For the second year in a row, Burlington has taken the top spot as Canada’s #1 Mid-Size City. The annual MoneySense Report, Canada’s Best Places to Live, considers 34 different criteria including medical care, crime rates and transportation. They factor in household wealth, income, employment statistics, and weather to determine which cities offer the best quality of life across the country.

Cities and towns in Western Canada have dominated many of the top spots on this report in recent years. Nearly half of the top 20 cities are west of Winnipeg, Manitoba. This is no surprise given the high wages and growing oil industry that have drawn many of Canada’s skilled workers. However, cities in Southern Ontario continue to hold their own as a highly desirable places to live. Toronto, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills all landed spots in the top 50.

This year’s report highlights the benefits of living in a satellite city. By definition, this refers to a city that is located on the outskirts of a major urban center but still enjoys the characteristics of small town living. With rising home costs in large cities like Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, outlying communities are noticing a steady increase in growth. Burlington is a prime example. Located within a close proximity to Toronto, Burlington takes advantage of lucrative employment opportunities and extensive access to quality healthcare facilities. Yet within its own neighbourhoods, Burlington maintains a sense of community. Low crime, excellent schools and clean streets are just some of the contributing factors that make this city a desirable place to live and raise a family.

Here are some notable statics from this year’s report:

• Of the 201 cities in the running, including small, medium and large cities, Burlington ranked fifth overall.
• Among mid-size cities, Burlington has the fifth highest average household income, and the third highest average discretionary income.
• The average house price in Burlington is just under $500,000.
• Crime has decreased by nearly 25% over the last 5 years, and among midsize cities, Burlington has the second lowest crime rate in Canada.
• Milton, Ontario is Canada’s fastest growing city. The population has increased by 56% since 2008.
• Residents of Oakville have the third highest net worth in Canada, coming in at just under $950,000 per household.