The Happiest Places to Live in Canada in 2023

Ever thought about where the happiest city in Canada is? It’s none other than Caledon, Ontario. Out of a score of 100, Caledon scored 67 when measured across four quadrants: economy and real estate, location and demographics, health and wellbeing and last but not least community and environment. 

Caledon’s not the only Ontario city to rank high on the list. In fact, seven of the top ten happiest cities in Canada are located in Ontario. Milton, Halton Hills, Clarington, Burlington, Oakville, and Aurora follow closely behind Caledon with scores in the 60s. What makes these Ontario cities so happy, you may ask? Point2 discovered a high portion of their happiness is tied to Economy and Real Estate, since the median after tax income is more than $107,000 (above the national median). A large portion of homes are owned and they have some of the lowest divorce rates in the country. Not too shabby!

Although this region doesn’t stand out amongst the happiest cities in Canada, a particular metric does jump out. Lethbridge, Alberta boasts the shortest commute time in Canada, which goes a long way, especially if you have road rage.

While we’re on the topic of the Prairies, Saskatoon may rank 55th on the list of happiest cities in Canada, but it ranks second on the list when it comes to low stress levels.

The East Coast is proud to boast about the kindness of their people and the fresh ocean air they breathe. The community spirit is strong, as the highest rates of charity can be found in Fredericton, St. Johns, Halifax, Moncton and Cape Breton. The best air quality is also found on the east coast, most notably in Moncton. Maybe they’d be willing to share.

Our French friends in Quebec have a lot to be happy about, seeing as how they report the healthiest mental health rates in the country. According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, 70% of residents in Blainville and around 79% in Saguenay report that they are in very good or extremely good mental health. A small percentage report struggling with mood disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, mania, or dysthymia.

When measured against all of Canada, Lévis and Saguenay have a large portion of their populations spending less than 30% of their household income on housing. They also  have some of the lowest unemployment and poverty rates in Canada.

An important metric that helps us sleep at night is the crime severity index, and it’s clear from the numbers that residents in Milton, Oakville, Burlington and Halton Hills score very well when it comes to low crime rates. We’re happy for them.

Who you marry can have a significant impact on your overall happiness, and the residents of Milton, Ontario have cupid on their side as they reported only 7.5% divorce or separation rates.

We all know that despite Canada being home to some of the happiest cities in the world, it is home to some pretty harsh weather which can seriously kill the vibe. The exception to this fact is British Columbia, where residents of Delta enjoy an annual median temperature of 11°C and Nanaimo has some of the cleanest air in the country.