Milton named one of Canada’s best small cities

A report from an international organization has ranked Milton among the Best Small Cities in Canada.

“We feel that cities, their residents, investors and visitors need objective rankings, not just surveys, and Best Cities offers exactly that, a holistic approach that shows which factors really makes cities attractive as places to live, work and play,” said a spokesperson for Resonance Consultancy.

Milton placed 11th on the list, and fifth among Ontario communities, receiving high marks in the categories of safety and people.

“For decades, Milton was a familiar day trip for Toronto-area families seeking elevation gain on the Niagara Escarpment, scenic picnics in the Kelso Conservation Area or a dip in its eponymous lake,” said the report.

“The nearby Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area’s trail network continues to be one of the Greater Toronto Area’s favourite mountain bike and climbing hubs. Winter beckons with gentle ski lessons at Glen Eden or snowshoe solitude among some of Southern Ontario’s last remaining old-growth forests.

“But it’s what’s in town that ranks Milton No. 2 in our Population Growth subcategory (the city projects a doubling of the population—to almost 235,000—by 2031). Residents are the fourth-most educated in Canada, and score fourth for both Creative Class and Employment Rate.

“The impressive performance helped bring Milton to a #2 ranking in our People category, bested only by Waterloo. Milton is also the safest small city in Canada, with locals preferring to apply their excess energy to world-class infrastructure, like the globally recognized Mattamy National Cycling Centre or the other four recreation centres in this 200-year-old small town gem.”

The cities were ranked in six core categories:

• Place: The perceived quality of its natural and built environments, including weather, safety, traffic, parks and landmarks.
• Product: The city’s key institutions, attractions and infrastructure, including education, health care, bike paths and museums.
• Programming: Measures the experiential pillars of a great visit, including food, shows, shopping and nightlife.
• People: Evaluating the relative strength of diversity and human capital, including young adults, education level and population growth.
• Prosperity: Wealth and prosperity of a community, including household income, employment rate and home ownership.
• Promotion: The number and frequency of media stories, online articles and place-based recommendations.

The top five Canadian small cities on the list are Victoria, Kelowna, Kingston, Niagara Falls and Waterloo.

For more information about the report, visit here.