The quest to find the best city to live in begins and ends today! In this edition, Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario’s two biggest cities will battle for the honour. As Midtown Toronto real estate agents, we are naturally partial to Toronto. 

However, it turns out, people also have questions about Ottawa. So, it’s only fair to provide you with a well-reasoned, 100% objective side-by-side comparison between the two cities. 

Should you move to Ottawa, Canada’s capital, or buy a house in Toronto, the much-loved and highly sought-after capital of Ontario? Without further ado, here’s everything to know about living in Ottawa versus Toronto.

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Is Ottawa Bigger Than Toronto?

There’s no question that Toronto is massive. It covers a lot of ground, 630 square kilometres, give or take. As impressive as that sounds, it really has nothing on Ottawa, at least geographically speaking. 

In terms of physical space, Ottawa is significantly bigger than Toronto. Canada’s capital is absolutely sprawling at over 2,790 square kilometres. This includes the city proper, as well as the various separate suburbs incorporated in 2001. Keep in mind that a lot of Ottawa is sparsely populated, and this measurement also includes vast amounts of federally-owned green space, such as forests and wetlands.

Population is a different story. More than three million people call Toronto home. This is nearly triple the population of Ottawa, which currently stands at close to 1.1 million.

More people residing in a smaller space makes the population density in Toronto much higher. That’s why a lot of the development is vertical, with high-rises and condos making up a significant portion of the housing mix, hence the spectacular and unmistakable skyline as you drive into the city! 

Ottawa does have its share of high rises, but they are spread out over a larger area, and there tends to be a greater percentage of single-family homes, especially once you get outside of the downtown core. This is partly why Ottawa is often called the “biggest small town you’ll ever visit.”

If you choose Toronto, the next step is narrowing it down to a neighbourhood. The posts below can help:

Cost of Living in Ottawa Vs Toronto

Is Ottawa cheaper than Toronto? In many ways, living in Ottawa can be less expensive, especially in regards to the housing market. There are several reasons for this. One is that the demand for homes is much higher in Toronto, and what can we say? Who wouldn’t want to live here?

An exception to this rule is when it comes to property taxes. Toronto wins out in this regard with one of the lowest tax rates in Ontario, approximately 0.75% of the assessed value.

Despite the low rate, Toronto provides exceptional services to its residents. On hot days, you can splash about and cool off in one of many free outdoor swimming pools. That’s just one example!

Does Midtown Toronto life sound right for you? Your next logical step is to check out our featured listings. 

Is Ottawa Safer Than Toronto?

This is a trick question, because both cities are considered extremely safe.

By official metrics, Ottawa might look better on paper. However, given Toronto’s population density, crime rates are very low. Safety also depends on the location. Quiet, affluent neighbourhoods in Midtown tend to be very community-focused compared to busier areas.

In any case, you might be interested to know that Toronto has ranked as the safest city in Canada.

Is Ottawa Better Than Toronto?

Now this is a loaded question! The answer is, of course, subjective. As long-time Toronto residents, we’d say “absolutely not.” If you ask someone who lives in Ottawa, they might say the opposite. (Or, they might secretly envy us as they ultimately plan to move to Toronto.)

Personally, we wouldn’t trade the exhilarating environment, diversity, and world-class entertainment scene for anywhere else in the world. Fabulous restaurants and a calendar full of festivities are par for the course here in Toronto. The city also boasts some of the best schools in the province at all levels, elementary, secondary, private, religious, and post-secondary. 

Are you planning to buy a new home? The posts below can help you through the research stages:

Ottawa or Toronto: The Final Tie-Breaker

Ottawa may feature the Greenbelt, but Toronto is also famous for its breathtaking parks and trails, more than 1500 of them, in fact! Midtown Toronto alone is home to the Beltline Trail, Moore Ravine, and the Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens. On any day of the week, it’s easy to feel like you’re on vacation in a natural paradise.

The Ottawa lifestyle can also be trendy, particularly in areas like Westboro or Hintonburg. There is great shopping and dining, just less of it than you find in Toronto. Overall, there is a slower, more relaxing pace. Some people prefer this environment; others might find it, shall we say, “boring?”

However, everyone is different. If you prefer a more serene setting, Ottawa may win out.

For those who love that big city feel with a perfect balance between modern amenities, thrilling events, and peaceful getaways, the debate was over before it began; Toronto is the only choice! 

Planning to buy or sell a home? Our Midtown Toronto real estate agents are here for you. Reach out to us at david@batorigroup.com, bobby@batorigroup.com or call (416) 485-7575 with any questions.