Maclean's Magazine has come out with its list of Canada's best affordable places to live and St. Catharines is among the cities where "buyers can find good-sized, high-value, often adorable family homes without breaking the bank."
St. Catharines was one of three Ontario cities to make Maclean's ranking of places where the benchmark home price still falls under the national average of $700,000. In St. Catharines, the benchmark housing price is $598,000.
"The good news is that for many people, homeownership is still possible—if they’re willing to explore new terrain," Maclean's Magazine states in its September 2024 issue. "These aren’t boring backwaters: each city we’re featuring is buzzing with economic activity, innovative new businesses, delicious dining options and cultural touchstones."
Maclean's calls St. Catharines a mid-sized Canadian city that is coming back to life and experiencing a reverse migration.
"Newcomers do double-takes at the bargains," writes Mark Pupo in the feature about St. Catharines. "You can own a button-cute workers’ cottage on a quiet, leafy street for under $400,000. For a few hundred thousand more, you can live out your mid-century-mod dreams in a side split with a backyard that can accommodate a pool, a hot tub, an outdoor kitchen and, heck, throw in a pickleball court while you’re at it."
It's not just St. Catharines' affordability that Maclean's calls out. The feature notes the city's economic growth, connect to Toronto through daily Go Transit service and quality of life.
"St. Catharines is jaw-droppingly beautiful," writes Pupo. "They don’t call it the Garden City for nothing: green space, like the hiker’s paradise of the Twelve Mile Creek or the Frederick Law Olmsted–designed, rose-filled Montebello Park, is never more than steps away."
More from the blog
Is Starting a Business Right For You?
Join our Exploring Entrepreneurship seminar in St. Catharines to get the tools and resources you need to start your business. Register now!
St. Catharines unveils new economic development and tourism strategy
The City of St. Catharines unveiled it’s updated economic development and tourism strategy, a guiding document providing policies, programs and initiatives ensuring the City continues its vision to be a safe, innovative, sustainable and caring community today and for future generations. At its September 24, 2024 meeting, St. Catharines City Council approved the Economic Development and Tourism Strategy: 2024 to 2029.
Fat Rabbit a Michelin Guide restaurant in St. Catharines
One of St. Catharines best new restaurants is carving a niche in the Niagara food scene and beyond. Fat Rabbit has been catching everyone’s attention since opening in September 2023, including the renowned Michelin Guide.
Free business training, $10,000 grants available for racialized and Indigenous entrepreneurs
Applications are now open for the 2024-25 Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) program providing free access to business coaching, training and $10,000 grants for more than 400 Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs.