Homes For Sale in Cornwall

Transportation

Shopping, Food and Nightlife

Greenery & Character

Why live in Cornwall?

If you’re looking for a mid-sized city with a small town feel, Cornwall might be it. It offers plenty of urban amenities and yet you get all the perks of living in a tight-knit community, such as the low crime rates, minimal traffic, and affordability. Cornwall also boasts an ideal location, which makes it great for commuters. Located where the borders of Quebec, Ontario, and the United States (New York) meet, Cornwall is less than an hour by car from both Ottawa and Montreal. It also sits on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, which has resulted in all sorts of beaches, parks, and recreational activities for locals to enjoy. Lamoreaux Park is one of the best spots to relax by the water on a sunny day. The park features picnic tables, a children’s playground, a boat ramp, a marina, a baseball diamond, and even the Rotary Eco Gardens. Other places to enjoy the outdoors in and around Cornwall include Gray’s Creek Conservation Area, Cooper Marsh Conservation Area, and Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary. At any of these parks, visitors can go hiking, walking, cycling, birdwatching, snowshoeing, and more. Meanwhile, other attractions that locals can enjoy include Cornwall Community Museum & Archives, The Port Theatre, Archie’s Family Golf Centre, Rush Hour Escapes Cornwall, and Big Ben Ski Centre. As you can see, there is plenty of fun to be had in Cornwall, whether you prefer hitting the links, going downhill skiing, learning about the city’s history, or solving an elaborate mystery in real time. It’s also worth noting that Cornwall is a hockey town. What does this mean? Locals are die-hard fans of their team. The local team in Cornwall was previously known as the Cornwall Royals and is now the Ontario Hockey Academy. More than attractions and recreational activities, what so many people love about Cornwall is the fact that it is a charming, welcoming place to people from all walks of life. The city has been growing for years now and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

Quality and diversity of education in Cornwall

The Upper Canada District School Board, along with the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, provide public education to the children of Cornwall. A few of the largest schools in Cornwall are St. Matthew Catholic Secondary School, St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School, and St. Lawrence Secondary School. Meanwhile, Blue Sky: An Acton Academy is one of the most prestigious private schools in the area. Moving on to post-secondary education, Cornwall is home to St. Lawrence College, the only post-secondary institution in the city. St. Lawrence College offers over 100 full-time programs and has campuses in Cornwall, Kingston, and Brockville. However, if you wish to attend a larger public university, you won’t have to travel far considering Cornwall’s prime location. In Ottawa, you will find Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, Saint Paul University, and Algonquin College, and then an hour east lies Concordia University, McGill University, the University of Montreal, and the University of Quebec in Montreal. Queen’s University in Kingston is also less than two hours away by car.

Most populous cities in Cornwall

The main neighbourhoods in Cornwall are Centretown, Le Village, Cornwall Island, Dover Heights, East End, Glenview Heights, Eamers Corner, Downtown Cornwall, Riverdale, and Cornwall Business Park.

Quality of infrastructure for Cornwall

Despite the small size of this Eastern Ontario city, Cornwall has excellent infrastructure. First, Cornwall Transit operates four bus routes throughout the city of Cornwall, as well as a Community Bus Service and several additional routes to the Cornwall Business Park. If you’re looking to get outside of Cornwall, you can hop on the 417 Bus Line route, a commuter bus that goes to Ottawa. Meanwhile, coach bus services are offered by Megabus, which can take you to Montreal, Kingston, Toronto, and more. Via Rail also has a stop in Cornwall, allowing locals to easily connect with other major cities in Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes, and even Western Canada. The nearest major airports to Cornwall are in Ottawa and Montreal, Ottawa International Airport and Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, respectively. Each will take just over an hour to drive to. Speaking of driving, if you prefer to get around by car, as many Cornwall residents do, you are in a good spot due to the many major highways nearby. For instance, Highway 2 and Highway 401 both run through Cornwall. Further, since Cornwall borders New York, motorists can take Highway 138 that crosses the Seaway Bridge, one of Canada’s land borders with the U.S. From there, you can easily drive to major cities like Plattsburgh, Syracuse, Albany, or New York City, or even just spend a day in Massena or Akwesasne, shopping or enjoying the local casinos. Finally, in terms of healthcare infrastructure, Cornwall Community Hospital serves the city of Cornwall. However, other major hospitals nearby are the Ottawa Hospital General Campus, Riverside Campus, and Civic Campus in Ottawa, as well as Montreal General Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital, and the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal.

Safety and security for Cornwall

Cornwall has its own police force, the Cornwall Police Service. They are responsible for keeping the city safe. That said, Cornwall enjoys a very low crime rate, well below the national average, which is what makes it so attractive to families and seniors. In addition, the odds of a natural disaster happening are low. In an emergency, always call 9-1-1.

Cornwall property market

While Cornwall has a strong property market, it has remained affordable - far more affordable than many other major cities in Ontario. In fact, the average price of a home in Cornwall is half of Ontario’s average sale price. Due to the smaller size of the city, most properties for sale here are detached homes and semi-detached homes, though you will find some townhomes, bungalows, condos, and apartments.

Standard of living in Cornwall

Cornwall residents enjoy a high quality of life due to the many perks and amenities that come with living in this Eastern Ontario city. Between the quality schools and healthcare, low cost of living, abundance of outdoor space, scenic location on the St. Lawrence River, and close proximity to two of the largest cities in Canada, you can’t go wrong by choosing to settle in Cornwall.

Something wonderful about Cornwall

Calling all foodies! Did you know that Cornwall is known for its pizza scene? It’s true! This small Ontario city has some of the best pizza in the area, with some of the go-to spots being Riverside, Louis, North End, Cornwall BBQ, Olympic, and King George Pizzeria. The city is so proud of its top-notch pizza that they even sell Cornwall pizza t-shirts. Plus, after you’ve finished a delicious pie, you can head over to one of Cornwall’s many breweries or wineries, another best-kept secret about the city. Rurban Brewing, Humble Beginnings Brewing Co., Wood Brothers Brewing Co., Stone Crop Acres Winery and Vineyard, Stonehouse Vineyard, and Smokie Ridge Vineyard all make local craft beer and wine for visitors to imbibe in.