As someone who recently moved to a new house in Toronto, I can attest to the fact that living in Toronto is very expensive. As a result of this, many people I know have moved to Hamilton. And why not? Hamilton is about an hour southwest of Toronto so living there still allows you to come into Toronto for shopping, Toronto Maple Leafs or Blue Jays games or to visit Toronto attractions such as Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada or the Ontario Science Centre.
Hamilton is very appealing to Toronto families who want more parks, greenspace and less traffic. With the rise in remote work, many people are leaving Toronto for smaller cities and towns. Many people simply cannot afford to live in Toronto anymore.
With a plethora of parks, excellent schools and a wonderful arts and culture scene, Hamilton is the perfect place to raise a family and still have all the amenities of living in the city. With distinct neighbourhoods and communities, it’s easy to find exactly what your family is looking for when you move to Hamilton Ontario. Here are just a few of the best neighbourhoods for families.
East End
With the green space of Gage Park and the amenities of Crown Point, this is a perfect area for first-time buyers and young families. This large area actually encompasses several smaller neighbourhoods, and there are some affordable areas for young families. Close to King’s Forest and featuring stunning views of the Niagara Escarpment, this is the perfect place for nature lovers and young explorers. It’s home to Ottawa Street Shopping District, where you’ll find many small businesses. Hamilton’s East End is also very close to CF Lime Ridge Mall with anchor stores Hudson’s Bay, H&M and Old Navy. It’s a pedestrian-friendly area with easy transit access and charming homes and streets lined with mature trees.
Corktown
One of the original downtown neighbourhoods, Corktown has it all. It’s rich in history and charm, featuring a lot of character homes and close to any and all amenities you could want including parks, transit, restaurants and shopping. This is the perfect place for young families and professionals. If you need to commute to Toronto, you’ll be steps away from the Hamilton GO station, as well as Locke Street shopping and the Hamilton Art Gallery. As for parks, there’s Corktown, Shamrock and Woolverton Parks, as well as some Niagara Escarpment trails to provide plenty of green space and places to play.
Westdale
Home to many young families, this neighbourhood features Westdale Village Shopping District, a shopping area providing easy access to a variety of small businesses and favoured by locals for its small-town feel. Westdale is where you’ll find the venerable McMaster University and, as such, it’s a popular area not just for students but also professors and their families. Westdale offers a great mix of nature and city life with the Westdale Theatre and McMaster Museum of Art, as well as beautiful hiking trails in Cootes Paradise, a sanctuary for wildlife. Westdale is also next to one of Hamilton’s treasured landmarks, Dundurn Castle.
Hamilton Northend
The Hamilton Northend has recently become a trendy and up-and-coming neighbourhood with the new North Harbour GO train line and easy access to highways for those who commute. The Hamilton Northend is also a popular area due to being on the lakeshore and Hamilton Beach.
These are just a few of the family friendly neighbourhoods in Hamilton, Ontario. With a great mix of amenities like nature, parks, transit, shopping, combined with the charm and character of specific neighbourhoods, there’s a neighbourhood for everyone.
