What Makes Barrie One of the Most Livable Places in Ontario?
Barrie is situated on the west shore of Lake Simcoe and is known for its ski resorts. As of the 2016 census, Barrie is the 34th largest city in Canada in terms of population, and the 21st largest Census Metropolitan Area (CMA). There are many reasons that make Barrie one of the most livable places in Ontario.
Reason #1: Affordable Housing Market and Strong Job Market
If you’re looking for “more bang for your bucks”, Barrie’s housing market is considered to be more affordable compared to real estate prices in most other major cities in southern Ontario. The overall MLS Housing Price Index (HPI) composite benchmark price for Barrie was $490,500 in 2020, up 5.2% in February 2020 compared to February 2019. The benchmark price for single-family homes was $499,900, up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. This means that you can get a 2 or 3-bedroom single detached house for about half the price of what you would otherwise pay in other cities such as Markham, Richmond Hill, or Toronto. MLS data from April 2020 shows that a 6-bedroom house was sold for approximately $720,000. In Toronto, sometimes it’s even hard to find a 1-bedroom condominium unit for this price in the downtown core.
Current Barrie MLS data indicates an average house price of $562,628 and 561 new listings in the last 28 days (based on data in Spring 2020). The median number days on the market for a home is 18 days.
In addition to the affordable housing market, Barrie has a strong diverse economy – which means that you don’t necessarily need to commute far or out of the city to get to work. Major industries present in the city include financial services, tourism, healthcare, government, utilities, and food and beverage. Some of Barrie’s major employers include: City of Barry, County of Simcoe, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, Georgian College, TD Canada Trust, Scotiabank Regional Centre, BMO Data Centre, IBM Canada Leadership Data Centre, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and Hydro One Ontario Grid Control Centre.
Reason #2: Getaway to Nature and Cottage Country in Ontario
Barrie is an outdoor paradise. Within the city, residents can enjoy the beautiful waterfront at Kempenfelt Bay. In the winter, residents and visitors flock to the ski hills of Snow Valley, Hardwood Hills, Horseshow Valley Resort, and St. Louis Moonstone. These ski resorts offer winter outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and snow tubing.
Snow Valley is a small ski hill known for its short ski runs and snowshoeing trails – ideal for beginners. Hardwood Hills offers mountain biking trails in the summer, and snowshoeing and snow tubing options in the winter. There is a chalet and café on site, as well as full rental service for those who choose to rent gears.
Horseshoe Valley Resort, located a bit north from Barrie (up Highway 400), is a larger ski resort with more extensive trails. In the summer, they offer golfing, zip-lining, and spa facilities. St. Louis Moonstone, also a large ski resort that is off Highway 400 (about a 25-minute drive north of Barrie), is mostly a winter-only facility.
Springwater Provincial Park, in close proximity to Barrie, offers 12 kilometres of hiking and mountain biking trails. In the winter, the trails can be used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Barrie is a getaway to Ontario’s cottage country. Its situation right by Lake Simcoe, and on the way to national and provincial parks such as Algonquin Park and Bruce Peninsula National Park, makes it an ideal stop for a break and to enjoy the city amenities and natural attractions that it offers.
Reason #3: Connectivity to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Beyond
Barrie is only one hour (85 km) north of Toronto, 335 km west of Ottawa, and 355 km northeast of Detroit. This makes the city well positioned to access major centres and airports across the region. Highway 400 provides direct access between the two cities.
Barrie is also well served by public transit. GO Transit’s “Barrie Line” offers daily service to and from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) from two stations in the city. The last stop from Toronto on this line is the Allandale GO Station, which is located right at the south of Barrie’s waterfront (close to city centre). A commute from Barrie to Toronto’s Union Station takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes one way (taking the train the whole way).
Within the city, Barrie Transit offers various routes that make getting from Point A to Point B seamless. The bus service also offers connections to GO Stations.
Reason #4: Picturesque City that is Conducive to Healthy and Active Living
With the scenic waterfront, green parks, and downtown core that boasts many well-kept historical buildings, Barrie is a picturesque city that offers ample opportunities for outdoor leisure activities. Downtown Barrie is lined with fashion boutiques, local art galleries, nightlife scenes, restaurants, patios, bars, and pubs. Annual events held in the waterfront and downtown area include the Barrie Waterfront Festival, Barrielicious, Winterfest, Celebrate Barrie, Ecofest, Jazz & Blues Festival, Promenade Days, Barrie Film Festival, Santa Claus Parade, New Year’s Countdown, and more. With plenty of activities, events, and festivals all-year round, the city encourages people to get outside and move.
There are farmer’s market and a skating rink in front of Barrie City Hall – both reminders of healthy and active living that has become the pinnacle of lifestyle in Barrie. Many people exercise along the waterfront trail. Along Barrie Waterfront, there are Heritage Park, Centennial Park, Allandale Station Park, Minet’s Point Park (for windsurfing), and Tyndale Park. All of these offer different activities such as canoeing, kayaking, boating, and paddleboarding. Rentals are offered by HappyPaddling, including boat rentals. Scuba diving is also possible at a few different dive sites in and near Barrie, including the wreck of the J.C. Morrison (off the shores of Centennial Beach).
Residents can enjoy the “outdoor” hiking experience without leaving the city. Bear Creek Eco Park, located off of Ferndale, is a large park with multiple walking and hiking trails for all ages and fitness levels.
Reason #5: Art and Cultural Centres
In addition to outdoor activities, Barrie residents and visitors can also enjoy the various arts and cultural centres located in the city. MacLaren Art Centre, originally called the Barrie Gallery Project, is an art gallery that offers activities and workshops. The famous collection here is the Spirit Catcher.
Five Points Theatre regularly has live shows that range from musicals to comedy and improv. The downtown area also has a number of other performing arts theatres, but Five Points Theatre is the most centrally located.
To learn about the city’s role in Canadian military history, stop by the Grey and Simcoe Foresters Museum. It’s a primary reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces that has been converted into a museum. The Simcoe County Museum showcases interactive displays, heritage buildings, and artifacts from the history of Simcoe County.
Whether you’re looking for a great and affordable place to live, a vibrant city with great outdoors and ample city amenities, or a place with a mix of cultural significance and opportunities for healthy and active living, Barrie seems to check off the boxes.
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