Victoria is the capital of British Columbia, nestled on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The small city boasts a dense population of 85,792, which speaks to popular demand for this highly liveable region. Victoria’s temperate climate and laid-back pace attract a large proportion of retirees seeking a relaxed lifestyle. Dubbed “The Garden City,” Victoria has beauty and brains by equal measure, with a thriving technology sector – the city’s largest revenue generating private industry.
We know that Canadian’s truly celebrate the liveabililty factors of their neighbourhood – the qualities that give homeowners the true satisfaction of their home within the context of a neighbourhood. In fact a Leger survey conducted by RE/MAX revealed that 89% of Canadians recommend their neighbourhoods to others. Unlike your home, neighbourhoods cannot be changed, so it is important to assess what qualities are important to you before you purchase. Luckily, when it comes to Victoria, there is a lot of celebrate in terms of liveability.
A survey of RE/MAX Brokers revealed that the best places to live in Victoria are Victoria Core, Saanich and Westshore rank as the top three neighbourhoods in Victoria for access to green spaces and parks, walkability, retail and restaurants and the ease of getting around/public transit.
In the same Leger survey, six-in-10 Canadians put easy access to shopping, dining and green spaces at the top of their liveability criteria. Proximity to public transit (36 per cent), work (30 per cent) and to preferred schools (18 per cent), as well as cultural and community centres (18 per cent) fall out of the top five neighbourhood wants and expectations. So how does Victoria stack up?
If you are searching for the best place to live in Victoria, you should know that Estevan Village in Oak Bay ranks as the top hidden gem neighbourhood, while Langford, Colwood and Saanich are the top neighbourhoods for affordability and good supply of housing inventory.
Interested in seeing how Victoria compares to other cities across Canada? Explore the RE/MAX Liveability Report to learn more about the features Canadians value when it comes to the places they live.
