Choosing where to live is one of the most exciting and difficult decisions we ever get to make. There’s no easy answer, and even once you’ve decided, your circumstances and preferences are liable to change. Ask someone where they want to be when they’re 21 and just finishing college, then when they’re 30 with a young family, and once more when they’re fifty, nearing retirement, and you’ll likely get 3 drastically different answers with solid reasons for each. Community, opportunity, family ties, and cost-of-living are all important factors to consider when deciding on a place to call home.

And more than plain-old preferences, it can often seem that the cities with the most opportunities are too expensive to live in.

Concerns like these have left people scrambling for a third alternative — a place where they can pursue the career they want, have the thriving social life they need, and live at a price they can afford. Fortunately,  lively communities are emerging that support a variety of lifestyles, careers, and budgets — as fun as Toronto at a fraction of the cost.

Small and Mid-Sized Cities.

Maybe it’s because of the Internet, or maybe big cities just got too big. But over the last decade, crowds of young professionals and families have decided to forgo the Vancouvers of the world for small and mid-sized cities, with populations ranging from 30,000 to the high-hundreds. This trend has become so well-known that some have even taken to calling these folks ‘Boomerangs’: Millennials returning to the cities they came from or grew up near, after brief stints in the metropolises. Because of this influx of young people, these cities are booming with creativity and opportunity: start-up scenes, thriving small businesses, craft beer & coffee-houses, and engaged, active neighborhoods of like-minded people.

And at the same time, these cities have become lively retirement communities. Pairing affordability with easily-accessed amenities make small to mid-sized cities ‘Goldilocks-locales’: cheap enough to live in and travel from (for all the snowbirds out there), and socially-engaging enough that you might not want to leave – even in those cold winter months!

Creating Careers & Communities

We can all remember a time where ambitious young-people, eager to realize their professional dreams, were encouraged to set-off for the big-time economies: Vancouver, Toronto, New York & L.A. After all, where better to find a job than the centers of North American business, the places around which industry revolves?

Unfortunately, these large-centers have gotten so big, so populated, and so expensive that cost-of-living has outraced employment opportunities. High-paying jobs are hard to come by when you’re just starting out, and more necessary than ever to thrive in a major city.

And so, instead of setting off for the elusive ‘big-time’, ambitious young people have begun creating wealth for themselves and their communities by setting up shop in their native cities. Low costs, Internet-based business technologies, and talented peer groups have made local entrepreneurship a thriving part of any small or mid-sized city. In turn, these companies employ more and more hard-working professionals eager to make their mark.

And, making your mark in a smaller city is easier than ever. There’s a lot to do: aside from employment opportunities, engaging in the arts, sports, and politics of a modest-sized community can be more meaningful than doing so in a big city, where those subcultures are already saturated.

In other words, small and mid-sized cities allow you the opportunity to take part in the cultural creation of your community. It’s a lot of work, but making your city a little bit better is endlessly rewarding.

Settling Down in Style

If you’re looking for a place to slow down or retire, these cities might be what you’re after. Our NewRock hometown, Medicine Hat, has long been known as a retirement destination – and for good reason. Along with a relatively low cost-of-living, Medicine Hat hosts senior’s sports leagues, events, and is the home to a long list of great diners, restaurants, and coffee houses.

These communities also offer useful and sometimes necessary amenities. Unlike small towns, which can be far away from hospitals, assisted living facilities, and airports, small and mid-sized cities offer these benefits from the comfort of home. It’s like we said earlier: the genius of these communities is that they include the advantages of big cities without the costs. You can fly out from the local airport, and because you’re not in Vancouver, you can probably afford to.

The point is, regardless of who you are or what stage of life you’re in, these cities have something to offer you. Our NewRock team is proud to build communities in small and mid-sized cities throughout Western Canada. Recently, we hosted an event for Creekstone Estates – a community of bungalow condos in Moose Jaw. We were blown away by the sense of community and camaraderie that’s emerged among folks who’ve known each other for just a few months. As an example of what these locales have to offer, check out our blog and video exploring the event!

And, if you’re interested in owning a great home in a thriving city, browse our Communities Page. From Prince George to Pilot Butte, our team is proud to bring Care & Quality to every home and community we help build.