The debate about whether living in Toronto or Peterborough is better rages on. Of course, we might be just a little biased. We moved back to Peterborough in 2018 and have never been happier. Showing other people the many exciting things to do and see in our small, beloved city is one of our greatest pleasures in life. However, it has come to our attention that we might not have been entirely fair to Toronto in our assessments. So we’ve decided to do a completely unbiased review of some of the reasons you may want to choose Toronto as your home over Peterborough.
Reason # 1: You have too much money and don’t know what to do with it all.
If there’s one thing living in Toronto can help you with, it’s getting rid of any annoying excess funds you may have lying around. Take the cost of housing, for example.
In June, the average price of a home in Toronto fell to a “very reasonable” $1,146,254. If you want a fully detached house, you’re looking at an average price of $1,737,012. Is that’s a little out of your range? Not to worry! You may be able to find a tiny condo, which now comes in at an average of $771,267.
If the cost of housing doesn’t eat up all of your funds, there’s always the exorbitant price of food, utilities and childcare, which are far higher than anything you’ll find in Peterborough.
In Peterborough, blowing your budget is far more challenging. The cost of living is much lower for the same or better quality of life. And housing prices don’t even compare.
The average price of a home here is $751,522, which could get you a fully-detached three or four-bedroom house with a garage, a driveway and a backyard. That’s almost a million dollars less than a detached house in Toronto!
Peterborough isn’t just a great place to live. A diverse population and in-town university make it a fantastic place to invest. Find out more below:
Reason # 2: You don’t mind waiting too long for everything.
Toronto is Canada’s most populated city, and it grows more and more crowded every year. As a result, you’ll have long lineups and substantial wait times for everything you can possibly want and need.
From coffee shops and grocery stores to restaurants and movie lineups, things that should take 10 minutes or less can easily eat up an hour or more of your time every day.
For those with plenty of time to spare and who love fighting and shoving through crowds to get anything done, Toronto couldn’t be more perfect.
Contrast that with the more relaxed pace of life in Peterborough, where running errands is quick and painless without the crowds to contend with.
Reason # 3: You love traffic and gridlock at all hours of the day.
It’s always rush hour in Toronto, even at two in the morning. There are two types of traffic: bad or even worse. However, if sitting behind the wheel while you wait through multiple red lights without going anywhere fills your heart with joy, then Toronto is for you. You’ll especially love the congestion on Hwy 401 and the Don Valley Parkway. And if the sound of angry horn honking is like music to you, then you simply can’t ask for a better place to call home.
Driving in Toronto is nothing like Peterborough, where you can get anywhere in the city within 20 minutes, even when the traffic does get a little heavier during rush hour.
Reason # 4: Fresh air and an unobstructed view of the stars offend you.
If you love the smell of fumes and can’t stand the idea of looking up on a clear night and seeing the twinkling stars in the night sky, you might want to avoid Peterborough. You can count on the constant bright lights of Toronto to dim your view of those pesky stars.
Peterborough, however, is home to the Peterborough Astronomical Association. This enthusiastic group of amateur astronomers is dedicated to reducing light pollution so everyone can enjoy the view of the night sky. They host regular public stargazing events where you can learn the names of the constellations that have always evaded you.
What else is there to do in Peterborough and the Kawarthas? We’re so glad you asked:
- The Joy Of Cycling In Peterborough And The Kawarthas
- Our Favourite Small Businesses in Peterborough
- How Peterborough’s Entertainment Scene Rivals That of Toronto
- Top Activities for Kids in Peterborough
Reason # 5: The waterfront.
We have to hand it to Toronto in this regard. The waterfront is gorgeous – if you can get near it without getting trampled by the crowd.
Oh, wait! Peterborough also has a spectacular waterfront that is far less crowded and offers free parking. And we haven’t even mentioned the sparkling lakes of the Kawarthas, which you can reach in about an hour by car.
Speaking of lakes, here are the places you have to visit this summer!
You’ll find beautiful, scenic paths along Ennismore Waterfront Park, Millennium Park Fountain, and Del Crary Park, which is also the scene of exciting events like Peterborough Musicfest and the Festival of Lights.
If you want to enjoy a quick swim on a hot day, the beaches of Beavermead Park and Rogers Cove are right here in town. Afterwards, why not savour some ice cream or sip a hot coffee on one of the waterfront patios like you’ll find at Silver Bean Cafe?
Visit Peterborough for a day, and you’ll see how you can enjoy all of the conveniences, amenities and excitement of the big city – minus the traffic and headaches.
We hope you enjoyed our thoroughly informative and unbiased comparison of living in Toronto vs Peterborough! If you’re tempted to make a move, our featured listings page is a great way to start.
