Located between the coast and the Cascade mountain range, Abbotsford is not only one of the most picturesque destinations in Canada, but it’s also a lovely place to live if you’re considering a move.
Abbotsford — or simply Abby — has seen excellent growth throughout the years. In fact, it’s become the largest city in the Fraser Valley — as well as one of the largest in British Columbia (BC) — boasting a population of 141,397 residents and spreading across 145 square miles. Even so, it has continued to maintain its wholesome, small-town feel.
Plus, the city’s close proximity to Metro Vancouver offers access to a wealth of big-city opportunities, while its lower cost of living makes it a great place to settle down. Clearly, Abby has a lot to offer. So, if you’re considering a move to Abbotsford, here are five things you’ll be glad to learn about:
1. Does Abbotsford Offer Easy Access to Everything and Everywhere?
Abbotsford’s location in the southwestern part of Canada near the border promises access to numerous national and international destinations, while the city’s transportation network ensures all local amenities are easily reachable.
Cities Near Abbotsford
Abbotsford is right next to the Canada-United States border and is surrounded by the state of Washington in the U.S. (to the south), as well as the cities of Langley (30 kilometers to the west), Mission (12 kilometers to the north) and Chilliwack (34 kilometers to the east).
Meanwhile, Vancouver is just 70 kilometers from Abbotsford and can be easily accessed via public transportation. If you take a bus, you’ll pay around $40 to $55. Alternatively, the subway is a more accessible option and priced in the $30 to $40 range. Of course, you can always opt for a taxi (which will cost anywhere between $160 to $200) or use your own car. Whatever the case, the trip will last a little more than an hour.
Other major Canadian cities are also nearby: Surrey is 46 kilometers away, Burnaby is 60 kilometers away and Richmond is at a distance of 76 kilometers. And, the city’s proximity to the American border offers easy access to U.S. destinations, as well. For instance, Seattle can be reached in only 2.5 hours by car.
Additionally, Abbotsford International Airport — the second-largest in the lower mainland right after Vancouver International Airport — connects the city to other parts of North America through both domestic and international flights.
Transportation in Abbotsford
Abbotsford is the largest city by area in BC, so owning a car definitely helps with getting around here. Fortunately, parking is generally cheaper in Abby than it is in larger Canadian cities, and the plenitude of parking stalls means that finding a vacant spot shouldn’t be too difficult.
However, if public transportation is more your style, the Central Fraser Valley Transit System connects the main points of interest in the city via regular and reliable bus routes.
2. Is Real Estate in Abbotsford Expensive?
The Abby real estate market has become extremely attractive in the last few years for homebuyers and renters alike. After all, renting or purchasing your very own property is less expensive in Abbotsford than in the neighbouring Metro Vancouver area. Here’s a breakdown of all of the housing prices, according to fvreb.bc.ca, rebgv.org and CMHC, in addition to a list of the best places to live in Abbotsford:
Buying a Home in Abbotsford
With a benchmark price of about $780,000, homes for sale in Abbotsford are much more affordable than homes in the Greater Vancouver area:
| Home Prices | Overall | Detached Homes | Townhouses | Apartments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford | $780,000 | $1,120,000 | $540,000 | $360,000 |
| Greater Vancouver | $1,150,000 | $1,760,000 | $900,000 | $730,000 |
For instance, detached homes in Abbotsford hover around $1.12 million, while Abbotsford townhouses are priced at about $540,000. Similarly, if apartment living is more your style, know that you can buy a condo in Abbotsford for approximately $360,000.
Renting in Abbotsford
If you’d rather rent than buy, be aware that the vacancy rate in Abbotsford is 0.6% — which is much lower than Vancouver’s 2.6% — while the turnover rate is 9.8% (again, lower than Vancouver’s figure of 11.8%). This means that finding a rental unit in the city might be a little tricky.
