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Best Small Towns

Top small town destinations from across the country

In recent years, Canadians’ interest in small towns has increased exponentially, spurred by trends like working from home, people's increased desire for simplicity, and more affordable real estate there. Living in a small town is also appealing as a home in retirement. Some advantages are as follows:

• Increased safety and lower crime
• Affordable housing prices and low property taxes
• Friendliness
• Tranquility and peace
• Clean air and proximity to nature
• A simplified lifestyle

As an authority on choosing where to retire, we offer our picks for the ten best small towns in Canada (in alphabetical order).

Canada's ten best small towns

Alexandria, ON

  Population: 4,486
  Median home price: 315,000 (Oct 2024)
  Fun fact: The Star Inn, part of nearby Glengarry Pioneer Museum, is the oldest bar in Ontario.

Alexandria, Ontario is uniquely Canadian in that it's one of very few places west of Quebec with French as its official language. Its population is a near-perfect mix of English and French speakers. It’s part of a collection of Eastern Ontario towns and townships (like nearby The Nation or Russell Township) that are highly rated for affordable real estate and low crime rates.

There’s a lot more to like about Alexandria, if you’re looking for a peaceful, idyllic place to live. There's a hospital in town, local history (like St. Finnan's Basilica), and plenty of natural beauty like Alexandria Island Park on Mill Pond. Another rarity about this town is its relative proximity to two major cities. Ottawa is only an hour away, and Montreal is an hour and a half.

Find an excellent place to retire in Alexandria, or learn about 55 plus communities in Eastern Ontario.

Bradford, ON

  Population: 42,800 (2021)
  Median house price: $968,000 (Oct 2024)
  Fun fact: Although the Holland Marsh area is home to many post-War Dutch immigrants, it's named for Samuel Holland who explored the area in the 1790’s.

Bradford has been shortlisted on MoneySense's "Best Places to Live" before, noted for its low crime, high average annual income, and homes’ high net worth. It epitomizes rural living “north of Toronto.” And living here, now, is more appealing than ever. You can find everything you need in the area, plus you’re perfectly halfway between the playground of cottage country and the attractions of Toronto. Golf lovers will love Nottawasaga Resort and other nearby golf courses. Both Barrie and Newmarket are conveniently close for shopping. Scenery lovers will enjoy any drive through the rolling hill country here, and hikers love the proximity of the Bruce Trail. Like so many towns on this list, we like the way it combines idyllic small town living with proximity to world class attractions and recreation.

Hilda is one senior who loves her home in Bradford. “There are so many good people here,” she'll tell you. Find excellent places to live in Bradford or read reviews of active adult living in Central Ontario.

Canmore, AB

  Population: 12,288 (2016)
  Average value of primary real estate: $912,436
  Signature attraction: While the Rockies are all spectacular, Kananaskis Valley affords all the jaw-dropping, instagram-worthy vistas you’ll ever want.

Travel west from Calgary on the Trans Canada into the Rockies, and your first stop has to be Canmore, couched between rugged peaks like Mount Rundle, Grotto Mountain, and others. The town is full of progressive, touristy shops, but step away from the main drag, and you’re surrounded by beautiful mountain scenes. You'll want to linger.

The town of Canmore was ranked in the top ten of MoneySense’s "Best Places to Live" in their last rankings. There’s a vibrant arts scene here, and the local economy is positively booming. It’s a great place to invest real estate dollars while enjoying a long list of local activities like skiing, hiking, fishing, climbing, etc. There's even an array of local golf courses (six in all!) Get a look at more Canmore at explorecanmore.ca.

The liveliness of the town is a big draw for people. Amelia moved here from the Athabasca area. Since finding a home here, she says, “I feel a lot better. You socialize here [so much]. It's so healthy!"

Dorchester, ON

  Population: 4,355 (2021)
 Median house price: $801,950 (Oct 2024)
  Fun fact: The Thames Centre was inspired by the movie Field of Dreams, with references to the movie still featured prominently in the signage.

Dorchester typifies the quaint southern Ontario town close to but separate from a major city, London in this case. It’s surrounded by woods and trails, increasingly sought out as an ecotourism destination, notably for Mill Pond Eco-Trail. There’s small town charm in its annual fair. The London area is a great retirement destination for people throughout Ontario. There's lots to do, a decent climate, and real estate that's more affordable than, say, the GTA.

Dorchester itself is right off the 401, making it easy for family to visit, should you move here. London, 15 minutes away, has a vibrant night life and great restaurants when you want a date night. Family-oriented attractions there include Springbank Park. It's also growing in the direction of Dorchester, so purchasing real estate here is a sound investment.

Find a great place to retire in Dorchester.

Duncan, BC

  Population: 4,944 (2016)
  Median house value: 771,002 (Sept 2024)
  Signature attraction: "The City of Totems" is home to 80 totem poles.

If all we were focused on was beauty, we could fill this entire list with Vancouver Island small towns. The Island is a retirement destination for the world, not only Canadians. Among its towns, though, Duncan is exceptional for its climate and its inland lee, protected from storms. It also offers reasonable real estate prices (relative to BC, that is) and reliable small town friendliness. Then there’s the proximity to the eye-filling natural beauty of Genoa Bay, Stoney Hill, and all of the Island's east coast. We could go on about the beauty of the area but if you’ve never been, here's a small preview.

