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Daily Living Safest Cities in Canada with the Best Quality of Life – 2022
- Last updated on: July 6, 2022
Although Canada is overall a safe country, some cities are safer than others. For some people, security and safety are a major concern in their daily lives. Are you planning to move and are looking for a city that provides the security and safety required to protect its citizens? MovingWaldo has got you covered! Here are the Top 10 safest cities in Canada with the best quality of life!
Methodology
Our ranking is based on 3 criteria: the Crime Severity Index, the crime rate, and the quality of life. According to Statistics Canada, the Crime Severity Index is “a measure of the severity of police-reported crime. The CSI includes all Criminal Code violations including traffic offences, as well as drug violations and other federal statute offences. In the CSI, all crimes are assigned a weight based on their seriousness”.
In 2020, the Crime Severity Index in Canada stood at 73.44. Cities with a CSI below 60 are therefore considered amongst the safest.
Using this data, we’ve ranked the 10 safest cities in Canada while also taking into account their quality of life. The criteria used to determine the quality of life are: health, pollution, green space and recreation, climate, education and employment.
Top 10 Safest Cities in Canada
1. LaSalle
2. Burlington
3. Lévis
4. Blainville
5. Oak Bay
6. Wellington County
7. Aurora
8. Quebec City
9. Saguenay
10. Barrie
1. LaSalle, ON
With an impressively low Crime Severity Index, LaSalle ranks first in list of the safest cities in Canada. The Ontarian city has a CSI of 19.15, which is 74% lower than the national index.
The city has a relatively high-income rate and an unemployment rate of 3%. With 40 km of paved trails and over 100 acres of parkland, you can walk, jog or ride your bicycle through LaSalle without worrying about your safety. The town also hosts Night Markets featuring music, vendors and food at the Civic Centre on the last Sunday in May, June, July and August.
LaSalle, Ontario
2. Burlington, ON
Burlington is known for its cleanliness and good air quality. The waterfront city is assuredly one of the safest cities in Canada with a CSI as low as 22.77 and a crime rate considerably lower than the average.
Located in the Greater Toronto Area, Burlington is a great fit for you if you’re looking for professional opportunities. You can enjoy plenty of different outdoor recreational activities, like hiking the famous Niagara Escarpment or taking a walk at the Waterfront Trail on the shore of Lake Ontario.
Burlington, Ontario
3. Lévis, QC
Lévis holds the 3rd position in the ranking of the safest cities in Canada. The city is located at the heart of three national parks where you can find many camping sites and exciting hiking trails. The cost of living in Lévis is 25% lower than the national average.
With a Crime Severity Index of 26.77, Lévis registers an index of 463 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2020, while the province of Quebec has the double and Canada has nearly the triple.
Lévis, Quebec
4. Blainville, QC
According to L’actualité magazine, Blainville was ranked the best city in Quebec to live in 2019.Despite being Quebec’s 17th largest city in terms of population, the city is particularly safe. The crime rate in Blainville is 41% lower than the province of Quebec and the Crime Severity Index is 61% lower than the national index.
Blainville provides access to quality education, enhanced public services, and efficient public transit. 40% of its territory consists of natural spaces, so you can enjoy lots of outdoor activities all year round.
Blainville, Quebec
5. Oak Bay, BC
Oak Bay offers a high quality of life and provides excellent security and safety for residents. With a CSI of 29.81 and a crime rate twice lower than Canada’s average rate, Oak Bay is one of the safest cities in Canada and British Columbia.
You can enjoy the countless facilities that Oak Bay has to offer. For instance, Oak Bay Recreation Centre is a place where you can exercise or simply enjoy recreational activities with family or friends: arena, pools, fitness studios, indoor sports fields, and more.
Oak Bay, British Columbia
6. Wellington County, ON
Located in Southwestern Ontario and part of the Greater Golden Horseshoe, Wellington County ensures its residents a high quality of life and is certainly one of the safest cities in Canada. The County has a low CSI as of 38.05.The city’s public safety is committed to building and maintaining a safe, healthy and vibrant community. Wellington County is in fact in the top 25th percentile of all cities in the 3 following categories: low unemployment, healthy population growth and low crime rates.
Wellington County, Ontario
7. Aurora, ON
Aurora is located in the central York region and is among the safest cities in Canada. The city has a low Crime Severity Index (39.01). The city registers a rate of 514 violent crimes per 100,00 people, whereas Canada registers the double.
In addition to being safe, Aurora is home to several large companies such as Amazon and Bulk Barn Food Limited. The city offers plenty of job opportunities, has high wages and is fortunately an extremely affordable city.
Aurora, Ontario
8. Quebec City, QC
Quebec City has one of the lowest crime rates in North America. The capital of the province of Quebec records a CSI of 42.1, the lowest index among Canada’s metropolitan areas. Moreover, based on perceptions of residents*, Quebec City averages 94.16% for safety walking alone during daylight and 85.41% for safety walking alone during night, which suggests that Quebec’s neighborhoods are extremely safe.
