Is Peterborough a Good Place to Live?

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Peterborough should be a place that’s on your radar if you are currently looking to relocate from another city in Ontario or even another province in Canada. Peterborough is deemed a ‘hidden gem’ that sits on the outskirts of the GTA, nestled nicely in cottage country.

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The city is a place with ‘gravitational pull’ as many locals will claim that they have moved away in the past, but they always come back!

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Peterborough is considered to be a small town by its population which is about 80,000 in the city itself, and about 140,000 including Peterborough County. Although small by population, Peterborough has the feel of a larger city with its downtown core and entertainment options, but also has an abundance of natural beauty and vast landscapes within minutes of the city itself.

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We know making any move to a different city is a tough choice, and it leads to many questions needing to be answered. We’re going to outline the top reasons that Peterborough is a great place to live!

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• The cost of living and real estate in Peterborough
• Jobs in Peterborough
• The local crime situation
• The school system
• Dining and downtown
• Entertainment
• The great outdoors
• Leagues and clubs
• The regional hospital
• Things for the kids
• Our local airport

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The Cost of Living and Real Estate in Peterborough

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The economy seems to be weighing on just about everyone these days. The cost of living and the price of homes has risen significantly in the past two years, and although Peterborough is no exemption from this statement, the prices are much more affordable than they are in major cities such as those in the GTA.

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Average Home Prices

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The average detached family home in Peterborough (including Peterborough County) for the year of 2022 ranged from $749,501 in sale price in October, all the way to $906,382 in sale price in February, which was the peak of 2022 at the time of this article. Keep in mind that these prices include waterfront, which hikes up the average price point. You can see both the average and median sale prices for Peterborough year-to-date below.

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In larger cities, the detached home prices come at a much higher cost. In Toronto for example, in 2022 the average detached home price ranged from $1,203,000 in October, and peaked at $1,746,990 in February. This is including all of the Toronto region. The chart below shows the average and median sale prices year-to-date for Toronto.

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These numbers show quite a difference in real estate prices, but the price alone is not what matters - it’s what you get for that cost that needs to be considered, such as:

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• Bedroom count
• Bathroom count
• Age of home
• Have there been any updates or renovations
• Location
• Yard size
• Privacy

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All of these factors make up what the total cost of your home is going to be worth, and what the value will be to you. In Peterborough, you can find a large family home on an estate lot with gorgeous landscaping and privacy, located in a great neighbourhood with lots of parking, and green space nearby for a comparable price to what you would see on the low end of the detached home market in larger cities. This means you will need to compromise some of the above listed factors during your search.

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We have helped numerous clients relocate to Peterborough from out of city as well as out of province. Even through the peak of rising costs of real estate, the homes in Peterborough when directly compared to homes and costs in the GTA, are significantly lower in price.

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Cost of Living

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The general cost of living in Peterborough is less expensive than most larger cities, and even compared to more northern or rural Ontario. You can expect to see gas prices at about 7c/L less than in the GTA, and you will see more affordable groceries - even though affordable is a loose term these days. Peterborough has lots of options for groceries, including a great Costco just off of the highway.

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Jobs and the Economy in Peterborough

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For The Self Employed

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Peterborough is a great place to do business if you’re self employed or looking to open up shop in a new community. The local support in our city is amazing, and local businesses and restaurants make up a large portion of the downtown core.

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Peterborough and surrounding townships are also great locations if you work from home, or commute a couple of days a week to the office. Our proximity to larger cities has helped people in this position finally make the move to our city and find a detached home with a view of their yard from their home office, instead of peering into a concrete jungle.

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Government and City Positions

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The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has a large building located on Water Street near Little Lake and the Otonabee River, which offers careers including, but not limited to, administration, technology specialist, wildlife policy advisor, wildlife technician, resource management, and wildlife biologist.

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Peterborough’s emergency services are also a great place for employment. Whether you’re looking to begin your career or transfer as a veteran, we’ve got a few options for you. Peterborough has two police departments within their bounds, and these are the Peterborough Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police in Peterborough County. Peterborough Fire Department is the local FD, and we have three stations within the city limits that service Peterborough. Peterborough County/City Paramedics has opportunities to land positions as either a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) or Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP). All of these emergency services also require employees within dispatch and administrative roles. If one of these career options might be in your future, Peterborough also offers Police Foundations, EMS, and Firefighting as college courses through Fleming College.

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Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is a host to an abundance of career opportunities. Whether you’re a doctor, a nurse, or have a specialized department, there are a ton of specialized inpatient and outpatient units to choose from within our regional hospital. PRHC is not limited to medical work for employment, as the building needs to be coordinated and maintained by administrative staff, maintenance, security, and management roles within those departments.

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Teaching

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If you’re a teacher, or are looking to teach in the future, you might recognize that Trent University has a School of Education with multiple programs offered within it. Peterborough is home to a number of elementary and secondary schools within the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, as well as an internationally recognized college and university.

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Not only do we have those mainstream options for teaching positions, but Peterborough has two Montessori schools that offer classes from preschool through grade 8, as well as Lakefield College which is a private high school where international students come to learn on a beautiful 315 acre campus fronting on the Otonabee River, opening into Katchewanooka Lake in Lakefield.

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General Labour Force

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Peterborough has a large portion of our employment within the construction industry, as well as our industrial and factory style workplaces.

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Peterborough is home to large employers such as PepsiCo. Foods (Quaker Oats), Venture Plastics, Dynacast Peterborough, BWXT, Fairlife, McCloskey International, Siemens Milltronics, and Minute Maid.

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What’s The Crime Like?

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Peterborough, though not comparable to larger scale cities, isn’t without issues. The things on the forefront right now seem to be:

• Break and enters to businesses in the downtown core
• Homelessness and housing issues, resulting in loitering

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When working with a Realtor in Peterborough, they will be able to better guide you through the areas of the city to avoid if you do so choose to relocate here. Make sure you’re working with someone who knows the city well!

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The Peterborough School Systems

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The Public and Catholic School Boards

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The local public school board is the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and the catholic board is the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, which both have elementary and secondary schools conveniently located throughout Peterborough. Both of these school boards also offer specialized programs such as french immersion, international baccalaureate, special education, as well as arts and athletics.

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Montessori School

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If you’re looking for an alternate method of education, Peterborough has two Montessori schools which offer education for preschool aged children up to grade 8. These private schools have a very specialized and specific environment that offers a curriculum that is unique for each student, which helps guide independance, motivation, and want to learn in the classroom. Montessori does have a tuition fee, as it is not currently funded by the government.

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Lakefield College School

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Lakefield College offers a private high school education experience from grades 9-12. They pride themselves on focusing on students as a whole. Their website states:

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“At Lakefield College School, we believe in the education of the whole student and the broad concurrent development of the intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and physical qualities needed to lead a fulfilling life.”

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Lakefield college has an incredible 315 acre waterfront campus in Lakefield that offers day school for locals as well as boarding for international and out of town students. They have a diverse range of students who have joined them from over 45 different countries, and approximately 400 students who board on the campus. Although there is a tuition fee for attending this high school, they have said that about 1 in 3 students receive financial help toward their tuition.

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College & University

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Peterborough is home to Trent University and Fleming College, which are both internationally recognized for what they offer in post secondary education.

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Trent University has been Ontario's #1 undergraduate university 12 years in a row, and is ranked #4 in all of Canada. They have 10,000+ students at their Peterborough campus alone, and also offer a campus in Durham. Trent is not only known for its programs and teaching staff, but for its campus. Trent sits along the Otonabee River, and has over 30km of hiking trails throughout.

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Fleming College is situated in the West End of Peterborough, with convenient access to amenities as well as the 115. With 75+ programs, there are no shortage of opportunities here. Fleming has a large focus on programs within Trades and Technology, Health and Wellness, and Justice and Community Development - which are all really conducive to the careers that Peterborough has to offer post graduation.

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Peterborough Regional Health Centre

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Peterborough has a regional hospital - Peterborough Regional Health Centre - which offers an emergency department, and many different inpatient and outpatient healthcare options. PRHC has a labour and delivery and NICU, a pediatric outpatient clinic for children without a family doctor, specialized cancer care unit and radiation, mental health and addictions treatment, a cardiac care unit, a diabetes care clinic, a district stroke centre and integrated stroke unit, a women's health care unit, and much more to offer.

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The Downtown Scene

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Dining

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Peterborough has an amazing abundance of top notch locally owned restaurants in the downtown core.

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Any of our downtown restaurants have a great mix of age groups, and meals and drinks for anyone, as well as a variety of dining experiences for you - whether you’re looking for waterside, streetside patios, or a rooftop - we’ve got it!

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You can dine with cuisines from around the world all within about a four block radius. Peterborough offers a large variety of restaurants, each with their own unique cuisine and character. In our downtown core, the cuisines include authentic Mexican, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, European, Asian, Italian, Greek, and standard American & Canadian.

