Country Vs City Living: With Meagan Milloy

May 5

One of the amazing things about living in Ottawa is the close proximity of both city and country living. Whether you’re interested in the quietness of surrounding rural towns or want the fast pace of downtown - you can get to either in a short 30-45 minute drive. We spoke with Meagan Milloy about some of the major factors that Ottawa buyers consider when they’re choosing their new homes.

City buyers are interested in the live/work/play atmosphere of downtown Ottawa. Condos and homes in the central area are close to everything. There are more work opportunities for the average person in the downtown core - and many are accessible through a short commute, public transit, or even within walking distance. City-dwellers may also choose the condo lifestyle for low-maintenance living, Meagan explains. Having snow removal, cleaning, and maintenance covered by your condo association and building makes life much easier - especially for busy families!

City homes are also closer, on average, to sports, clubs, schools, universities, teams, social activities, hobby-spots, and clubs. If you have young children, a passionate hobby, or are looking to meet new people, a downtown home is a great way to be close to all the action. Ottawa is a great city for activities - from boxing clubs, dance classes, art classes, and recreational sports leagues, there is no shortage of activities throughout the week to help residents meet new people and get involved in their community.

Finally, city homes are typically closer to hospitals, which is of great importance to many families with young children, elderly parents, or sick family members.

On the other hand, there are plenty of people in the Greater Ottawa area that are interested in country living for a whole different set of reasons. Families and couples who choose rural areas are often interested in raising their own animals, or working on gardening projects. The extra space that comes from living in a rural area means more opportunities for growing your own food, working on your gardening skills generally, or creating a great life for your animals. Not only this, but getting that much square footage is typically a lot cheaper in the country than it is in the city. If you’re working with a specific budget, but want to have a spacious property, the rural towns around Ottawa will have a lot more options within your budget.

Although rural properties are typically more spread apart from their neighbours, rural communities are often quite tight-knit. Even though you’re further from your neighbours, the likelihood of you getting to know them is a lot stronger than in the city, where families often keep to themselves. Although there is often less community programming in rural areas, the same people will be there time after time, creating more opportunities for you to build a bond with your neighbours. The country provides that older small-town-feel that a lot of people are looking for - authentic connections with a small group of people.

Living in the country is of huge appeal to the outdoorsy types; fresh air, more nature, less traffic, less roads in general, and more land is ideal for people who want to slow life down a little bit and smell the flowers. Larger properties also mean the opportunity for multi-family living at a lower cost - whether that be multiple properties on one plot of land, or just space and financial ability to add an in-law suite, these options are more available outside of the downtown core.

Finally, because of the nature of the Ottawa area, some rural properties are also great for professionals who travel between major cities. Rural homes are often positioned in between two cities (like Toronto and Ottawa, or Ottawa and Montreal), which means the commute for both ends up being shortened considerably.