Homes For Sale in Kitchener

Why live in Kitchener?

Kitchener offers residents an ideal lifestyle blend. This blend includes affordable housing, family-oriented communities, green space, culture, and of course, a thriving economy, which translates to endless job opportunities. Located just over an hour west of Toronto, Kitchener is a lovely place to call home. Starting with the job market, the Kitchener-Waterloo area is known for being a manufacturing and technology hub. Some of the city’s largest employers include Sunlife Financial, Manulife Financial, Allianz Global Assistance Canada, BlackBerry Limited, Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada, The Gore Mutual Insurance Company, and Home Hardware Stores Limited. It’s no wonder Kitchener’s employment rate is among the highest in Ontario. Plus, the city is home to some of the top universities in Canada, Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo, both of which are also major employers in the region. Beyond the job opportunities that abound here, Kitchener is a relatively affordable option for those willing to live just outside the Greater Toronto Area. Lying approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Toronto’s downtown core, Kitchener is not considered part of the GTA and yet Ontario’s largest city is still easily accessible. Plus, with the lower cost of living comes more affordable housing, as well as more spacious homes. There’s also the fact that living in Kitchener doesn’t mean compromising on culture or urban amenities. The city is brimming with attractions, like THEMUSEUM, the Joseph Schneider Haus, Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum, the Doon Heritage Village, the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and Homer Watson House & Gallery. On top of all these perks, Kitchener is also in a prime location for those who enjoy the outdoors. Victoria Park is perhaps Kitchener’s best-known urban park, meanwhile, Huron Natural Area, Stanley Park Conservation Area, and Lackner Woods Natural Area surround Kitchener. The city even has its own ski resort, Chicopee. Whether you love hiking, camping, cycling, skiing, snowshoeing, or snowboarding, you can find a spot to do it in Kitchener.

Quality and diversity of education in Kitchener

The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) is the school board that manages the public elementary and high schools in Kitchener. The WRDSB operates a total of 122 schools and is responsible for educating over 64,000 students, making it one of the biggest school boards in the province of Ontario. Some of the top public schools in Kitchener include Huron Heights Secondary School, Laurentian Senior Public School, and Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School. Meanwhile, parents have several options if they wish to send their children to private school in the area, such as Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, St. Jude’s School, Sunshine Montessori School, InnovOak School, and Scholars’ Hall Inc. Next, when it comes time to attend post-secondary school, residents of Kitchener have plenty of options right at home. The two largest universities in the area are Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo. Then there is Resurrection College, Conestoga College, St. Paul’s University College, Emmanuel Bible College, and Westervelt College. Of course, only an hour away and you will also have access to Toronto’s many top-rated universities and colleges, including the University of Toronto, George Brown College, York University, Seneca College, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Humber College, Sheridan College, Toronto Film School, and the Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCAD).

Most populous cities in Kitchener

Some of the largest neighbourhoods in Kitchener include Southdale, Victoria Park, Forest Hill, Pioneer Park, Grand River South, Stanley Park, Forest Heights, Doon South, Cedar Hill, Laurentian Hills, Victoria Hills, Huron Park, Trussler, Brigadoon, Rockway, West Galt, Grand River North, and Idlewood.

Quality of infrastructure for Kitchener

Kitchener’s infrastructure is extensive and high-quality, starting with its public transit system. Grand River Transit is responsible for the public transit services in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Elmira, St. Jacobs, and New Hamburg. They operate a series of buses throughout the area to help residents get around. Then there is Metrolinx’s GO Transit, which operates train and bus routes to Kitchener, allowing passengers to easily make their way between Kitchener and Toronto Union Station. With GO Transit’s regional network, residents can also make their way from Kitchener to other cities in the Greater Toronto Area. Via Rail, Canada’s nationwide passenger train service, also has a station in Kitchener, enabling locals to travel to Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor, Montreal, Quebec City, and beyond. Further, if you plan on travelling by air, you will have the Regional of Waterloo International Airport at your disposal. This is the closest international airport to Kitchener. However, Canada’s largest airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, is only under an hour by car. Hamilton’s John C. Munro International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport are also roughly one hour from Kitchener. If you prefer to get around by car, Kitchener is well situated at the crossroads of several highways, including Highway 8, Highway 7, Highway 403, and Highway 401. Moving on to healthcare. Healthcare infrastructure in Kitchener is also top-notch, with the city boasting two hospitals, Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital. In cases of emergency or if you are in need of a specialist, Kitchener residents also have access to Toronto’s many healthcare facilities, which are among the best in the country. These include 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 Kitchener

The Waterloo Regional Police Service upholds the safety and security of Kitchener at all times. That said, Kitchener’s crime rate is extremely low, as is the risk of a natural disaster. If there is ever an emergency, residents can always call 9-1-1.

Kitchener property market

Kitchener’s property market is quickly rising. Due to its relative affordability, booming economic opportunities, and proximity to Toronto, Kitchener’s housing market is strong. Since the area is home to a wide-ranging population that includes everyone from families and seniors to students, interested buyers will find a variety of property types here, including townhomes, semi-detached homes, bungalows, detached homes, two and three-storey homes, apartments, and condos.

Standard of living in Kitchener

A popular and affordable alternative to Toronto, Kitchener is a wonderful place to call home. It boasts a high standard of living thanks to the lower cost of living, as well as the many parks and natural areas that surround it coupled with the impressive healthcare, educational, and transportation infrastructure. Not to mention the fact that Kitchener has a bustling city centre brimming with museums, art galleries, restaurants, shops, and more.

Something wonderful about Kitchener

Want to hear a fun fact about Kitchener? The Ontario city hosts the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside of Germany and the second-largest Oktoberfest festival in the world. The festival takes place annually over the course of nine days between late September and early October and features all kinds of traditional German music, food, and beer. It also typically includes a parade, a Miss Oktoberfest pageant, and a mascot named Onkel Hans. The event attracts over 700,000 visitors every year and is a nod to the area’s rich German heritage (the city’s name was once Berlin).

Transportation

Shopping, Food and Nightlife

Greenery & Character