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Shops

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Downtown Peterborough offers lots of local specialty shops with great storefronts. Most of these sit along George Street, Water Street, Hunter Street, and Charlotte Street, but don’t be afraid to explore the other downtown nooks to see what gems you can find.

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You’ll see trendy clothing boutiques for all ages, jewellery stores, shoe stores, home decor shops, and much more along this stretch, and while you’re shopping, you’ll be able to grab a coffee and a pastry at one of our amazing local cafes.

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Bars

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There are a great mix of pubs, clubs, and live music bars in downtown Peterborough, and there is something for everyone. You can dance, sing (karaoke), drink, eat, play trivia, and watch our amazing solo artists and full on bands (both local and big ticket artists) in our downtown core.

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Live Music

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Festivals & Free Music

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Peterborough MusicFest hosts a FREE concert at Del Crary Park every Wednesday and Saturday night during the summer months. You heard us. Free! The summer of 2022 included bands such as The Sam Roberts Band, The Strumbellas, and Hotel California (an Eagles cover band) just to name a few.

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During the summer, Peterborough also offers The Peterborough Folk Fest, and typically hosts an array of events such as,The Hootenanny on Hunter, The Kawartha Craft Beer Festival, and other such events which include live music, and entry is either free or based on donation.

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Concerts

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Peterborough hosts an array of concerts and shows at local venues such as The Peterborough Memorial Centre which has seen big names like Bryan Adams, Dallas Smith, Brett Kissel, The Glorious Sons, and Blue Rodeo this year.

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We also have smaller venues that host more intimate concerts such as Showplace, The Venue, The Historic Red Dog, and The Gordon Best.

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Havelock, just 20 minutes outside of the city boundary, hosts The Havelock Country Jamboree, where you can stay for up to four days in your tent or trailer, and watch live country music on different stages throughout the day. The “Jambo”, as locals call it, has recently hosted names such as The James Barker Band, The Washboard Union, The Road Hammers, April Wine, and George Canyon.

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Our Local Sports Teams

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Peterborough’s NLL Team, The Peterborough Lakers, will fill your need for sports action. The Lakers are currently headed to the Mann Cup once again, where they will fight for the title that they have won in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons. Lakers games are always packed full of fans, and full of excitement.

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The Peterborough Petes is Peterborough’s OHL team, which has actually produced more NHL players than any team in the world (150+). Players such as Jordan & Eric Staal, Tie Domi, and Steve Yzerman have played for The Petes. Some of the current players who have signed NHL contracts are J.R. Avon (PHI), Chase Stillman (NJ), Tucker Robertson (SEA), Brian Zanetti (PHI), and Artem Guryev (SJ). Peterborough is a great hometown hockey community, and it won’t disappoint!

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The Petes and The Lakers both play at The Peterborough Memorial Centre, which is walking distance from most of our South End neighbourhoods.

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The Great Outdoors

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Cottage Country

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One thing the Peterborough area is most known for, is the fact that it is home to some of the most prominent cottage country in Ontario. Its proximity to larger cities make it a hotspot for cottagers from Toronto (1.5hrs), the Durham region (45mins) and even Kingston (2hrs). If you’re looking to rent a cottage here for a weekend or make a yearly tradition with your family,  there will be tons of options! We have every style of short term rental you can imagine, from cabins in the woods to waterfront mansions.

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Local Lakes

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Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes have an abundance of lakes, rivers and canals. Most of the larger lakes are connected through the Trent Severn Waterway, which is a connected water system that runs 386 km and connects Lake Ontario and Lake Huron. If you’re interested in taking your boat for an overnight adventure, these connected lakes have tons of opportunity!

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Most of the lakes on the Trent Severn also have great boat-up or drive-to restaurants that offer great food and live music in the summer, as well as rental locations for boats, seadoos, canoes, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, and all of your cottage/water needs.

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There are also a ton of lakes within our area that are landlocked, meaning they are not connected to any other bodies of water. Typically these are the lakes in the more northern and eastern boundaries of Peterborough County.

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Regardless of where you’re looking, each lake will have its own specific features. Whether you’re looking for a cottage, a permanent residence, or you are just looking to do some fishing or boating every once in a while - your Realtor will be able to help guide you through the ins and outs of each lake and tell you about their unique features and what they’re most well known for.

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Hiking, Biking, and Trails

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Whether you’re looking to live in the city limits or on the outskirts in one of the neighbouring townships within Peterborough County, there will be no shortage of green space for you, your kids, and your furry friends to enjoy.

