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Summary

The coolest cities in Canada & the US were ranked and only 1 Canadian spot made the top 10

It might not be the one you expect! 🏙️👀

Aerial view of city skyscrapers lit up at night. Right: An alley covered in street art.

The 'coolest' city in Canada came in sixth overall in the ranking.

Contributor

A new study has ranked the coolest cities in Canada and the U.S., and only one Canadian city scratched the top 10.

The study, released by Canada Sports Betting, analyzed 50 of the most populous cities in the U.S. and Canada and ranked them for overall "coolness." While cities like New York, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles took the top spots, Canada managed to snag one place in the prestigious top 10.

To determine what makes a city cool, researchers considered everything from cultural activities and nightlife to green spaces and community engagement. Data like the number of upcoming music events, historical landmarks and even coffee shops all contributed to each city's overall score. This gave a well-rounded look at what makes a place not just livable, but truly "cool."

Coming in at number six is Toronto, recognized for its lively dining scene, tech innovation and world-class sports teams. It placed 2nd in dining and nightlife, just behind New York City, with the ranking pointed to Toronto's 78 restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide. It also tied with Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton for 2nd place in the social and community engagement category.

The city's tech scene is also booming, coming in 3rd in tech and connectivity — behind only New York City and San Francisco — with over 14,000 startups in the city, according to the ranking. However, Toronto's scores lagged in the categories of environmental sustainability and its culture and arts scene.

While Toronto was the only Canadian city in the top 10, four others made the top 25. Vancouver landed at #13, with its beautiful scenery and laid-back west coast vibe, and Calgary followed at #18, scoring high for its recreation and lifestyle options. Meanwhile, Montreal (#21) and Edmonton (#24) rounded out the top 25.

Here's a look at the top 10 coolest cities in the U.S. and Canada:

  1. New York City, New York
  2. Washington, D.C.
  3. Los Angeles, California
  4. San Francisco, California
  5. Portland, Oregon
  6. Toronto, Ontario
  7. Chicago, Illinois
  8. Seattle, Washington
  9. Boston, Massachusetts
  10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Meanwhile, here's how all of Canada's biggest cities stacked up in the overall top 50:

  1. Toronto (#6 overall)
  2. Vancouver (#13 overall)
  3. Calgary (#18 overall)
  4. Montreal (#21 overall)
  5. Edmonton (#24 overall)
  6. Winnipeg (#35 overall)
  7. Ottawa (#40 overall)
  8. Quebec City (#45 overall)
  9. Kitchener (#46 overall)
  10. Hamilton (#48 overall)

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AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of Narcity's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.

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