Calgary: The Family Friendly City

While most urban settings are best suited to young professionals and singles, Calgary is one of the most family-friendly locations in Canada. We think Calgary is one of the best places to raise a family, and we'd love to tell you why.

Affordability

Calgary is one of the most affordable places to live in Canada, far more affordable than major urban markets anywhere in North America. Single-family homes in Calgary can be found for under $500,000, which would be a tall order in just about any other major North American city.

Families are looking for affordable places to live, as more and more of their income is allocated to children's needs, wants, colleges funds, and extracurricular activities. If you are looking for a city where you can reasonably afford a nice, single-family home, Calgary is one market that still has reasonably priced, beautiful homes for you to find.

Commute Times

Though residents benefit from all the perks of a major city, commuting around Calgary is exceedingly more convenient in comparison to other major cities. The average commute time for a Calgary resident is 26 minutes, in comparison to 68 minutes in San Francisco of 74 minutes in London.

Commute time adds up to be a major factor in your quality of life. When you have children at home, getting home from work as quickly as possible means more quality time together, less money spent on fuel or other transportation costs, and a smaller carbon footprint. Many Calgary residents have such a short commute, they are able to get to work by bicycle in the warmer months.

Family-Friendly Amenities

Calgary is filled with family-friendly attractions. You won't run out of entertaining and education outings as a family in Calgary. And did you know every Calgary resident lives within a five-minute walk of a park?

Visit the famous Calgary Zoo, with special events throughout the year, adults-only hours,  and dinosaur displays in addition to impressive animal exhibits.

Stop by the Calgary Stampede, a not-for-profit organization that works to preserve the Western heritage of Calgary, which was once a rural town filled with cattle ranchers and cowboys before becoming the vibrant city we know it as today.

Western Canada's largest amusement park, Calaway Park, is also located in Calgary. The large, family-friendly outdoor park features over 30 rides, treats, games, and entertainment for all ages, in addition to an overnight campground.

In the winter, you will love visiting WinSport & Canada Olympic Park, the site of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. Canada's Olympians still use the facility to train, and there are also portions open to the public to enjoy skiing, snowboarding, skating, tubing, and more.

Schools

Families in Calgary enjoy access to some of the best schools in Alberta, part of Calgary Board of Education and Catholic Separate School Board. As you consider where you want to raise your family, selecting a location with excellent schools will be near the top of your wish list.

Healthcare

When you become a parent, you are almost immediately struck with the responsibility of your child's health and welfare. As you consider where you want to raise your family, you will find that access to quality healthcare is a must. Of course, we all hope we will never need much medical attention, but living near an award-winning, child-friendly hospital system will bring you peace of mind.

Alberta's Children's Hospital is a bright, cheerful hospital that has garnered significant attention for how family-friendly it is, in addition to its excellent medical track record.

To find out more about buying a home for your family in Calgary, contact our office any time. We have a team of experts who would love to help.