Hey, what's up everybody? It's Mario here with WRX Property Group!
In this article, we're going to discuss the top 3 pros and cons of living in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Let’s start the list with the top 3 cons of living in Kitchener-Waterloo, and then we will move on to the top 3 pros of living in Kitchener-Waterloo. So, what are the top 3 cons of living in Kitchener-Waterloo?
Con #1: The Temperature
In the winter months it can get very cold in Kitchener-Waterloo, and winter tends to be a little bit longer here in Canada. Winter in Kitchener-Waterloo usually starts around mid-November, or at least the snow can start around this time, and it usually lasts until February or March, and then sometimes even into April as well. That's about four and a half months of cold weather and snow.
It's not very enjoyable for a lot of people. Of course, there are winter activities and other things that can be done in the winter and snow, but four and a half months is a long time, and the temperatures can get really frigid!
Con #2: Lack of Nightlife
Nightlife is not the greatest in Kitchener-Waterloo. We have a population of about 400,000 – 450,000, but we don't have a lot of nightlife going on here. There are definitely a few restaurants and a few clubs, but nothing like a big city should have.
In my opinion we need more restaurants, more wine bars and cafes, and more places where people can gather to hang out and enjoy themselves together. This, of course, is outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you are reading this during the pandemic, hang in there we will make it. If you are reading this post-pandemic, hello from the other side!
Con #3: Student Population
We have a large student population here in Kitchener-Waterloo. This is because we have two universities - University of Waterloo & Wilfred Laurier University. We also have one of Canada’s largest colleges, Conestoga College.
Thus, we have a large student population - it's somewhere around 55,000 – 65,000 students.
They work here, they study here, and of course they party here. They mingle with the population, and when these kids are here, they have a good time, and we don't blame them for that. It's just that they sometimes get a little rowdy and most people tend to not like that.
So those were the top three cons of living in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Now, let's get into the positives and the pros of living in Kitchener-Waterloo. I'm very excited to share with you the top three pros of living in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Pro #1: One of The Best Economies In Ontario
We have a very diverse economy in the Waterloo Region which makes us particularly resistant to economic shock factors. This is why when BlackBerry started losing business and laying people off, we did not go into a recession, but rather these people were able to find jobs at many of the other thriving companies in our region.
Kitchener-Waterloo is known for its great start-up scene and our big tech sector. Being known as the Silicon Valley of the North, we are home to many great tech companies such as Google, Shopify, D2L, and many more!
We also have a great education sector with top ranked grade schools, high schools, and universities. This provides plenty of job opportunities for teachers, professors, and researchers.
The insurance sector is another key provider for local jobs. Kitchener-Waterloo is home to some of Canada’s biggest insurance companies, including SunLife, Manulife, and OTIP.
This makes Kitchener-Waterloo very attractive for people seeking jobs in a wide variety of sectors, and it makes the local economy one of the best economies in Canada and one of the top in Ontario.
Pro #2: Farmers Markets
The ability to source locally grown organic food is one of the best parts of living in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Our two local farmers markets are the St. Jacob’s Farmers Market & the Kitchener Farmers Market. Both of these are a great source of locally grown produce, as well as fresh meat from local farmers!
It’s a huge benefit to have these local farmers markets within a short drive as you can source all of these locally grown products which have a major impact on our health and well-being.
The Kitchener Farmers Market is located in the Downtown Core which is great for our quickly growing downtown population, and all of the folks working in the Downtown Innovation District.
Pro #3: 60 Minutes From Toronto
So, what that means is we get in the car or get on the train and we should be within 60 Minutes of Downtown Toronto where we can enjoy all the big city amenities like the big sports teams (Blue Jays, the Raptors, the Toronto MLS soccer team), the restaurants, the big museums, and concert venues. All those entertainment amenities which our smaller community doesn't have, Toronto has and we're only 60 minutes away.
Remember, earlier we mentioned that the nightlife is one of the cons of living in Kitchener-Waterloo, so being within an hour away from Toronto makes it a little better as we are able to access all of those amenities within a relatively short driving distance. Being this close to Toronto also allows a lot of folks who have jobs in Toronto to live in KW and commute to work when is needed. This has been one of the major factors contributing to the growth of our region and local economy.
Those were the top three pros and cons of living in Kitchener-Waterloo. Overall Kitchener-Waterloo is a great region to live in with many more pros than cons. If you are considering moving here please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about life here, as well as cost of living and real estate prices. Let us know if we missed anything or there is anything that you disagree with.
Take care and have yourself a wonderful day.