Homes For Sale in Burlington, Ontario

Why live in Burlington?

As the second largest city in Halton Region (after neighbouring Oakville), Burlington is one of the top places to call home west of the City of Toronto. Why? Not only is it less than an hour by car from downtown Toronto but it boasts top-notch healthcare facilities, a thriving economy, family-friendly attractions, as well as a safe, calm, and quiet environment. Further, Burlington is bursting with natural beauty. It is nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario, one of Canada’s Great Lakes, and the Niagara Escarpment is on the city’s doorstep. Together, this means kilometres of walking and hiking trails, as well as activities like fishing, boating, swimming, and cycling. One of the area’s most popular parks is Spencer Smith Park, which is a key part of Burlington’s waterfront, another draw of the area. Spencer Smith Park, along with Burlington’s downtown and waterfront neighbourhoods, hosts a number of festivals and events throughout the year. For example, there is the Sound of Music Festival each June, the city’s annual Canada Day celebration in July, and the Lakeside Festival of Lights that takes place each winter. Downtown Streetfest and the Taste of Burlington also take place in the GTA city. The downtown in general is an attraction in and of itself, with lots of restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, boutique shops, and heritage buildings. Another reason to live in Burlington is the strong sense of community. There are all kinds of local events, as mentioned above, as well as recreational programs for families and local businesses and entrepreneurs operating in the city.

Quality and diversity of education in Burlington

Burlington is known for its excellent school system. The Halton District School Board (HDSB) operates all public elementary and secondary schools in Burlington, while the Halton Catholic District School Board runs the area’s many Catholic schools. Some of the main public schools in Burlington are Aldershot School, Burlington Central High School, Gary Allan High School, M.M. Robinson High School, and Nelson High School. Meanwhile, there are several private schools like Blyth Academy Burlington, Ashwood Glen School, Glenn Arbour Academy, and Fern Hill School Burlington. Lastly, when it comes to post-secondary schools, the options are top-notch. Mohawk College and McMaster University are located nearby in Hamilton, which borders Burlington. Then there is the University of Toronto - Mississauga Campus in the nearby Peel Region and Sheridan College Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville. Of course, residents will also have access to the many colleges and universities that the City of Toronto has to offer, like the University of Toronto, George Brown College, York University, Seneca College, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Humber College, Toronto Film School, and the Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCAD).

Most populous cities in Burlington

Some of the most populous neighbourhoods in Burlington are Burlington Beach, Tyandaga, Tansley, Appleby, Glenwood Park, Cedar Springs, Brant Hills, Lowville, Mount Nemo, Shoreacres, Roseland, Elizabeth Gardens, Strathcona Gardens, Palmer, and Nelson. Meanwhile, around Burlington are the other cities and towns that make up the Halton Region, including Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills.

Quality of infrastructure for Burlington

In Burlington, you have access to some of the top public transportation and healthcare infrastructure in the province of Ontario. For starters, since Burlington is sandwiched between both Hamilton and the Peel Region, residents have access to not one but two international airports (both within a 30 minute drive of Burlington). These airports are John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton and Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga (the largest airport in Canada). If you are willing to travel downtown, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport can also be found there. Meanwhile, there are several regional and domestic train options, including Metrolinx’s GO Transit system which connects downtown Toronto and the rest of the GTA with Burlington. Via Rail, Canada’s nationwide passenger train service, also has a station in the neighbouring community of Oakville. In terms of local transit, Burlington has its own network of public buses through Burlington Transit. If you prefer to get around by car, you’re in luck because Burlington is located next to several major highways, including Highway 401, Highway 403, Highway 407, and the Queen Elizabeth Way. Finally, when it comes to healthcare, you will be in good hands in Burlington. The Joseph Brant Hospital is the main healthcare facility in Burlington. However, you also have the nearby Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital in Oakville and the Milton District Hospital in Milton, both of which are also in the Halton Region. Then of course, you will also have access to Toronto’s many top-tier hospitals, like Toronto General Hospital, North York General Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, St. Michael’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Humber River Hospital, and the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Safety and security for Burlington

The Halton Regional Police Service is responsible for keeping Burlington safe and secure. That said, the area is known for being extremely safe, which is why it’s so popular amongst families. To put into perspective, Maclean's magazine once ranked Halton Region, of which Burlington is a part, as the "safest place to live" in the GTA and among the top five safest places in the country in their national crime ranking report. Plus, in 2023, Burlington and the neighbouring city of Oakville were ranked in the top ten safest cities in Canada due to their low crime rates. Lastly, Burlington is not prone to natural disasters, further increasing its safety.

Burlington property market

Burlington has one of the top housing markets in the Greater Toronto Area, which means a property investment here would be a smart idea. Given that Burlington largely attracts families and retirees, you will mostly find townhomes, detached homes, semi-detached homes, and multi-storey homes here. That said, the growing young and senior population has resulted in an increasing number of condos and apartments. Currently, some of the most lucrative and in-demand places to buy real estate in Burlington are the neighbourhoods of Tansley, Uptown, Palmer, and Headon.

Standard of living in Burlington

The standard of living in Burlington is second to none. In fact, it is revered within the GTA for its high quality of life. Offering the quiet charm of suburban life coupled with an idyllic waterfront, historic downtown, and easy access to both the City of Toronto and Hamilton, there are plenty of reasons to call Burlington home. It’s not just Ontarians or Canadians that recognize how wonderful Burlington is. Toronto was recently listed on The Global Liveability Index 2023’s Liveability Report, where the city (which includes Burlington) was found to be the ninth most liveable city in the world based on factors like healthcare, stability, education, and culture & environment.

Something wonderful about Burlington

Burlington is home to the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG), otherwise known as the largest botanical garden in all of Canada. Partially situated on the Niagara Escarpment, this open-air museum is a beautiful site all year-round. It also happens to have one of the world’s largest lilac collections. In fact, many locals and tourists alike flock to Burlington’s Royal Botanical Gardens in the spring to see the lilac collection in bloom. The RBG is also known for its notable collections of roses, lilies, and irises.

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Shopping, Food and Nightlife

Greenery & Character