In addition to being one of the safest cities in Canada, Quebec City offers an unbeatable quality of life for residents with a relatively low cost of housing. You can enjoy outdoor activities and sports at Les Plaines d’Abraham or take a stroll at Les Chutes Montmorency. The city also hosts the famous Festival d’été de Québec attracting stars from around the world!
*The data are based on perceptions of visitors of the website Numbeo in the past 3 years.
Quebec City, Quebec
9. Saguenay, QC
Saguenay ranks as the 9th safest city in Canada with a CSI of 43.9. The city records the lowest crime rate among census metropolitan areas (CMA). Free of heavy traffic, Saguenay is also an affordable city to live in. The city was named the Cultural Capital of Canada with its 7 theatres, a symphony orchestra, cultural venues, network of public libraries, and museums. Saguenay even offers citizens a complete program of courses and leisure activities throughout many fields of interest.
Saguenay, Quebec
10. Barrie, ON
Last but not least, Barrie appears in the Top 10 safest cities in Canada, and with good reason. The Ontarian city has a CSI of 44.9, which is very low compared to 73.44, Canada’s CSI. Barrie also averages a crime rate 34% lower than the national rate.
Barrie has amazing healthcare services and an excellent transit network. The city ensures easy access to various ski resorts, while during the warmer months, you can enjoy the beautiful beaches at Centennial Park. If you like sailing, you can even explore Lake Simcoe with a boat.
Barrie, Ontario
Conclusion
It is great to live in a city where you feel safe and protected and where you don’t have to worry about possible danger. If you are looking for cities that offer safe communities, you should be able to make a choice with this list of the Top 10 safest cities in Canada.
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FAQs
What is the safest Canadian city to live in? ›
Quebec City
Quebec is the safest province in Canada overall. It's home to three of Canada's safest cities; Quebec City, Blainville, and Lewis. Some of the benefits of Quebec City include low housing costs and historical and natural beauty.
Violent crime was lowest in Prince Edward Island followed by Ontario and Quebec. The three northern territories have higher per capita crime rates than any province.
Which province is the safest to live in Canada? ›The safest province in Canada is Quebec since it is home to four of the safest cities in Canada: Levis, Quebec City, Blainville, and Saguenay. What is this? Ontario is also an incredibly safe province since Aurora, La Salle, Wellington County, Burlington, and Barrie are all ranked among the ten safest cities in Canada.
What is the safest place to live in 2022? ›- Wenatchee, Washington. ...
- Appleton, Wisconsin. ...
- Dubuque, Iowa. ...
- Portland, Maine. ...
- Worcester, Massachusetts. ...
- Rochester, Minnesota. ...
- Methodology For The Safest Cities In The US. ...
- The Bottom Line. Safety is a complex equation, so keep in mind that many safe places to live aren't on this list.
1. Ottawa. Ottawa is a very popular choice for expatriates. The city consistently ranks highly for the quality of life, cleanliness and is one of the best communities to live in worldwide.
Which cities have the least crime? ›- Frisco, TX. With just over 200,000 residents, Frisco is the safest city in America according to our metrics. ...
- McKinney, TX. ...
- Santa Clarita, CA. ...
- Sunnyvale, CA. ...
- Glendale, CA. ...
- Cary, NC. ...
- Rochester, MN. ...
- Laredo, TX.
| 1) New-Brunswick | 78.60 |
|---|---|
| 2) Newfoundland | 78.40 |
| 3) Prince Edouard Island | 76,60 |
| 4) Ontario | 76,10 |
| 5) Quebec | 75,30 |
- British Columbia – a high standard of living. ...
- Ontario – great employment opportunities. ...
- Quebec – the taste of European culture. ...
- Alberta – for slower and less expensive living.
- Ontario. Ontario is by far the most popular province for new immigrants coming to Canada. ...
- British Columbia. Located on the west coast of Canada, British Columbia is known for its beautiful natural landscape. ...
- Quebec. ...
- Alberta.
| Rank | City | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Creek | Georgia |
| 2 | Newton | Massachusetts |
| 3 | Carmel | Indiana |
| 4 | Flower Mound | Texas |
What city is safest from natural disasters? ›
- Syracuse, New York. If you can stand the brisk winters and risk of snow storms, Syracuse is one of the safest places to live in the U.S. when it comes to natural disasters. ...
- Salt Lake City, Utah. ...
- Spokane, Washington. ...
- Bozeman, Montana. ...
- Charlotte, North Carolina. ...
- Minneapolis, Minnesota. ...
- Boulder, Colorado. ...
- Allentown, Pennsylvania.
- Albania.
- Portugal.
- Costa Rica.
- Panama.
- Mexico.
- Thailand.
- Malaysia.
- Vietnam.
LaSalle, ON
According to the most recent statistics gathered by Maclean's, LaSalle comes in as the safest city in Canada. There was almost zero violent crime, and property crime was not even a quarter of the national average. Two things to note were a slight increase in controlled drug crimes, and fraud was up.
- Nanaimo, British Columbia.
- Laval, Québec. ...
- Lethbridge, Alberta. ...
