Retiring in A Rural Area in Canada: Everything You Need to Know
Are you thinking of moving to rural area from a city?
In this article, I will discuss the PROS and CONS of rural living and how to find out if rural living is right for you.
Many older adults migrating to small towns and the surrounding countryside. Some are coming home to places where they grew up before moving to the city for employment. Others are moving because they enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle.
Perhaps you are attracted to smaller town because of
- lower taxes
- lover crime rates
- shorter walking distance
What is Rural Area?
Rural is the region with a population of fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, or sparsely settled countryside and farms, as well as villages and small towns with a population under 10,000.
PROS and CONS on retiring in a very small town or rural area in Canada
PROS
- Be somewhere with the view that inspires you.
- Lowering the cost of living
- Good air and water quality
- Personal safety
- When you volunteer you really make an impact in small town
- Frequent visits from friends and neighbors
- Sense of belonging
CONS
- No entertainment
- Smaller range of public, professional, and commercial services
- No public transportation
- No home support,
- No specialized health care
- House maintenance
- Older houses are purely built
- Limited internet connection
- Luck of employment opportunities
- No anonymity
“It’s not a “big” city. Only 27k residents (compared to 3k in my town) but they have big-box shopping stores like supermarkets, Walmart, Marshalls, fast food, etc. They usually have what I need. And if they don’t I drive 20 more miles to the next biggest city (a whole 87k residents!)”
“I live in a rural area but am just a 20-minute drive from a large city if I need anything. I’ve got 5 wonderfully green acres and a handful of amazing neighbors (who are SO much friendlier than what we’ve had in a big city) so something like that is possible with some searching too.”
“I went from an area of 100,000 plus to a town of 1,500. The charm was nice in the beginning. After about 6 years, the driving to get anywhere started getting old. I ended up moving back to a large city, in a quiet neighborhood. No regrets. ” – source
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What to Look for When Choosing Small Town to Retire In?
OUTDOOR SPACES AND BUILDINGS:
- Are there walkable sidewalks and accessible trails?
- What are the snow-removal policies?
- Are businesses (grocery stores, churches, community centers) close together or spread apart?
- The crime rate in town?
TRANSPORTATION:
- Is there any form of public transportation and, if so, what is the schedule?
- Are public transportation services available throughout the day and evening?
- How is traffic?
- What about accessible parking?
- Is driving an affordable option in the community?
- Are neighborhood and trails well-lit?
- Are taxis being available, accessible, and affordable for seniors?
HOUSING:
- What are the maintenance and utility costs?
- Do you have anyone in the community to help with basic maintenance?
- How much is the general maintenance of the home?
- How much is home insurance?
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
- Being “retired” doesn’t necessarily mean not working. It might just mean winding down, working less, or just doing something you love.
- What are the opportunities available?
- What about volunteer opportunities?
COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND HEALTH SERVICES:
- Is there a hospital nearby?
- What about doctors, dentists, optometrists, and pharmacists?
- Are nurses available to conduct home visits?
- Is there a delivery service (Instacart, Amazon, etc.)
ACTIVITIES:
- Are there activities and events in town through the local government?
- Are there courses, crafts, and hobbies provided at the community center?
You can find more information in the Canadian government publication “Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide”.
How To Make A Decision If Rural Living Is For You?
Rural living in retirement is NOT for everybody.
- If you have a chronic underlying medical condition, that requires high-level medical services. You will have to drive to get this service.
- Every time you want to go on vacation or fly somewhere you probably will have to drive to the nearest large town airport.
When you are researching a small town to move to, check it during the summer and winter seasons. You may be drawn to are because it attractive in the summer but will find it difficult to cope with rural winter.
So, this are things to be aware of.
The great thing about moving to a new place is the ability to start a new life. There is something very uplifting about new. Change is good once you get over that hesitation of moving.
But on the flip side, you also living behind friends, family, and memories behind. Especially the first few months, when you really haven’t got to know people yet and you are kind of on your own you can get a little bit lonely and sad.
So, you have to be prepared for that. Because living your old life behind doesn’t mean living those memories, but you do have to start over and create all of those connections again.
Be ready that after you move you will have a dip in your happiness because you left all that familiar behind and you have to create it again.
“My closest relatives live downtown, and when you’re older, you need family around you,” Jalali said. “Of course, it’s ideal to spend your retirement days on some sandy beach or low-key, cute little town, but your priorities differ when you get older.”
If you are thinking maybe a change will be good, then look at retiring in a rural area life yourself.
I couldn’t find any video about rural retirement in Canada. But this video from our neighbours down south may give you food for thoughts.
ELLIOTT LAKE City, Ontario Best Rural City to Retire
In the Northern Ontario mining town of Elliott Lake, for example, a non-profit organization called Elliot Lake Retirement Living has been attracting seniors to the housing units vacated by former mining employees. The presence of new residents supports the town’s infrastructure of businesses and services and the seniors are delighted with their new home.
Nestled in beautiful northern Ontario, the city of Elliot Lake appeals to outdoor enthusiasts seeking leisure and a slower pace of life. Its small-town charm and big-city amenities are a big part of what attracts retirees as well.
READ NEXT:
Elliot Lake Retirement Destination with a Low Cost of Living
HOSPITAL:
First-class hospital, access to a continuum of care, and a low crime rate. E
Elliot Lake also boasts an efficient transit system, as well as 24-hour ambulance, fire and police services.
SHOPPING:
Elliot Lake is home to national chains such as Foodland, No Frills, Rona, Canadian Tire, Pet Value, Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall. In addition, the community is serviced by the five major banks.
Local proprietors, along with national retail chains, offer everything from clothing to furniture.
POPULATION:
10,741
CRIME:
Elliot Lake comes in at 97th on the list of most dangerous places in Canada, out of 237. The homicide rate for Elliot Lake (calculated by incidents per 100,000 population) is 8.87 per cent.
RENT:
Rents start at just $580 per month for one bedroom apartment.
Two bedroom/2 bathrooms with gas fireplace $920 per month.
ACTIVE LIFESTYLE:
In Elliot Lake life is active. There are two beautiful beaches within the community along with countless lakes in the area for canoeing, boating, fishing and kayaking. Along with a number of hiking trails, Elliot Lake is home to cross-country ski trails, a tennis club, curling club, fitness centres and an indoor municipal swimming pool, as well as snowmobile and ATV trail systems.
Local festivals include the Jewel in the Wilderness Festival, Heritage Weekend and the Elliot Lake Arts on the Trail festival.
TRANSPORTATION:
Elliot Lake Municipal Airport has no regularly scheduled flights.
Elliot Lake Transit provides hourly bus service except on Sundays and statutory holidays.
Fun facts about small towns in Canada
- Provinces and territories with the highest proportion of their population in rural areas are the Northwest Territories (63.3 %), Prince Edward Island (60.1 %), and New Brunswick (52.3 %). The provinces with the lower concentration of rural inhabitants are Ontario (18.7 %), British Columbia (19.5 %), and Alberta (20.2 %).
Source: Statistics Canada. Population and dwelling counts. Catalogue 93-301. Ottawa 1993.
- Approximately 35% of the seniors in Canada live in rural areas and small towns.
- Seniors comprise about 25% of the population of villages and small towns in Canada.
- There are about 9,200 towns and villages in Canada compared to less than 200 small and medium-sized cities and metropolises.
- Transportation problems are reported by 21% of rural seniors and 15% of urban seniors in Saskatchewan.
Thanks for reading this article – I hope you found it helpful. As always, I’d love to hear from you! Have a fabulous week and take care! Irina Nikitina – Founder of Modern Fifty TV