can enjoy five hiking trails, tobogganing, cross country skiing, and swimming.
Oakville, known as the “Home of the Canadian Open,” has a wide range of golf courses and amenities to suit all skill levels. Spend the day swinging on iconic courses like Glen Abbey Golf Course, which has hosted the Canadian Open Golf Championships for the past 28 years!
If you have young children, have a look at my Facebook Activity & Outings group where I feature different parks, splash pads, and activity ideas that a young family can enjoy. Click to join here!
Oakville is safe & diverse!
According to Statistics Canada (2020 data), the total crime rate here is 56% below the national average.
While English is the most common language, over 70,000 Oakville residents (out of a population of approximately 200,000) identify different languages as their mother tongue. The most common include Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, Urdu and Portuguese. (Source: Environics Analytics, 2020 Estimate)
The percentage of visible minorities in Oakville has climbed from 18% to 31% over the past 10 years.
Oakville, with its lakeside mega-mansions, is undeniably a wealthy town. Oakville’s 2020 average household income is estimated at $192,562.04, with the provincial average at $111,866.84. Almost 65 percent of Oakville households earn an annual income of more than $100,000.
This is only one side of the story. There are plenty of mainstream areas attracting families in all different stages of their lives. New developments can be seen all over town offering something for everyone. I help purchasers buy their very first condo apartment, townhome, semi-detached or fully detached home.
Accessibility and proximity to other major cities
Residents here enjoy the perks of a smaller town atmosphere but are conveniently located in proximity to other major cities. From a commuting standpoint, Oakville is actually in a fantastic geographical position being 30 minutes from Toronto or Hamilton while also located between Mississauga and Burlington! The GO Train and major highways are easy to access.
Overall accessibility is a benefit to reach other robust employment centres but is also advantageous for recreational and practical reasons. I often find myself dining in the many lakeside restaurants that Burlington has to offer or enjoying a shopping spree in Toronto’s city core. You can get to the many family attractions either going East or West (Oakville is 90km northeast of Niagara Falls) and Oakville has always felt to us to be ideally located for all these reasons.
If you need help deciding on an area to move to, I’d love to help you navigate our beautiful neighbourhoods and assist you in your home buying journey! Contact me here: https://www.eugenieeckler.ca/contact/