Photo from Unsplash
Originally Posted On: https://exprealty.ca/8-reasons-why-mississauga-is-a-good-place-to-live/
As the humble neighbour of Canada’s largest city, Mississauga is often underestimated by being considered just another calmer Toronto suburb, but that could not be further from the truth. Mississauga is a distinctive, thriving metropolis of over 720K people, which makes it Canada’s sixth-largest city –big enough to offer all the amenities and opportunities of a major urban area but small enough to still have that cozy, tight-knit feeling.
If you’re looking for a place to put down roots and Ontario real estate has caught your eye, make sure to review our top 8 reasons why Mississauga is a good place to live before putting an offer on a Mississauga home for sale.
Location, Location, Location
One of the top reasons why Mississauga is a good place to live is its advantageous location. Located in Southern Ontario in the Regional Municipality of Peel, Mississauga is one of the few cities on the shores of Lake Ontario, and it’s an excellent home base for exploring any GTA destination you want and beyond.
If you purchase a Mississauga home, you’ll have convenient proximity to pretty much everywhere. You’ll be residing just 20 to 25 minutes west of downtown Toronto, the airport is about 10 to 12 minutes away, and you can quickly commute to neighbouring cities like Brampton, Oakville, Burlington and even Hamilton. And if you’re looking to venture beyond the GTA limits, Mississauga is just a short drive away from some of Ontario’s most beautiful scenery, including Niagara Falls and cottage country.
Mississauga Is Highly Multicultural
With a population of over 700K, not only is Mississauga teeming with people, but it’s also full of different cultures, religions, and languages, which attracts relocators from near and far looking for a diverse community and an accepting environment. As one of the most multicultural cities in the country, with 185 different nationalities and 50% of residents speaking a language other than English or French as their first language (roughly double the provincial figure), newcomers to Canada can feel like they’re at home in Mississauga.
This diversity is evident in Mississauga’s food scene, which features cuisines from all over the world. It is also reflected in the city’s many cultural festivals and events, which celebrate the heritage of its residents. This diversity makes Mississauga exciting and vibrant and is yet another reason why Mississauga is a good place to live
A Diverse And Growing Housing Market
Thanks to its convenient location just outside of Toronto, Mississauga has become a good place to live for those looking for a more reasonably-priced alternative to the city. However, the combination of strong economic growth and low-interest rates has made Mississauga an attractive option for investors, and as a result, prices have been steadily increasing.
The Mississauga real estate market continues to grow, and most real estate options are high-value and fast-appreciating, but prices have seemingly stabilized. This trend has been seen in housing markets across Canada in recent months.
The average sold price of a single-family detached home in Mississauga is $1.5M, a 3% increase compared to last year but 4% down to the previous month. According to recent reports of wowa.ca, it is also 23% less than the $1.9M average prices for detached houses sold at the beginning of the year.
The good news is that there are still some great deals in specific Mississauga neighbourhoods, particularly those far from the waterfront, like Applewood, Meadowvale, and Mississauga Valleys. The key is to work with an experienced real estate agent to know exactly where to look and have some flexibility regarding the property type you’re looking to buy.
Luckily, you have plenty of alternatives since the Mississauga housing stock is a healthy blend of single-family dwellings, semi-detached homes, freehold townhouses, and condos. Between the proximity to the city and affordability compared to single-family homes, it’s clear why many are gravitating toward the Mississauga condo market. Here is a list of prices per property type in Mississauga:
- Single-Family Detached Home: $1.5M
- Semi-Detached Home: $989K
- Freehold Townhouse: $1M
- Condos: $612K
There’s Recreation For Everyone
Mississauga is a vibrant city with plenty of recreational activities for everyone to enjoy. For starters, the city has over 500 parks, including the scenic Lakefront Promenade, which provides residents ample opportunities to enjoy nature outdoors.
