Homes For Sale in St. Catharines

Transportation

Shopping, Food and Nightlife

Greenery & Character

Why live in St. Catharines?

Roughly an hour and a half from downtown Toronto is where you will find the city of St. Catharines. Nicknamed “The Garden City,” St. Catharines has an extensive network of hiking trails (over 90 kilometres worth of trails, in fact), urban parks, and plenty of flowers and greenery. They can be found at places like Rockway Conservation Area, Woodend Conservation Area, and Saint John’s Conservation Area, among others. The city is also located on the Niagara Escarpment and is only a short distance from Niagara-on-the-Lake (otherwise known as Ontario wine country) and the world-famous Niagara Falls. This makes it a popular destination year-round, whether you’re looking to tour the area’s top-rated wineries or marvel at one of the largest waterfalls in the world. But beyond St. Catharines’ proximity to the rest of the Niagara Region, the city has so much going for it. Nestled on the southern shorelines of Lake Ontario, St Catharines is brimming with culture, art, and history. From Morningstar Mill and the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory to the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and the St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre, there are lots of places to explore. Plus, the cost of living is far more affordable than in other nearby parts of the province, such as Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, and public transit is excellent, especially for a city of this size. On top of all that, St. Catharines offers residents a quieter alternative to big city life but with lots of suburban amenities, such as excellent healthcare and schools.

Quality and diversity of education in St. Catharines

The District School Board of Niagara is responsible for operating the city’s many public elementary and secondary schools. In fact, they operate schools in St. Catharines and beyond, including Thorold, Welland, Stoney Creek, West Lincoln, and Wainfleet. Some of the largest public schools in St. Catharines include Connaught Public School, Lincoln Centennial Public School, and Laura Secord Secondary School. Meanwhile, your child will also have the option of attending one of the city’s many Catholic schools, run by the Niagara Catholic District School Board, or a private institution. Private schools in St. Catharines include Agate Private School, Calvary Christian School, and Royal Imperial Collegiate of Canada. As for post-secondary options, Brock University and Niagara College are both located in St. Catharines. Plus, 45 minutes west of St. Catharines lies Hamilton, which is home to Mohawk College and McMaster University. Given the area’s proximity to Toronto, residents may also consider attending one of Toronto’s many highly-ranked colleges and universities, such as the University of Toronto, George Brown College, York University, Seneca College, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Sheridan College, Humber College, Toronto Film School, and the Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCAD).

Most populous cities in St. Catharines

The main neighbourhoods that make up St. Catharines are Glenridge, Merritton, Western Hill, Grapeview, Secord Woods, Queenston, Louth, Port Dalhousie, Port Weller, Grantham, Hag, and Downtown St. Catharines.

Quality of infrastructure for St. Catharines

St. Catharines boasts impressive infrastructure left and right, ranging from public transportation to education and healthcare. Niagara Region Transit runs local bus routes throughout the area. However, there are also regional trains and buses thanks to Metrolinx’s GO Transit system. St. Catharines is a stop on the Lakeshore West line of the GO system, which allows residents to seamlessly connect with Toronto Union Station and the rest of the GTA. Further, Via Rail Canada has a train line that runs through St. Catharines, so that residents can travel even further through the province and into other parts of Canada. When it comes to air travel, locals have two main options: John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton, which is roughly 45 minutes by car, or Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, which is approximately one hour away. Given St. Catharines’ close proximity to the U.S. border, taking a flight out of Buffalo Niagara International Airport might also be an option (this drive takes about 50 minutes with minimal border traffic). Finally, if you prefer to get around by car, St. Catharines has many major highways surrounding it. These include the Queen Elizabeth Way and Highway 406. As for healthcare, St. Catharines has its own hospital, Niagara Health - St Catharines Site. There are also several hospitals in Hamilton, like Chedoke Hospital, Hamilton General Hospital, Juravinski Hospital, and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. In addition, some of the best provinces in the country are located in Toronto, 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 St. Catharines

Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) is tasked with keeping the people of St. Catharines safe. That said, the area is generally considered extremely safe, with low crime rates across the board. Plus, the region rarely experiences natural disasters. Emergency services are available by calling 9-1-1.

St. Catharines property market

The St. Catharines property market is strong. This is largely due to its prime location near both Toronto and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Plus, it’s more affordable than many of its surrounding areas, including Toronto and even Hamilton. While the property market in St. Catharines is largely dominated by townhomes, detached homes, semi-detached homes, and multi-storey homes, buyers can also find several condos and apartments.

Standard of living in St. Catharines

People who live in St. Catharines enjoy a high standard of living. This is due to the fact that the area is affordable and accessible, has excellent schools and healthcare infrastructure, and boasts plenty of cultural and recreational activities for locals to enjoy, from hitting the beach in Port Dalhousie to going winery hopping. Not to mention the city’s strong sense of community and safety. It’s worth noting that Toronto, which isn’t far from St. Catharines, was recently ranked one of the most liveable cities on the planet. The Global Liveability Index 2023’s Liveability Report ranked Toronto as the ninth most liveable city in the world based on factors like healthcare, stability, education, and culture & environment.

Something wonderful about St. Catharines

As you now know, St. Catharines has a reputation for its abundance of green space. The city is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, which includes over 90 kilometres of trails. These trails are suitable for walking, cycling, running, hiking, and even cross-country skiing. One of the most famous trails in the area is the Bruce Trail. This trail is Canada’s oldest and longest. It follows the Niagara Escarpment, going all the way from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Tobermory. St. Catharines is home to a 20-kilometre stretch of it that passes by several notable sites, including Morningstar Mill. A few other trails worth checking out in the area include the Merritt Trail, which passes through parts of the second Welland Canal, the Waterfront Trail, which will take you to the scenic shores of Port Dalhousie, the Terry Fox Fitness Trail, and the Welland Canals Parkway.