Best Places to Live: Nanaimo

Nanaimo, also known as “The Harbour City,” boasts one of the longest shorelines in Canada, with a forested mountain backdrop that make it a hot spot for nature and adventure seekers alike. The local pulp mill has long been the city’s economic driver, supplements by the service, retail and tourism industries.

We know that Canadian’s truly celebrate the liveabililty factors of their neighbourhood – the qualities that give homeowners the true satisfaction of their home within the context of a neighbourhood. In fact a Leger survey conducted by RE/MAX revealed that 89% of Canadians recommend their neighbourhoods to others. Unlike your home, neighbourhoods cannot be changed, so it is important to assess what qualities are important to you before you purchase. Luckily, when it comes to Nanaimo, there is a lot of celebrate in terms of liveability.

A survey of RE/MAX Brokers revealed that the best places to live in Nanaimo are Lower Lantzville, North Nanaimo and Departure Bay rank as the top three neighbourhoods for access to green spaces and parks, walkability, retail and restaurants and the ease of getting around/public transit.

In the same Leger survey, six-in-10 Canadians put easy access to shopping, dining and green spaces at the top of their liveability criteria. Proximity to public transit (36 per cent), work (30 per cent) and to preferred schools (18 per cent), as well as cultural and community centres (18 per cent) fall out of the top five neighbourhood wants and expectations. So how does Nanaimo stack up?

If you are searching for the best place to live in Nanaimo, you should know that Lower Lantzville ranks as the top hidden gem neighbourhood, while Central Nanaimo, Uplands and Diver Lake rank as the top three neighbourhoods for affordability and good supply of housing inventory.

Interested in seeing how Nanaimo compares to other cities across Canada? Explore the RE/MAX Liveability Report to learn more about the features Canadians value when it comes to the places they live.