Homes For Sale in Cole Harbour

Why live in Cole Harbour?

Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia is one of the loveliest parts of the Halifax Regional Municipality. First, it is situated on the water, which means that many properties have ocean views. In addition, this close proximity to the water makes it easy for residents to partake in a range of outdoor activities, like swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and more. There are also plenty of beaches to relax on and tons of parks, walking paths, and trails in the area. One of the most popular beaches is Rainbow Haven Beach, part of Rainbow Haven Beach Provincial Park. This beach is as scenic as can be, facing out into the Atlantic, and featuring lifeguards, change stations, and a boardwalk. Not far from the beach is the trailhead for the Salt Marsh Trail, one of the best hikes in the area (fun fact: the trail was originally a CN Rail line, but when CN Rail abandoned the area, it was converted into a hiking trail). It is relatively easy, which makes it accessible for people of all ages, as well as cyclists. Other places to enjoy the outdoors in Cole Harbour include Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum (you can also learn about Cole Harbour’s history here and visit the on-site tea room) and the Shearwater Flyer Trail. Cole Harbour Place is another attraction in the community. It is a sports complex offering a range of classes and recreational programs for both children and adults, like swimming, fitness, skating, and more. Of course, given that Cole Harbour is so close to Halifax, residents can also take advantage of the many cultural and historic attractions that downtown Halifax has to offer. These include the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax Public Gardens, Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and Point Pleasant Park. Speaking of Halifax, Cole Harbour’s short distance to the Nova Scotia capital is another reason so many people choose to live here. It also sits next to Dartmouth, which has a lively downtown core that includes a variety of trendy bars, restaurants, and breweries. In fact, Dartmouth is known for its craft beer. It is home to several brewhouses, such as North Brewing, Brightwood Brewery, Lake City Cider, and New Scotland Brewery. Ultimately, if you're looking for a suburban community that is close to lots of urban amenities but that offers an escape from the city with plenty of nature, Cole Harbour might be the Nova Scotia neighbourhood for you.

Quality and diversity of education in Cole Harbour

Public schools in Cole Harbour are managed by the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, which is the largest school board in Atlantic Canada. A few of the public schools you will find in Cole Harbour include Cole Harbour District High School, Astral Drive Junior High School, Sir Robert Borden Junior High School, Astral Drive Elementary School, and Bel Ayr Elementary School. Meanwhile, you will find a number of private schools in the vicinity, though you may have to travel to neighbouring Dartmouth or Halifax. Some of the top private schools in the area are Kings View Academy, Shambhala School, Churchill Academy, and Halifax Independent School. If you’re wondering about opportunities for post-secondary in Cole Harbour, you’re in luck, as you won’t have to travel far for a quality education. Nova Scotia Community College has a campus less than 15 minutes away in Dartmouth. Meanwhile, in Halifax, you will find Dalhousie University, St. Mary’s University, Mount Saint Vincent University, NSCAD University, University of King’s College, and the Atlantic School of Theology. Acadia University, another one of the highest-ranked universities in the Maritimes, is also less than an hour away in Wolfville.

Most populous cities in Cole Harbour

There are five main neighbourhoods in Cole Harbour: Forest Hills, Portland Hills, Colby Village, Bel Ayr Park, and Cole Ridge Estates.

Quality of infrastructure for Cole Harbour

If you live in Cole Harbour, you won’t have too much trouble getting around. First, the area is easily accessible by car, with Highway 207 running through town. You’re also not far from Highways 107, 111, and 118, which can easily get you to Highways 101 and 102. However, if you prefer to take public transit, Halifax Transit operates a series of bus routes in Cole Harbour, connecting residents with downtown Halifax, Dartmouth, and beyond. Speaking of Dartmouth, a short drive to Dartmouth will give you access to the daily ferry that departs downtown Halifax and arrives in Dartmouth. The Halifax–Dartmouth Ferry, which is the oldest saltwater ferry in North America, and the second oldest in the world, has two routes, with two destinations in Dartmouth: Alderney Landing and Woodside. Thus, travelling by boat is a great way of getting around the area. Further, if you go into downtown Halifax, you will gain access to the Via Rail passenger trains, which can take you throughout the province, as well as into Quebec, Ontario, and even Western Canada. Maritime Bus also has a station in Halifax, and it offers coach bus services throughout Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and the eastern part of Quebec. Finally, if you’re taking a flight somewhere else in Canada or abroad, you can be at the largest airport in Atlantic Canada, Halifax Stanfield International Airport, in just over 20 minutes. As for healthcare infrastructure, local services are available at Cole Harbour Medical Solutions. Dartmouth General Hospital is also only a short drive away. Of course, you can also visit the largest hospital in the Maritimes, the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in downtown Halifax.

Safety and security for Cole Harbour

The Cole Harbour detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) keeps residents of Cole Harbour safe. That said, Cole Harbour is an incredibly safe community to live in, which is why it’s so popular among families and seniors. Crime rates are exceptionally low, and the threat of natural disasters is also low, with the main risk being hurricanes. Emergency services can be reached by calling 9-1-1 at any time.

Cole Harbour property market

Cole Harbour’s property market is affordable, which is what makes it such an attractive destination in Halifax and even in Nova Scotia. Due to the small size of this family-oriented community, most properties in Cole Harbour are detached, single-family homes. It is worth noting that since the community is so small, there are often limited properties on the market.

Standard of living in Cole Harbour

The standard of living in Cole Harbour is second to none. If you’re interested in living in a quieter, residential neighbourhood on nature’s doorstep, Cole Harbour will be perfect for you. While the community lacks certain urban amenities, it is less than 20 minutes to both downtown Halifax and Dartmouth, which means you’re never far from restaurants, bars, museums, coffee shops, art galleries, and more. Even better, the cost of living in Cole Harbour is relatively low and it is one of the safest communities around.

Something wonderful about Cole Harbour

Cole Harbour’s claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of world-renowned hockey star Sidney Crosby. Crosby is an NHL player and one of the best players in the league, not to mention the fact that he is a 3x Stanley Cup Champion and 2x Olympic gold medalist. However, beyond Sidney Crosby, Cole Harbour has been the birthplace of a number of notable figures. These include Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay, and Mike Clattenburg of the famous Canadian TV show, Trailer Park Boys, as well as professional hockey players Joe DiPenta, Nathan MacKinnon, and Craig Hillier, musician Matt Mays, UFC fighter T.J. Grant, and comedian Jason John Whitehead.

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