A short 25 minutes drive from Toronto, Mississauga is an all-time favourite among families with young kids. The strong community essence and safety attracts people from all across the globe to Mississauga. It is less populated and offers a more relaxed living than Toronto.
Mississauga’s green covers and parks are protected, so you don’t have to worry about some condominium ruining your morning view. It is Canada’s fourth most expensive city to live in and house prices are constantly rising. For under $700,000, you should be able to find a 2-3 bedroom condo in Cooksville, Erindale, or Square One areas. You’ll find a semi-detached house or a townhouse on the outskirts of the city for the same price.
The Peel District School Board has 244 schools throughout Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga. It is also home to the University of Toronto and Sheridan College. Anywhere you live in Mississauga, you’re only 20 minutes away from the Pearson International Airport, which makes international travel easy and convenient.
Top neighbourhoods in Mississauga
All of Mississauga’s neighbourhoods are safe and protected. The following list highlights neighbourhoods that are the best for first-time home buyers in terms of affordability and public transit.
City Centre
Mississauga’s core downtown, City Centre, is all about convenience and comfort. This master-planned community features an arts and culture facility, budget and high-end restaurants, Square One shopping mall, community centres, and fitness centres. It is one of the few neighbourhoods in Mississauga that are pedestrian-friendly, making it a preferred choice among college and university students, elderly couples, and newcomers to Canada. Most of this community is made up of high rise condominiums and townhomes starting around $600,000.
Mississauga Valley
A cosy neighbourhood made up of dreamy European-style stacked townhomes, Mississauga Valley is centrally located and is a relatively quieter community. Semi-detached and detached homes here cost slightly lower than other neighbourhoods in the city and GTA. It has tons of green spaces and good schools, both public and Catholic.
Cooksville
A popular choice among newcomers to Canada, Cooksville is centrally located and not too far from City Centre and Mississauga Valley. It is made of many family-owned grocery stores and restaurants, which give it a small town vibe. Cooksville is one of the most-well connected neighbourhoods in Mississauga, only second to City Centre. It has a good mix of condos, semi-detached, and detached properties that are surrounded with green spaces, trails, and community centres.
Fairview
Fairview is one of the newer neighbourhoods of Mississauga and was developed during the 1990s. It is a master-planned community that is well-connected with a selection of grocery stores like Whole Foods Market and T&T Supermarket. For outdoor activities, residents can enjoy the local ice rink, wooded trails, and community parks. Fairview mostly has larger semi-detached and detached homes that cost slightly above GTA’s average starting around $1.04M.
Meadowvale
Located on the border of Mississauga and Milton, Meadowvale is a thriving community right off Highway 401. Families can enjoy activities throughout the year at Meadowvale Community Centre and Library and performing arts events at Meadowvale Theatre. Meadowvale Town Centre will be your local shopping plaza, which has everything from a fitness centre and coffee shop to big box stores and luxury outlets.
Applewood
Applewood is located in the southeast corner of the city and the perfect neighbourhood for professionals working in Toronto but enjoy the calm and space Mississauga offers. From outdoor recreation to fine dining restaurants, everything is within a few minutes of drive. This neighbourhood has mostly semi-detached houses, condos, and townhouses, all of which are below GTA’s average prices. Detached houses, on the other hand, are more expensive as most of them are located near the lakeshore and have beautiful backyards and private spaces.
Excellent public transit facilities
Rapid transit service – MiWay
Go Transit options – Cooksville, Erindale, Clarkson, DIxie, Streetsville, Lisgar, Meadowvale, Square One, and Port Credit
Other train options – Hurontario Light Rail Transit is currently underway on Hurontario Street
Highways – 401, 403, 409, 410, 427, Queen Elizabeth Way