But, if you happen to get lucky and score a lease, rentals in Abbotsford are also less costly than in Metro Vancouver, with the average monthly rent sitting at about $1,070. Bachelor suites are around $770 per month, while one-bedroom rentals are priced at about $970. Notably, more elbow room typically means shelling out more on rent, so two-bedroom units hover around $1,180 and three-bedroom rentals are in the $1,550 range.
| Rent/Month | Overall | Bachelor | 1-Bed | 2-Bed | 3-Bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford | $1,070 | $770 | $970 | $1,180 | $1,550 |
| Greater Vancouver | $1,510 | $1,260 | $1,420 | $1,790 | $2,210 |
Best Places to Live in Abbotsford
Based on the Area Vibes livability score, the top five best neighbourhoods to live in Abbotsford are:
- Lower Ten Oaks
- Old Clayburn
- Upper Ten Oaks
- McMillan
- Eagle Mountain
Old Clayton is the largest community of the five listed with nearly 17,500 people calling it home. Together with Lower Ten Oaks and McMillan, it boasts a wealth of career opportunities and entertainment venues, making it an excellent option for singles. Even so, all three of these areas also include great educational institutions and amenities for the entire family to enjoy.
In particular, Upper Ten Oaks was named the best Abbotsford neighbourhood for families, by far. It includes a young resident pool (median age of 35.9) and 57% of its couples have children below the age of 18.
Eagle Mountain ranked as the second-safest place in Abbotsford with a crime rate of less than 60% compared to the city average. However, the community here is rather small, housing only around 2,000 people. Real estate prices and the overall cost of living in Eagle Mountain are higher than they are in other neighbourhoods, but residents in the area also benefit from higher-than-average median household incomes.
| Rank | Neighbourhood | Livability Score | No. of Residents | Median Age | % of Families with Children < 18 | Cost of Living vs. City Avg. | Real Estate Prices vs. City Avg. | Median Home Price | Median Household Income | Crime Rate vs. City Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Lower Ten Oaks | 81 | 8,822 | 37.2 | 51% | +3% | +9% | $673,101 | $110,377 | -20% |
| #2 | Old Clayburn | 80 | 17,488 | 36.7 | 54% | +3% | +8% | $671,855 | $116,454 | -24% |
| #3 | Upper Ten Oaks | 79 | 8,478 | 35.9 | 57% | +3% | +9% | $675,041 | $124,569 | -29% |
| #4 | McMillan | 79 | 10,026 | 38.1 | 51% | +8% | +22% | $754,918 | $120,055 | -32% |
| #5 | Eagle Mountain | 77 | 2,057 | 41.5 | 50% | +16% | +44% | $888,834 | $153,784 | -60% |
3. Is Abbotsford a Family-Friendly Community?
The tight-knit community of Abbotsford is already known for having a family-friendly vibe. In fact, Abbotsford is one of the top choices for families when it comes to relocating to the Fraser Valley region due to its high-quality education system and a vibrant social scene for residents of all ages. What’s more, Abbotsford is safer than other parts of the province, with the local crime rate 15% lower than the BC average, according to AreaVibes.com.
Education in Abbotsford
The Abbotsford School District (or School District 34, as it’s also called) includes a total of 46 public educational facilities from elementary to K-12, middle and secondary schools. More than 19,200 children are enrolled here, and the city also boasts several private educational institutions covering many programs.
All in all, the best elementary schools in Abbotsford, according to the latest Fraser Institute ranking, are:
- MEI (independent)
- Abbotsford Christian (independent)
- Dasmesh Punjabi (independent)
- James (independent)
- MT Lehman (public)
Additionally, the same think tank ranked the top secondary schools in Abbotsford:
- Dasmesh Punjabi (independent)
- Abbotsford Christian (independent)
- Robest Bateman (public)
- Yale (public)
- MEI (independent)
The city also has a wealth of colleges that young people can choose from. For example, the University of the Fraser Valley has numerous campuses here and is actually one of the largest university colleges in the country, enrolling approximately 15,000 students annually. It offers more than 100 educational programs, including three master’s degrees, 17 bachelor’s degrees, four graduate certificates, and several trades and technology programs.
Things to Do in Abbotsford with Kids
Abbotsford also has a wealth of entertainment options for kids of all ages. Here are a few places where children will definitely enjoy themselves:
| Play | Sweets | History | Farms |
|---|---|---|---|
| - VRKADE - Abbotsford Recreation Center - Project Climbing Centre - Play Abby Activity Center - Castle Fun Park | - Ann Marie’s Cafe - Tracycakes Bakery Cafe - Boardwalk Cafe and Games | - Trethewey House Heritage Site - Clayburn Village - The Reach Gallery Museum | - Maan Farms, Country Experience & Estate Winery - Taves Family Farms - Willow View Farms - Ecodairy - Birchwood Dairy - Campbell’s Gold Honey Farm and Meadery - Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery - Silverbrook U-Catch Trout Farm - Abbotsford Circle Farm Tour |
In addition to the outdoor options for kids listed above, Abbotsford also has more than 70 playgrounds scattered throughout the city and includes many parks, lakes and hiking trails that will surely be appreciated by the entire family. But more about that in the following section.