Thelma retired in Duncan several years ago and tell us, "I love it here! I have no regrets at all about moving here! Everyone is really nice and treats you really good. I certainly say you should move in here."

Read about great places to retire in Duncan.

Dundas, ON

  Population: 24,285 (2016)
  Average house value: $794,404 (Aug 2024)
  Fun fact: The town was originally called Coote’s Paradise. In 1814, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, John Graves Simcoe renamed it for his friend Henry Dundas (First Viscount Melville) who never once even visited.

Dundas gets our vote as the quintessential central Ontario small-town charmer. The town has a good variety of authentic ethnic cuisine restaurants, coffee shops, bars and breweries. (Learn more here.) Dundas Peak is a local hotspot for Instagram selfies. There’s a university nearby, dozens of waterfall trails throughout Hamilton (along with historic sites and a thriving Lakefront harbour), and everything on Toronto’s harbourfront is one hour away.

No matter what your taste in homes you’ll find a wide variety of older, established homes on tree lined streets or newer developments skirting the town’s boundaries.

Learn more about the great places to retire in Dundas or active lifestyle communities near here.

Napanee, ON

  Population: 15,892 (2016)
  Median house price: 613,000 (2024)
  Fun fact: Hometown heroine Avril Lavigne sang about how she “grew up in a 5000 population town... a small town, Napanee” on her multi-platinum debut album, Let Go, briefly making Napanee world-renown.

Napanee is just off the 401, close to the shore of Lake Ontario and half an hour outside of Kingston. There’s a beautiful waterfront with a beach, and a friendly community of people that combines long-time residents with retirees from out of town. Nearby Prince Edward County is a hotspot for tourism, thanks to its wineries. The entire region is punctuated by artisans, shops, restaurants, and boutiques. There are 1000 Island Cruises and Sandbanks Provincial Park, 1,500 hectares of fun-in-the-sun, birdwatching, and swimming.

Find a great place to retire in Napanee.

Parksville, BC

  Population: 13,642 (2021)
  Median house price: $793,767 (Sept 2024)
  Fun fact: Parksville is named after the first postmaster, Nelson Parks, not for the area’s many astonishing parks like Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park or Englishman River Regional Park.

Parksville has been called "Canada's retirement destination" for good reason. That starts with its legendary Mediterranean climate but extends to reasonable real estate prices and lots to do and see. That renown is propagated by an ever-swelling community of retirees; Parksville’s population grows about ten percent every five years.

Parksville Beach faces onto the Strait of Georgia, in a semi-circular cove protected from inclement weather. It’s a vast expanse ideal for swimming, sunning, or long strolls. The town is also home to a regional campus of Vancouver Island University. Paradise Fun Park draws young families, and your grandkids will delight at its waterpark. You can golf in January here—so why keep a place in Florida?

Find a great place to retire in Parksville.

Penticton, BC

  Population: 33,761 (2016)
  Median house price: $675,000 (2024)
  Fun fact: The city’s name comes from the Salish word for “place to stay forever” (snpintktn)

Penticton’s attractions include local wineries, a variety of local churches, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that flourishes in summer. The Lakeshore is lined with stunning buildings that illuminate the waterfront by night. The marina, set against the backdrop of Okanagan Lake, offers breathtaking views of classic BC scenery that mixes water, trees, and mountains. Nearby natural wonders include Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park and Okanagan Mountain Park.

While Penticton ranks highly on data-driven lists like Moneysense's "Best Places to Live,"" one thing makes it an Okanagan standout: the people. Come to town and discover how everyone is helpful and friendly.

Find a place to retire in Penticton.

West Kelowna, BC

  Population: 32,655 (2016)
  Median house price: 935,333 (Sep 2024)
  Signature attraction: The Westside Wine Trail takes you through a dozen world-renowned wineries

The interior of British Columbia is full of cheerfully beautiful small towns where people love the lifestyle. We dedicate a whole page to BC's great small towns. West Kelowna epitomizes peaceful BC interior living, surrounded by glorious Rockies' mountainscapes. There’s everything you need here, thanks to over 1500 local businesses. Typical of the province, it’s home to hundreds of dedicated green spaces. Of course, there are numerous local ski resorts, and innumerable hiking trails through old growth forest.

The town is ranked high on Moneysense's list of "Best Places to Live" in Canada because of its low taxes, healthy economy, and the local climate, tempered by chinook winds and Lake Okanagan. For all that, there’s a community spirit, identifiable in the way local businesses participate happily in charity ventures.

Local senior, Mary Lou, says that in West Kelowna, "I know I'm safe," a fact that's also assuring to family from outside of town. Its combination of beauty, vitality, and contentment make it a great Canadian small town.

Learn more about great places to live near West Kelowna.

Sources and further reading

"About Dundas"
CanadianRealEstateMagazine.ca
City-data.com/canada
Citypopulation.de/
Houseful.ca
Moneysense.ca
OntarioHomeSearcher.com
Wowa.ca
Zolo.ca

*Since we are looking at excellent small towns nationwide, this list does not necessarily match up with our regional and provincial lists. As noted in some text, we pick towns that epitomize certain types, factors, or regions, helpful for people from out of the province or country.