Top 10 Reasons to Live in St. Catharines
With a population of over 131,000, St. Catharines is the biggest city in the Niagara region, housing almost a third of Niagara’s population. The city offers plenty of amenities and attractions for people of all ages.
Known as The Garden City, St. Catharines has many lush green spaces and brilliant blue waterways to explore, as well as tree-lined properties to purchase.
These are the top 10 reasons why people are moving to this beautiful city in Ontario.
Reason #10 – Plentiful Parks & More than 90 Kilometres of Trails
Are you a hiker, cyclist, walker/runner, or cross-country skier? You won’t believe the extensive trail system within St. Catharines. There are the City of St. Catharines trails, the Bruce Trail, and trails within Short Hills Provincial Park. Montebello park and Rennie park, two popular parks in the area, are just waiting to be explored!
Reason #9 – Less Traffic, Yet Still Close to City Centres & Airports
Residents of St. Catharines enjoy significantly less traffic congestion than bigger cities. Still, it’s nice to sometimes venture into city centres for shopping, concerts, restaurants, and other hot spots. St. Catharines is only an hour away from Toronto and 30 minutes from the United States. Airports in Toronto, Hamilton, and Buffalo, NY, all lie within roughly an hour’s drive—making it easier than ever to travel the world when you’re not enjoying life at home.
Looking to move to St. Catharines? We can get you in a beautiful new home community.
Reason #8 – It’s a Pet-Friendly City
Our pets are part of our family, so of course they’re a huge consideration when contemplating a move. Pet owners will be happy to know that St. Catharines loves pets—and they’ve made it easy for animal lovers to unite as part of the larger pack. There are two leash-free dog parks in the area: Burgoyne Woods and the Carol Disher Leash Free Dog Park at Catherine Street Park.
Reason #7 – No Shortage of Culture and Events
St. Catharines is a multicultural city filled with lots to do. You could attend a different event every night of the week if you wanted. You might check out a movie, play, dance performance, or concert at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, or watch the game at one of the city’s sporting arenas like Meridian Centre.
The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre, as well as the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory are not to be missed.
Wondering what life’s like in St. Catharines? Visit our show room or explore our website to learn about exciting new communities in the area.
Reason #6 – Water Activities
Tucked between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, St. Catharines has lots of waterways that people use for recreational activities. Residents and tourists alike can often be found windsurfing, kite boarding, sailing, and boating in the warmer months of the year.
Reason #5 – Ample Ways to Stay Fit Year-Round
To keep fit in the cooler months, residents of St. Catharines cross-country ski, skate, or make use of one of the city’s many indoor fitness facilities. The aquatic centre, the city arenas, indoor tennis courts, gyms, and yoga studios allow the people of St. Catharines to stay in shape all year round.
Looking for homes for sale in St. Catharines? We can help you find a home in the best neighbourhood.
Reason #4 – Top-Notch Wineries
Niagara’s long summers and moderate winters make it a haven for grapes—and wine making. The city even hosts regular grape and wine festivals, tastings, and wine tours. For those who don’t drink wine, St. Catharines has many local craft breweries and tasty restaurants with non-alcoholic options.
Reason #3 – Picture-Perfect Beaches & Sunsets
St. Catharines boasts many beaches for residents to enjoy, including Lakeside Park (Port Dalhousie), Sunset Beach, and Jones Beach (Port Weller). Beach amenities include picnic areas, swimming, walking trails, playgrounds, volleyball courts, a boat launch, and more. You’ll see some of the best sunsets here!
Want to live near the beach? Bromley Gardens, a new housing development in Port Weller, is just a short walk from Jones Beach, making it a popular community for people moving to the area.
Reason #2 – It’s Among the Safest Cities in Canada
St. Catharines-Niagara has been recognized as one of Canada’s safest metropolitan areas. It has the third lowest violent crime rate in all of Canada, and St. Catharines crime rates are 24% lower than the national average. With many schools in St. Catharines, it has an educated population, which may account for some of the low crime rates.
Reason #1 – It Feels Like Home
You know that serene feeling of just being home? That moment when your shoulders relax down as you kick up your feet at the end of a long day. It feels like you’ve arrived. And it’s in these unhurried moments of stillness that we feel a sense of peace—a sense of place. St. Catharines feel just like that.