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The Trans Canada Trail runs from Squamish, British Columbia all the way to St John’s, Newfoundland, and makes an awesome appearance through Peterborough! The trail is accessible through many locations within Peterborough and Peterborough County, and it is used for biking, walking, running, and even cross country skiing in the winter. The trail is well maintained, and runs through a vast array of views from downtown city parks, through forest, alongside farmland, and even over beautiful bridges.

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The Trans Canada Trail is very flat in our area, so if you’re looking for something with a little more difficulty, you can check out one of our more hilly trails. The Trent Wildlife Sanctuary is very well marked so you won’t lose your way, and it’s got a host of beautiful mature trees and boardwalks along the way. Harold Town Conservation Area is a local mountain biking hotspot, and only five minutes from the city boundary. It’s got a ton of options for difficulty, and a large interconnected network of trails. The trails are not only used for mountain biking, but for hiking as well. We walk these trails often, and we take our young kids and dog on the less intense trails.

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We are constantly blown away by the local beauty, and we are really fortunate that it is all within minutes from the city center.

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Peterborough’s Leagues and Clubs

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If you’re used to being part of a team, there is no shortage of leagues and clubs you can join. Our community has many kids, youth, mens, and womens leagues with individual sports, team sports, and outdoors clubs. These are some of the most popular clubs within Peterborough:

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• Archery
• Axe Throwing
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Bocce Ball
• Boxing
• Cards
• Cross Country Skiing
• Curling
• Disc Golf
• Fencing
• Fishing
• Football
• Golf
• Hockey (Ice, Ball, and even Underwater!)
• Live Action Role Play (LARP)
• Lawn Bowling Club
• Pickleball
• Martial Arts
• Mountain Biking
• Road Biking
• Roller Derby
• Rowing
• Rugby
• Running
• Soccer (Indoor & Outdoor)
• Squash
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Triathlon
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Volleyball

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For the Kids

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Growing up in Peterborough, we are confident that your kids will be happy here. Our city has grown a lot since we were young, and has added more for the youth of our community.

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The Peterborough Zoo

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The Riverview Park and Zoo is a free zoo in the north end of Peterborough. There are so many great things for kids here including a large play area with structures and designated areas for younger kids, as well as older kids. The zoo is home to over 140 animals, and 40 species - including squirrel monkeys, otters, camels, and red necked wallabies. The zoo also has a splash pad for those hot summer days!

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Parks and Splash Pads

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Peterborough has six great splash pads located throughout the city, which operate from the end of June until the end of August. Along with splash pads, there are some local beaches and wading pools you can enjoy in the summertime. There is no shortage of green space and park areas in Peterborough, and you’ll likely be within a ten minute walk from one no matter where you live!

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Beavermead Park is one of the parks that stands out most, as it has a large play area, beaches, walking trails, a splash pad, a chip truck, and even an outdoor gym setup!

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Museums and Galleries

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When the weather is not so great and the kids want some indoor activities, there are a couple of family friendly museums and galleries in Peterborough you can take them to. The Canadian Canoe Museum, The Art Gallery of Peterborough, Whetung Ojibwa Art and Crafts Gallery, and The Peterborough Museum and Archives are all great places for the family to visit and learn about some local history!

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Indian Reptile Zoo

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Minutes outside of Peterborough is home to Canada’s only dinosaur park and reptile zoo, the Indian River Reptile Zoo. You can go and visit crocodiles, turtles, snakes, and lizards, as well as drive through an amazing life size series of animatronic dinosaurs. You are sure to find your child's favourite dinosaur within this tour, and your inner child will be as excited as they are in this wild ride!

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Sports, Clubs, and Camps

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We touched on team sports, individual sports, and community clubs in Peterborough earlier in the article - so I won’t fully go over that again. Peterborough has something for everyone, at all skill levels, and in any season.

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If you are looking for some camps for your kids, Peterborough has a large variety of things for you to choose from! Local activities can include wilderness retreats, triathlon clubs, sports camps, dance, arts, music, and even farm and forest schools.

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Between the camps, sports groups, and local clubs, the community support is amazing. You will see faces cross over between seasons and clubs, and you will feel a wonderful sense of belonging within these.

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Peterborough is very well known for our sports and recreation, as well as our arts programs!

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Should You Make The Move To Peterborough?

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We believe that Peterborough is a great community to live in. It’s a fairly quiet, friendly, and supportive community for all ages. Whether you’re looking to slow the pace down from being in a larger city, or keep up with the old hustle and bustle you’re used to - you will definitely find your place here.

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Reach out today if you have any questions about moving to Peterborough, or to book your no-obligation consultation.

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Talk soon,

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Mitch

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