- Victoriaville, Québec. ...
- Shawinigan, Québec. ...
- Rouyn-Noranda, Québec. ...
- Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. ...
- Niagara Falls, Ontario. Average Monthly Expenses for a Single Person (without rent): $1,578. ...
A federal report on crime rates across the country ranks Kelowna as worst in Canada when it comes to crime rate.
What is the number 1 city in Canada? ›1 Toronto Toronto is the most populous city in Canada, the provincial capital of Ontario, and the centre of the Greater Toronto Area, the most populous metropolitan area in Canada.
Where is the best place in Canada to raise a family? ›Ottawa, Ontario
But, Ottawa is one of the best places for families in Canada. As Ottawa is home to Parliament Hill where Canada's federal government meets, there are plenty of great employment opportunities. This is great for parents looking to break into government work.
- Tampa, Florida.
- Mesa, Arizona.
- Austin, Texas.
- San Jose, California.
- El Paso, Texas.
- San Diego, California.
- Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Virginia Beach, Virginia (The safest big city in America)
Although Canada is overall a safe country, some cities are safer than others. For some people, security and safety are a major concern in their daily lives.
Where is safest place live? ›- Iceland — 1.107.
- New Zealand — 1.269.
- Ireland — 1.288.
- Denmark — 1.296.
- Austria — 1.300.
- Portugal — 1.301.
- Slovenia — 1.316.
- Czech Republic — 1.318.
What Canadian city has the highest crime rate? ›
A federal report on crime rates across the country ranks Kelowna as worst in Canada when it comes to crime rate.
Which city is safer Toronto or Vancouver? ›In Toronto, there is a higher crime rate per capita, so when you consider the size difference between the two, Vancouver can be easily considered the safer city. See this guide to safety in Vancouver for more.
What city in Ontario has the lowest crime rate? ›- King City was the overall safest city of 2021. ...
- Markham is located in the Greater Toronto Area in Southern Ontario. ...
- Guelph, also known as the Royal City, is filled with culture and is well known for its limestone structures.
What city has the lowest cost of living in Canada? Sherbrooke is the cheapest city to live in Canada. If you're looking to save some money, this city in southern Quebec is 20.81% cheaper than Toronto and 13% cheaper than Montreal, for reference.
Why Canada has low crime? ›The police and justice systems: Canada has a uniform national criminal code, unlike the US, where there are both state and federal criminal laws. There is also a more unified police system in Canada.
Is crime increasing in Canada? ›One of the main regular sources of data on criminal justice in Canada is the annual 'Police Reported Crime' report. The most recent report was released in the summer of 2021, and covers 2020.
What is the safest country in the world? ›According to the Global Peace Index, Iceland is the safest country in the world for the 14th year in a row. Iceland is a Nordic nation with a relatively small population of 340,000.
Is it better to live in Toronto or Calgary? ›Calgary vs Toronto 2022: Which is Better? There's no clear answer on which city is better. Toronto has more going on in terms of entertainment and climate, but Calgary's laidback lifestyle, outdoor activities, and lower cost of living are appealing. Both have strong economies with high wages and job opportunities.
Why is Montreal better than Toronto? ›Toronto is a typical city with a huge sports stadium, a standout skyline (hello CNN tower), plenty of museums and art galleries. Montreal has a quieter, more subtle side. It's more about the old town, city gardens, obscure museums, and historical buildings.
Is Calgary better than Vancouver? ›For the summer holidays, Vancouver wins for its amazing scenery and not too hot weather. For winter, Calgary wins if you prefer cold and sunny weather over wet and mild temperatures. Overall, we'll give it to Vancouver if you don't mind some rain.
Where is the best place to live in Canada for families? ›
Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario are the best for families in Canada. However, Alberta tops our list because of the affordable cost of living, high average household income, and education opportunities.
Which province in Canada has the best healthcare? ›British Columbia, the top-ranked province, places third behind Switzerland and Sweden, with “A”s on 4 of the 11 indicators. At 82.2 years, life expectancy in B.C. is among the highest in the world.
What is the prettiest town in Ontario? ›Prettiest Towns in Ontario: Goderich
Goderich has gained the reputation as “the prettiest town in Canada“. It has historic charm, natural beauty, and astoundingly stunning sunsets. First, go for a wander around The Square, the hub of Goderich.
Windsor experiences fairly cold winters, but because the summers are so hot, it evens out to an average yearly temperature of 10 °C. It is one of the warmest and cheapest places to live in Canada. It's a fairly large city, so even during the winter months, you'll have indoor activities to enjoy.
Which province is best for living in Canada? ›- Ontario. Ontario is by far the most popular province for new immigrants coming to Canada. ...
- British Columbia. Located on the west coast of Canada, British Columbia is known for its beautiful natural landscape. ...
- Quebec. ...
- Alberta.
The province with the lowest top marginal tax rate is SK, but the territories of NU and NT are lower. The following table shows the top marginal tax rates in 2022 by province and territory. BC has the lowest average tax rate for $100,000 of other income for the provinces, followed by AB and ON.