Why live in Durham?
Durham Region comprises Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Clarington, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, and Brock. Thus, the area offers a mix of suburban life and slower rural living, as well as easy access to the nearby City of Toronto. The region’s southern shores are situated on Lake Ontario and the area boasts tons of green space, in addition to affordable housing, top-tier health and education services, and a diverse population.
Quality and diversity of education in Durham
The Durham Region School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board operate 137 and 51 schools in the Durham Region, respectively. Some of the largest public schools in Durham include Pickering High School, Sinclair Secondary School, and J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate. There are also several private educational institutions to choose from, such as Hatch House Montessori School and Trafalgar Castle School in Whitby and Montessori Learning Centre of Pickering in Pickering. Lastly, Durham residents may have the option of attending one of three universities and colleges in the region, Trent University Durham GTA, Durham College, and Ontario Tech University.
Most populous cities in Durham
The most populous city in Durham is Oshawa, with a population of just over 175,000. Behind Oshawa are the towns of Whitby and Ajax, with approximately 138,000 and 126,000 residents, respectively, followed by the municipality of Clarington with a population of 101,000. The township of Brock is the smallest town in Durham, with just over 12,000 residents.
Quality of infrastructure for Durham
Oshawa Executive Airport is the only airport in Durham. It is a municipal airport and the hub for Air Nunavut. This means that most Durham residents will need to travel west to Toronto or Mississauga to travel internationally. Downtown you will find Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and in Mississauga, you will find Canada’s largest airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport. The good news is that there are several highways that can take you directly to these airports, like Highway 401 and Highway 407. Durham Region is also served by HIghways 412 and 418. In terms of public transit, Durham has its own public transit system, Durham Region Transit, and has GO Transit routes that connect its major towns and cities with the City of Toronto and the rest of the Greater Toronto Area. Via Rail also has a station in Oshawa, allowing Durham residents to take interprovincial trains. Finally, when it comes to healthcare, there is no shortage in Durham, which is home to seven hospitals. Among the seven are Lakeridge Health Whitby, Lakeridge Health Ajax and Pickering, and Lakeridge Health Oshawa.
Safety and security for Durham
Durham Regional Police Service is tasked with ensuring the safety and security of Durham Region at all times. Crime rates in this area are well below the national average, both in terms of violent crime and property crime.
Durham property market
Durham Region boasts a multitude of property options, ranging from condos and townhouses to semi-detached homes, bungalows, detached homes, and two and three-storey homes. Meanwhile, some of the top places in Durham Region to buy real estate at the moment are Town Centre, Duffin Heights, and Village East in Pickering, Sunderland in Brock, Newcastle in Clarington, Pinecrest in Oshawa, and Brooklin in Whitby.
Standard of living in Durham
The standard of living in Durham Region is second to none. Between the quality of its education systems, access to healthcare, affordable real estate, proximity to Toronto, the combination of suburban and rural living, and picturesque location on Lake Ontario, the quality of life in Durham is high. This is further evidenced by the fact that Toronto, which includes Durham Region, earned the ninth spot in The Global Liveability Index 2023’s Liveability Report.
Something wonderful about Durham
Oshawa hosts three film festivals every year, Greenfield Film Festive, Gay Cinematheque of Oshawa, and Cinefest Canada. There are also two professional theatre companies in the area, Durham Live Theatre and Oshawa Little Theatre.
