City of Brantford ranks in top 20% of best communities to live in Canada

BRANTFORD, ON – The City of Brantford is very encouraged by a significant leap in the annual Maclean’s Magazine’s ranking of top communities to live in Canada - jumping an impressive 128 positions higher versus last year and rising a whopping 165 positions since 2017, resulting in a top 20% ranking overall.

Maclean’s annual ranking of the best communities to live in Canada is based on data gathered on 415 towns and cities across the country compared in the categories of: wealth and economy, affordability, population growth, taxes, commute, crime, weather, access to health care, amenities and culture. 

“This jump doesn’t surprise me”, said Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis. “Notable commercial, industrial and residential developments in the city in the last two years have created tremendous excitement and momentum, putting us in the enviable position of attracting new foreign direct investment and the many jobs that go with it.”

The Bank of Montreal’s most recent labour market report card ranks the Brantford CMA as having the best labour market in Canada for Q2 2019. The ranking is led by the city’s impressive 17% employment growth and complimented by a July Unemployment Rate: Brantford 4.5% (a decrease of .2% versus a month ago) compared to Ontario’s 5.7% and Canada 5.7%.

Additionally, for the fourth year in a row, Brantford ranks as one of the top 3 cities to buy real estate in Canada according to MoneySense magazine. The transformation of Brantford’s downtown, recent investments in new high-rise residential projects, and expanded municipal boundaries also underscore the increasing interest in the city’s real estate opportunities.  

Brantford has long been recognized as an outstanding community for both families and businesses to put down roots. There are currently four postsecondary institutions within the community, providing the city with a vibrant and younger population base and a great opportunity for investors. The presence of higher learning centres is expected to result in a strong increase in the diversification of the local economy and higher average incomes.

“Our commitment to a strong local economy and continued investment in a knowledge based economy will continue to define our community moving forward”, added Mayor Davis. A great deal of Brantford’s success can be attributed to strong relationships with the local business community as well as a supportive City Council conducive to growth." 

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Media Contact:

Maria Visocchi, Director
Communications & Community Engagement | City of Brantford
T: 519-759-4150 ext. 5754 | E: mvisocchi@brantford.ca