Why Are People Moving to Hamilton?
By: Zohaib Shahab| Tolobi
If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, you probably know at least one person who has moved to Hamilton in the last couple of years. Nicknamed the Hammer, or Steeltown, for its industrial history, the city is nowadays known for being a vibrant and world-class place to live, coupled with an attractive backdrop of natural beauty and lower costs of living than nearby cities. But is Hamilton the right city for you?
The Backdrop
Hamilton is increasingly becoming renowned for the natural beauty it has to offer. Located on the Niagara Escarpment — a scenic rock ridge stretching nearly a thousand miles across the Great Lakes region — the city is known as the “Waterfall Capital of the World,” as more than a hundred waterfalls gush forth within the city limits. Some of the more popular landmark waterfalls include the Devil’s Punchbowl Conservation Area, Tews Falls, Webster’s Falls and Albion Falls, each drawing thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.
Hamilton also has a beachfront, making it instantly attractive for people seeking a good quality of life. Located right on Lake Ontario, the Hamilton waterfront stretches 7.5 km from East Hamilton and Stoney Creek all the way to Burlington, and is enjoyed by locals year-round, whether for simple activities like a morning jog or something like playing mini-golf at Adventure Village or cooling down at the local favourite Wild Waterworks.
Speaking of recreational activities, the oldest and longest marked hiking trail in Canada, Bruce Trail, begins in Queenston and passes through Hamilton, connecting many other cities and towns all the way until reaching Tobermory.
Cheap Costs
Compared to Toronto, where the average price for a detached house sells for $1.5 million, Hamilton is a bargain. According to Zolo Realty, the average sold price for a detached house in Hamilton was $730 000, just half that of Toronto. Even the price of a condo in Toronto would buy you a detached house, or a townhouse at the very least, in Hamilton.
Renting in Hamilton is also competitively affordable. While 1-bed units in Toronto are priced around $2,000 and 2-bed units around $2,500 on average, the same units are priced at just $1,500 and $2,200 in Hamilton, often for more living space as well. But don’t look at just the statistics! Come tour our fully renovated one-bed and two-bed suites right by Hamilton GO, Highway 403 and St. Joseph’s Healthcare, and see for yourself what you’re missing out on! To book a viewing, check out the listing!
Easy Living
Life in Hamilton is like any major city in the country. From decadent donut stores (Donut Monster) to fashionable West Coast-style bistros (Berkley North), and being home to the first poke bar in Canada (Pokeh) as well as a taco and tequila bar founded by a Chopped Canada champion (Mezcal TNT), Hamilton serves delicious cuisines that reflect the city’s diverse demographics. There’s always a restaurant waiting to satisfy your cravings.
There’s endless attractions to keep your weekends busy, with Hamilton being home to the African Lion Safari Park, Royal Botanical Gardens, museums like the Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum and the Art Gallery of Hamilton. The city is also experiencing an arts renaissance that has transformed Hamilton into a haven for creative minds in music, film and visual arts.
According to the 2016 Canadian Census, Hamilton has a population of 536,917, with its metropolitan area being the 9th largest in Canada. And yet, unlike other large cities in the country, Hamilton has the benefit of being a hop and a skip away from Toronto, being just a 50 minute drive away from downtown to downtown, and an easy Go-Train ride away. And being also part of a larger regional network of cities — Kitchener-Waterloo, Niagara Falls, Greater Toronto Area, and cities like Buffalo and Detroit in the US — there’s no shortage of places to visit when you live in Hamilton.
Like any other large cities, Hamilton isn’t perfect. Its numerous one-way streets can pose a challenge even for your GPS. You may have found your next waterfall, only to have to battle your way out of a swarm of tourists. And some parts of the city could use a bit of a makeover, just as any major city experiencing historic changes will likely have its fair share of tired buildings and neighbourhoods. However, these aspects of Hamilton are overshadowed by what the Hamilton of today has to offer. It really does seem like there are endless possibilities in this city, which has too often been overlooked.
