A guide to the best places to live in Ontario

What are the best places to live in Ontario?

The best places to live in Ontario offer very different day-to-day experiences. Toronto and Mississauga put residents closer to major cultural attractions and larger city amenities, Burlington and Oakville pair suburban neighbourhoods with the Lake Ontario waterfront, and Hamilton and Richmond Hill offer more space alongside established local communities and access to parks and trails.

1. Toronto

   Toronto is one of the best places to live in Ontario for people who want a large city with distinct neighbourhoods and strong public transit. Downtown has a large concentration of high-rise condominiums, while areas farther from the core include townhomes and lower-rise buildings.
   
   Residents also have the waterfront, High Park, professional sports, major cultural institutions, and neighbourhoods such as The Beaches and the Distillery District to explore.
    

2. Burlington

   Burlington combines suburban living with a Lake Ontario waterfront. Spencer Smith Park sits beside downtown and hosts major community events, while the waterfront gives residents easy access to walking paths, festivals, and outdoor space close to the city centre.
   
   Housing includes high-rises near the lake as well as townhome and condominium communities throughout the city. Its proximity to Toronto and Hamilton also gives residents access to both larger urban areas without living in either one.
    

3. Oakville

   Oakville gives residents a quieter Lake Ontario setting while remaining part of the Greater Toronto Area. Bronte Harbour and the waterfront are major local draws, and the has a mix of high-rise condominiums, townhomes, and single-family neighbourhoods with larger lots and quieter streets.
   
   Oakville can be especially appealing to people who want suburban surroundings while keeping regional transit and larger employment areas within reach.
    

4. Hamilton

   Hamilton has changed considerably from its industrial roots and now combines older neighbourhoods with newer condominium developments. The city has a strong arts and food scene, while the Niagara Escarpment runs through the area and provides access to trails and waterfalls.
    

5. Mississauga

   Mississauga gives residents a large-city setting without relying on one single downtown neighbourhood. The city centre has high-rise condominiums around Celebration Square, while Port Credit and Streetsville offer more traditional main streets and lower-rise housing. GO rail service and local transit connect different parts of the city, and the Lake Ontario waterfront gives residents parks and trails close to home.
    

6. Richmond Hill

   Richmond Hill combines newer condominium developments with long-established residential neighbourhoods in York Region. Historic downtown and Mill Pond provide a different feel from the newer high-rise areas, while parks, community centres, and local shopping give residents plenty to do close to home.

How to choose where to live in Ontario

When comparing the best places to live in Ontario, start with the region that best fits your lifestyle:

• Commute and transit: Toronto, Mississauga, Burlington, and other GTA communities may work better for residents who rely on GO Transit or local rapid transit.
   
• Housing: Toronto and Mississauga have many high-rise condominiums, while Burlington, Oakville, and Richmond Hill also offer townhomes and lower-rise options.
   
• Outdoor access: Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto, and Hamilton both offer Lake Ontario waterfronts.

The best places to live in Ontario will depend on which of those differences matter most in your everyday routine.
 

Community types to consider

The best places to live in Ontario can also depend on the type of property you want:

• High-rise condominiums: Common in Toronto, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Oakville, and other growing urban areas. Residents share building systems and amenities through the condominium corporation.
   
• Mid- and low-rise condominiums: Offer apartment-style living in smaller buildings and are found throughout the GTA and other Ontario markets.
   
• Townhome condominium communities: Give residents more separation between homes while keeping shared maintenance and common elements under the condominium corporation.
   
• Lifestyle communities: Often place more emphasis on shared amenities and resident activities, with programming designed around the community itself.

What to look for before buying an Ontario condo

Finding one of the best places to live in Ontario is only the first step. If you are buying a condominium, look closely at the corporation before you commit.

Review the status certificate, condominium fees, reserve fund, governing documents, insurance information, and recent meeting records. It is also worth understanding what the corporation maintains and whether major repairs or capital projects are coming up. Those details can affect both your monthly costs and what ownership in the community is actually like.
 

Why consider professional property management for your Ontario community or building?

Self-management can put a significant amount of responsibility on volunteer board members and increase the risk of financial mistakes, inconsistent bylaw enforcement, maintenance delays, and compliance issues.

Professional property management can take on much of the day-to-day work that otherwise falls to board members. A management team can prepare budgets, coordinate maintenance, handle vendor management, keep records organized, support meetings, and respond to resident questions. It can also guide boards through more complex issues while the board keeps its decision-making authority and stays focused on the long-term needs of the community or building.
 

About FirstService Residential

FirstService Residential serves communities across Ontario, including Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Richmond Hill, and other communities throughout the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.

FirstService Residential is the leading property management company in Ontario, supporting boards and owners with local expertise backed by national resources. Our teams can help you stay organized with financial management, governance support, recordkeeping systems, insurance and risk management, maintenance planning, vendor coordination, 24/7 customer care, and resident communication. To learn more, contact a member of our team today.

This information is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be relied upon as, legal, regulatory, financial, or operational advice, or as a representation or guarantee of any specific services, capabilities, or outcomes. Property management needs, regulatory requirements, market conditions, and available services vary by jurisdiction, property type, and community. FirstService Residential provides services through locally based affiliates and associates, and services and results may vary by community, region, contractual terms, and applicable law.