Living in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
Living in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario: The Definitive Guide will provide you with almost everything you need to know about living in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Kitchener-Waterloo is quickly becoming one of Ontario's most popular locations to reside. It's no surprise. These twin cities have a lot to offer, including reasonably priced housing, wonderful facilities, beautiful open spaces, and excellent educational possibilities. In short, this is an excellent spot to settle down and establish a family.
CONTENTS
Where is Kitchener-Waterloo?
Overview
Business and Jobs
Education
Where to Live?
Public Transportation
Restaurants and Nightlife
What to do in Kitchener-Waterloo?
Where is Kitchener-Waterloo?
Waterloo is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is one of three municipalities that make up the Waterloo Regional Municipality (formerly Waterloo County). Waterloo is approximately 94 kilometers (58 miles) west of Toronto. Kitchener and Waterloo are usually referred to as "Kitchener-Waterloo," "K-W," or "The Twin Cities" due to their close proximity.
While there have been several unsuccessful attempts to unite the municipalities of Kitchener and Waterloo, there was less need to do so following the 1973 formation of the Region of Waterloo, and as a result, Waterloo remains an autonomous city. At the time of the 2021 census, Waterloo had a population of 121,436 people.
Overview
Lifestyle
The quality of life in Kitchener-Waterloo is unrivaled, and a large part of it is due to the area's local amenities. Let's start with where to go if you need some shopping therapy.
Conestoga Mall is Kitchener-Waterloo's largest shopping center. You'll discover a variety of brand-name stores here, catering to all preferences. There are also several smaller shopping areas in the vicinity, such as Belmont Village in Kitchener. Grab a baked treat from The Sconery and browse around to find anything from baby clothing to the ideal loose-leaf tea mix.
When it comes to interesting boutiques, Waterloo does not disappoint. Cocoon Apothecary (for eco-friendly skincare) and White Tiger Vintage (for retro-yet-stylish clothing) are two favorites.
Real Estate
Affordability is one of the main reasons why so many Ontarians choose to live in Kitchener-Waterloo. Real estate in this area is often less costly than in the province's larger cities. That offers a great chance for first-time buyers and growing families to acquire a foothold in the market.
Business and Jobs
Kitchener's economy is built on manufacturing. As a tribute to the city's manufacturing history, industrial artifacts can be found in public spaces throughout the city. While the local economy's reliance on manufacturing has decreased, the manufacturing sector employed 20.36% of the labor force in 2012.
Bridgeport Business Park, Grand River West Business Park, Huron Business Park, and Lancaster Corporate Centre are the city's four municipal business parks. The Huron Business Park, the biggest, is home to a variety of enterprises, ranging from seat makers to furniture components.
Education
Kitchener has many public high schools, the oldest of which is Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School, which was founded in 1855. It is located on King Street in the northern part of the city, near the Waterloo border.
Several new high schools were built in the 1950s and 1960s, including:
Eastwood Collegiate Institute
Forest Heights Collegiate Institute
Grand River Collegiate Institute
Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute
Where to Live?
Kitchener
East Ward-Auditorium and Mount Hope (Urban)
The Auditorium district is home to some excellent mansions on large lots.
Idlewood, Beechwood Forest and Brigadoon (Suburban)
Idlewood is a lovely east-side neighborhood with excellent schools.
Hidden Valley and Deer Ridge (Luxury)
Hidden Valley is peaceful and isolated, with some of the best buildings in the area.
Alpine and Laurentian Hills (Affordable)
Excellent choices for first-time buyers.
Grand River South and Beechwood Forest (Best For Schools)
Highly ranked according to EQAO and the Fraser Institute.
Waterloo
Old Westmount and Uptown Waterloo (Urban)
Fairly walkable with strong schools nearby.
Laurelwood and Eastbridge (Suburban)
Great for families with lots of green space and schools.
Westmount and Country Squire (Luxury)
High-end homes with large lots.
Lakeshore and Lakeshore North (Affordable)
Great for entry-level buyers with good schools nearby.
Eastbridge, Laurelwood and Vista Hills (Best For Schools)
Highly ranked according to EQAO and the Fraser Institute.
Lincoln Heights and Uptown Waterloo (Commuting)
Easy access to the freeway and LRT.
Public Transportation
Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Elmira, St. Jacobs, and New Hamburg are served by Grand River Transit (GRT).
GRT consists of:
ION light rail
Express bus network
Regular buses
BusPLUS service
MobilityPLUS for disabled customers
Restaurants
The Bauer Kitchen
A terrific lunch location with a broad menu featuring local ingredients in classic recipes.
The Lancaster Smokehouse
The Lancaster Smokehouse is known for its Southern BBQ. Must-try for ribs in Kansas City.
Korner Kitchen
A family-owned diner serving classic home-style food in a comfortable ambiance.
Borealis Grille & Bar
Serves local, sustainable meals with gluten-free and vegetarian options.
What to do in Kitchener-Waterloo?
Have Fun at a Museum
THEMUSEUM is an interactive museum geared mostly toward children. There are exhibits, games, and art installations.
Go Back in Time
Doon Heritage Village recreates life in the region in 1914 with historic buildings and period-dressed staff.
Spend a Day in a Park
Shade's Mills Conservation Area offers swimming, canoeing, and fishing, with trails for hiking and cycling.
Play a Round of Golf
Grey Silo Golf Course is an 18-hole public course located within RIM Park.
Wander Around Campus
Explore the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University campuses.
Go on a Historic Walking Tour
Explore the historic Mary-Allen neighborhood and Uptown Waterloo on a guided walking tour.
Royal Lepage Signature Realty
(647) 492-1880
495 Wellington St. W. #100 Toronto, ON M5V 1E9
Copyright 2024 Q Real Estate Group - All rights reserved. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information shown. The information provided herein must only be used by consumers that have a bona fide interest in the purchase, sale or lease of real estate and may not be used for any commercial purpose or any other purpose.
Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Property Listings | Sitemap | Accessibility
The data relating to real estate on this web site comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) program of the Toronto Real Estate Board. The information herein is believed to be accurate and timely, but no warranty as such is expressed or implied. The information provided herein must only be used by consumers that have a bona fide interest in the purchase, sale, or lease of real estate and may not be used for any commercial purpose or any other purpose. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and that it may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed to be accurate. Listing information updated daily.