The city also has several major recreation centres, which offer a wide range of amenities, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fitness facilities, skating and hockey rinks, and multi-sports courts. As for attractions, Mississauga offers exciting things to do, like indoor skydiving, a trampoline park, and an indoor ski and snowboard training centre.
In addition, Mississauga is home to a number of cultural attractions and museums, such as the Art Gallery of Mississauga, the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, and the Benares Museum. Celebration Square, in the city centre, is the premier gathering spot in town hosting a myriad of concerts, movie nights, performances, festivals, events, and sports games throughout the year. If it’s events you’re after, Mississauga is a great place to live.
You’ll Feel Safe And Secure
Mississauga has been recognized as one of the nation’s safest cities for several consecutive years. According to MacLean’s Magazine, the crime rates are low in Mississauga, with a Crime Severity Index of 44 and a Violent Crime Severity Index of 54. For comparison, the Canadian average indexes are 70 and 75, respectively. You can rest assured knowing that your family will be well protected here.
The Schools Are Great
Mississauga is a good place to live for people of all ages, but if you’re moving here with kids and value education, you can be confident that you’ll find a school that meets their needs and offers them the world-class education you’ve dreamt of them. The city offers a wide range of high-quality educational options, from early childhood education to post-secondary studies.
The Peel District School Board, one of Canada’s largest school boards, oversees over 200 secular public JK-12 schools in Mississauga, while the Dufferin-Peel District School Board operates around 141 public, faith-based schools. Mississauga’s public schools offer programs and services that cater to the needs of each student, including:
- Technical Education Programs
- Co-operative Education
- Full-time French Immersion
- English As a Second Language
- Enhanced Learning programs
- Special Needs programs
In addition, there are around 30 well-respected private and ten post-secondary institutions serving students in the city, like Sheridan College and a satellite campus of the University of Toronto. With many outstanding schools to choose from, Mississauga is a good place to live if you want to get your child’s education started on the right foot.
Green Space Galore
As we mentioned, Mississauga is home to over 500 parks and green spaces, so you’re never far from a place to take a nature break. Ten percent of the total city land is parkland, approximately 29K hectares of the entire city area. Residents of Mississauga also enjoy community gardens, urban farms, dog parks, conservation areas, and other spaces to become one with nature.
Residents also have an extensive network of trails within easy reach for walking, biking, and rollerblading, making it easy to get outside and active. Some of the best parks you’ll visit in Mississauga include:
- Centennial Park
- J.C. Saddington Park
- Kariya Park
- Jack Darling Memorial Park
- Rattray Marsh Conservation Area
- Meadowvale Conservation Area
A Growing Economy
With its excellent transportation accessibility, skilled workforce, and central position, Mississauga is becoming a preferred business location for both large and small businesses in the GTA area and all of Southern Ontario. To give those statements even more credit, Forbes and Glassdoor have named Mississauga one of the best places to work in Canada for 2022.
Whether you’re seeking a first job, to keep your profession going, or become an entrepreneur, Mississauga has become a particularly attractive spot for big and small businesses (the tech industry is especially prominent here). There are over 60 Fortune 500 companies based in Mississauga. A few of Mississauga’s strongest sectors include pharmaceuticals, banking and finance, electronics/computers, aerospace, and transportation parts and equipment.
The Quality of Life
According to a Citizen Satisfaction Survey conducted in 2019, the majority of Mississauga residents (89%) rate the quality of life in the city as excellent or good. Keep reading for some additional findings on why Mississauga is a good place to live:
- 82% of citizens said that they think Mississauga’s diversity is one of its best qualities.
- 88% of citizens feel proud to identify themselves as Mississaugans.
- 90% of residents feel that Mississauga is an open and welcoming city.
- 92% of citizens are pleased with the job the City is doing to safeguard the environment.
Reasons Why Mississauga Is A Good Place To Live
There you have it —just 8 of the many reasons why Mississauga is a good place to live! If you’re thinking about making the move here or you’re already sold on the idea, contact a local eXp real estate agent who can help you find your perfect home in this wonderful city.
