Have you ever thought about changing your life and moving to the largest city in Saskatchewan? Perhaps you’ve already browsed through what the Saskatoon real estate market has to offer and maybe you feel very attracted by its tempting housing options. But before you consider packing your bags, make sure you take time to get to know the ins and outs of the city so you can settle in more easily. To help you out, we’ve done a bit of research which illustrates some of the basic notions about life in the town that calls itself The Paris of the Prairies! Below you’ll find 5 important things you need to know before moving to Saskatoon:
Versatile Weather Conditions
With a humid continental climate, Saskatoon has 4 distinct seasons, and while it has had a bad rap regarding its cold winters, once you get used to them you will learn how to make the most of the snowy conditions. The summer months are pleasant and warm, with occasional thunderstorms and torrential rain.
Despite all this, you should also know that Saskatoon is one of the sunniest cities among Canada’s major conurbations. It ranks in the top five when it comes to both the average number of sunny hours per year and the most sunny days annually, plus no less than 49% of its daylight hours are sunny, which might make up for the long, chilly winter days!
Affordable Housing
The Saskatoon real estate market is known to be quite generous, giving you much more bang for your buck than other major Canadian cities such as Toronto or Vancouver do. The average price of residential properties in the first quarter of the year was $333,826. The modern Nutana area, the family-friendly Sutherland neighbourhood, vibrant City Park and the peaceful Avalon district are some of the most popular places to settle down in.
If you’re interested in renting a place rather than buying one, you’ll be happy to find that Saskatoon has quite a high vacancy rate. Bachelor units are harder to find due to high demand and the low-cost average price of $684 per month. One-bedroom and two-bedroom units are easier to come across, with average prices of $896 and $1,082 respectively.
High Quality Education
When contemplating moving to Saskatoon with one’s family, one must take into consideration the local education system. Luckily, the city emphasizes high quality learning, providing residents with a wide variety of elementary and primary schools, in the form of public, private, Catholic and French-speaking institutions.
When it comes to post-secondary education, the city doesn’t disappoint. It is home to the famous University of Saskatchewan, one of the top research universities of Canada, as well as Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon, offering students the opportunity to specialize in various technical fields. Through the Graduate Retention Program, students of Saskatchewan can be eligible for an income tax credit refund of up to $20K of their tuition fees if they remain and work in the province for 7 years after graduation.
Young Population and Professional Opportunities
According to the recent census, the metropolitan area of Saskatoon has the youngest population of any major Canadian city, with a median age of 34.6 years. It also boasts a higher percentage of children under age 14 than almost anywhere else in the country.
With so many young professionals relocating to the city, it’s great to see that the unemployment rate in Saskatoon has decreased by 1.2% compared to the same time last year. The largest industries in the city are agriculture, mining, potash extraction and oil. If you’re interested in opening your own business, there are plenty of excellent entrepreneurship programs, organizations and institutions which will help you on your path to success.
Diverse Recreation Activities
Located on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, Saskatoon offers a wide range of nature trails for hikers, joggers and cyclers alike. The city also boasts hundreds of green parks, playgrounds and sports fields, providing residents with quite an impressive array of outdoor recreation opportunities. If you’re looking to escape the city, you can plan a trip to one of the 100,000 lakes of Saskatchewan, or choose one of the many hiking destinations in the province.
Arts and culture fans will surely appreciate the myriad of exhibits, events and festivals held year-round in the city. From seasonal happenings to ongoing shows and from sports events to theatre plays, Saskatoon has something to offer to everyone, regardless of age, origin or interests.
All in all, relocating to Saskatoon could prove to be rewarding for many people. Although not what you might call a bustling metropolis, the city has seen tremendous growth in recent years and is continuously evolving. When moving to a place like Saskatoon, it pays to do a bit of research so that one knows what to expect and how one can get the most out of a city which has so much to offer.