4. What Outdoor Experiences Does Abbotsford Offer?
Boasting more than 660 hectares of natural lands and open space dotted throughout the city, Abbotsford is every nature lover’s dream. Specifically, it includes more than 100 kilometers of nature trails — perfect for walking, hiking, running, rollerblading and biking. And, for those who want to venture off in the surrounding areas, there’s also an abundance of regional parks to choose from.
Hiking Trails in Abbotsford
One of the most well-known trails in Abbotsford is the Discovery Trail, a paved corridor connecting the eastern and western sides of the city. It offers stunning views of forests, creeks, ponds, and meadows and is more than 60 kilometers long in total. There are multiple entry and exit points throughout the trail; interpretative signage; and marked lookout spots, and it also comes with a host of other amenities, including picnic areas, benches, public washrooms and parking.
Besides the natural spots that Discovery Trail unveils, the city also has additional places worth checking out: Matsqui Trail Regional Park, Mill Lake Park and Willband Creek Park are just a few examples for a lovely day in the outdoors.
Hiking Trails Near Abbotsford
While there are several natural locations to enjoy within the city limits, Abbotsford offers easy access to numerous regional parks that are just a short drive away. Some of the most popular include:
- Cascade Falls Regional Park
- Cheam Lake Wetlands Regional Park
- Dewdney Regional Park
- East Sector Lands
- Hillkeep Regional Park
- Island 22 Regional Park
- Neilson Regional Park
- Sumas Mountain Regional Park
- Thacker Regional Park
- Thompson Regional Park
5. Is Fresh Produce Abundant in Abbotsford?
Abbotsford also boasts a strong farming community. In fact, agriculture is not only one of the main economic drivers in the city, but also a defining trait of Abbotsford. Here, the mild weather — combined with the rich soil and abundant water supply in the area — allows for a rich variety in crop and livestock productions.
And, with so much fresh produce readily available, the city’s many farmer’s markets are always stocked. As a result, local restaurants and eateries offer some of the best culinary experiences.
Canada’s Agriculture Capital
In an effort to assess the economic effect of agriculture in the city, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands conducted a study that concluded Abbotsford is not only BC’s agri-business hub, but also the agriculture capital of Canada, boasting the largest production value per hectare in the nation. In fact, according to the findings, 25% of Abbotsford’s GDP (that’s $1.8 billion) is generated by agricultural activities. An astounding 72% of the land in Abbotsford is part of the Agricultural Land Reserve and the city is home to more than 1,300 farms and more than 22,000 hectares of developed farmlands, employing more than 7,000 people.
In 2011, the City of Abbotsford put together an Agricultural Strategy to sustain local farming activities and help them flourish even further, in addition to undertaking AgRefresh — a planning process to review and update agricultural laws.
Local Food in Abbotsford
More than one-fifth of the farms in Abbotsford sell their fresh produce directly to residents and local food businesses, ensuring they have easy access to healthy, domestically grown food. This way, numerous restaurants in Abbotsford prioritize the farm-to-table concept and prepare delicious meals from local ingredients.
In addition to Abbotsford’s longest-running Farm and Country Market — hosted each Saturday morning in Jubilee Park — there are also several farm stores where residents can shop for locally sourced products: Lepp Farm Market, Neufeld Farms, Nature’s Picnics and Local Food Supply are just a few examples.
Initiatives such as the Circle Farm Tour and the Taste of Abby festival further stress the importance of fresh, ethically grown produce and aim to celebrate local food; showcase the impressive production diversity in Abbotsford; and sustain agricultural activities in the area.
As you can see, Abbotsford is quite the charmer! Also known as The City in the Country, it’s the perfect place to settle down for those in search of a relaxed and healthy — but also thriving — lifestyle.
