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Summary

This beautiful lakeside town near Toronto was named among Canada's most liveable

It has picturesque harbours and charming streets.

Lead Writer, Travel

Considering a move? This beautiful lakeside town in Ontario might be worth checking out. With sparkling lake views, charming streets, delicious restaurants and more, it's an idyllic spot to call home.

The Globe and Mail recently released its ranking of Canada's Most Livable Cities in 2024, with the goal of "helping readers identify communities where they could thrive."

In order to compile the list, The Globe and Mail looked at 448 communities across the country and scored them using 50 different factors across 10 categories, such as transportation, amenities, and housing.

Out of the 100 cities included in the list, this Ontario spot ranked at number 10.

Oakville is a quaint destination located about 40 minutes from Toronto. According to Visit Oakville, it's known for its "picturesque harbours, vibrant shopping districts, active arts community and some of the best dining options in the Greater Toronto Area."

Nestled on the sparkling shores of Lake Ontario, the town is home to two beaches where you can soak up some sun on warm summer days.

There are over 3,200 acres of parkland and open space to explore, as well as 17 kilometres of waterfront perfect for boating and picturesque strolls.

There's no shortage of attractions in Oakville. The town has everything from indoor skydiving, escape rooms and drive-in movie theatres to bowling, laser tag and trampoline gyms.

You can also explore the art galleries and museums located throughout the area.

Every great town boasts a vibrant shopping scene, and Oakville offers a range of local shops where you can find all sorts of unique items.

The downtown is lined with chocolate shops, florists, clothing boutiques, jewellers, spas and more, so there's no need to travel to a big city in order to check off your shopping list.

With over 200 restaurants, there's something to satisfy everyone's cravings. You can dine at waterfront patios, sip drinks at cute cafes and brunch in style.

The town is accessible with GO Transit, making it a great spot for commuters working in Toronto. With an average rent cost of $1,964 and average primary real estate value of $1,490,024, according to The Globe and Mail, it may not be the cheapest spot to call home, but it does offer some amazing attractions and scored highly on sense of community.

The most liveable city was North Vancouver, followed by West Vancouver and Victoria.

Whether you're looking to make a move, or maybe just want a nice day trip, Oakville is home to a blend of small-town charm and big-city amenities.

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    • Lead Writer

      Madeline Forsyth is a Toronto-based Lead Writer for Narcity Media. After earning her B.A. (Hons) at Queen's University, she spent a year travelling much of the world as a flight attendant. Now, she uses her experience in the travel industry and passion for writing to share stories about buzzworthy events and adventures across Canada and the globe. Madeline has been published in PopSugar and has interviewed sports and entertainment personalities for Narcity. She has covered and photographed restaurant openings as well as event launches such as the world premiere of the Dr. Seuss Experience. Some of her favourite things to write about include charming small towns and anything to do with Harry Potter.

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