Our ranking for young professionals is designed for recent postsecondary graduates who aspire to thrive in a world filled with dynamic job opportunities, affordable housing and an engaging social environment. Unlike our overall ranking, here we emphasize the proportion of non-family and one-person households, helping young individuals connect with like-minded peers, whether living alone, with roommates or with friends. We also place greater weight on economic and lifestyle factors; we aim to empower people eager to launch their careers and embrace life’s joys, while education and climate take a back seat in our evaluation criteria.
This is one of six rankings designed to help individuals find the best city for their needs at different stages of life. When considering a move to a new city, it’s understandable that you have many factors on your mind. This decision is deeply personal, but looking at a city’s livability ranking may provide some reassurance and guidance as you navigate this important choice.
We have gathered data from 454 cities across the country, each with a population exceeding 10,000. Our evaluation analyzed 58 variables across 10 categories that we identified as crucial for anyone contemplating a relocation. These categories are Economy, Housing, Demographics, Health Care, Safety, Education, Community, Amenities, Transportation and Climate.
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Our methodology
When considering a move to a new city, it’s understandable that you have many factors on your mind. This decision is deeply personal, but looking at a city’s livability ranking may provide some reassurance and guidance as you navigate this important choice.
The third edition of The Globe and Mail’s Most Livable Cities ranking includes 454 cities across the country, each with a population exceeding 10,000.
This year, we added a population filter to our rankings. In addition to customizing our rankings by category, you can now filter cities based on size: small (10,000-29,999), mid-sized (30,000-99,999), large (100,000-499,999) and major (500,000+). This feature was developed in response to user feedback to ensure that our livability assessments are fair and precise, enabling better comparisons between cities of different sizes.