Toronto is the capital of Ontario and one of the most populous cities in Canada, with a total population of approximately 2,731,571 as of 2016.
It is an anchor city of the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration of over 9 million people surrounding the western end of Lake Ontario in 2016.
It is an international tourism, arts, finance, business, and culture city.
It has been recognized as one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities.
Toronto comprises different neighborhoods, each with its own identity. The west end is generally the town’s busiest part.
Where to live in Toronto depends on your lifestyle.
Most of these neighborhoods in Toronto are changing, and boundaries are becoming disputed and blurred.
Finding a good Toronto neighborhood to live in could be one of the most difficult tasks.
Therefore, it is worth investing quality time and effort in researching the different types of accommodation and neighborhoods that are conducive to well-being.
Criteria for Choosing a Good Toronto Neighbourhood
There are different criteria one can consider when selecting a good neighborhood to live in Toronto, and here they are:
- Low crime rate
- Good education
- Good Road network
Different Toronto Neighbourhoods
There are five different Toronto Neighbourhoods with different cities under them.
- West End
- Downtown
- Midtown
- East End
- Toronto Suburbans
West End Toronto Neighbourhoods
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The Annex
The annex is just like any other Toronto neighborhood in the West End. It is a good hub for young, talented professionals and creative minds.
The University of Toronto staff and students live here.
It starts at the northwest border of downtown, where there are many bookstores, bars, and restaurants.
It is also near three substations: St. George, Bathurst, and Spadina.
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Roncesvalles
Historically, Roncesvalles was the Polish neighborhood of West End Toronto.
Some indigenes call it “Roncy,” which refers to the areas surrounding Roncesvalles Avenue, which runs from South Blood to King Street West.
It is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Toronto, with bars, coffee shops, restaurants, and others.
The major setback is that it demands a lot of transportation to downtown.
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Kensington
Kensington is a natural home to cafes, food outlets, thrift stores, and bookshops.
It’s a neighborhood sanctuary for bohemians, making it awesome for some people, but it might also be a reason to stay away as a living destination for other people.
This neighborhood is easy to access downtown alongside two frequent streetcar routes.
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Little Italy
This neighborhood is close to Kensington Market along College Street.
Little Italy looks rough, just like a conventional Italian neighborhood. There are many places to hang out at night.
Many summer street carnivals take place for a weekend every June.
It is a nice place to watch football, such as the World Cup and European Championships.
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Dovercourt
This neighborhood has many activities, such as Dufferin Mall, where residents can shop.
Dufferin is an abode to indie record stores, bars, and McQuade guitar stores.
There are also two subway stop service areas, such as Dufferin and Ossington stations, both on Line 2.
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Bloordale Village
This neighborhood is located around Bloor Street between Lansdowne Street and Dufferin Street and has many social amenities.
The Dufferin Mall has several large clothing stores.
Other subway stations make it easier to travel to other neighborhoods, and there is a church close to a strip club.
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King West
This is one of the most energetic and busiest areas in Toronto; it is a neighborhood for those who want to enjoy city life.
Because it is a top-notch neighborhood, apartments on King West are very expensive.
There are also easy downtown neighborhoods and different side attractions such as yoga studios, nightlife, gyms, restaurants, etc.
2. Downtown Toronto Neighbourhoods
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Yorkville
This is among the wealthiest parts of Toronto neighborhoods.
This neighborhood can still boast of expensive buildings that people in the middle class can afford.
Yorkville is where most celebrities, politicians, business moguls, and others come to shop.
It is also a key location for movie celebrities to hang out during the International Film Festival in Toronto.
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Downtown Core
This neighborhood is known for shopping outlets, banks, offices, etc.
Living in Downtown Core gives you accessibility to different things you would want, but the high expenses will likely break you.
Numerous cocktail bars and flash restaurants are at St. Lawrence Market, the Air Canada Centre, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Eaton Centre Shopping Mall.
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Queens Quay & Spadina/Cityplace
This is an ideal place for roadside joggers or walking pets. Because there are so many high buildings along Spadina, it has a high population and subway stations to other neighborhoods in Toronto.
3. Midtown Toronto Neighbourhoods
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Younge & Eglinton
This neighborhood is located around the intersection of Eglinton Avenue and Younge Street.
It is nicely located for residents to travel Downtown.
This neighborhood has many facilities from which people living here can benefit.
There is still affordable accommodation.
Young & Eglinton has become the most recognized neighborhood for young British and Irish workers.
- Eglinton West
This neighborhood is also called Little Jamaica, primarily a residential neighborhood.
The city has a strong Caribbean character, though it is fading away like the morning dews.
Ongoing work at the Crosstown LRT is causing so much frustration, but things will return to normal when the construction is complete.
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Rosedale/Summerhill
This neighborhood is considered one of the wealthiest in the city.
Rosedale/Summerhill is home to one of the biggest liquor stores in Toronto.
There are also many boutique shops, bars, tennis clubs, etc.
4. East End Toronto Neighbourhoods
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Leslieville
This is a safe place for creativity, with many bars, shops, and restaurants to suit different needs.
The major transport line is the 501 Queen Streetcars, and it is also a family-friendly neighborhood.
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Little India
This neighborhood is situated at the end of Leslieville.
Little India has stayed true to its identity, which is better than any neighborhood in Toronto.
It has different Indian foods and is worth visiting Gerrard India Bazaar.
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The Village
This is located around the Church and Wellesley junction.
It is the heartbeat of Toronto’s neighborhood, with numerous nightclubs and bars, and it is a lively place to live.
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Cabbagetown
This neighborhood derived its name from the 19th century when struggling immigrants from Ireland planted vegetables in the patches in front of their apartments.
It has the touch of a small village, and there are some nice restaurants as well.
Suburban Toronto Neighbourhoods
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North York
It is a largely residential area with many other small neighborhoods standing independently.
Downtown is accessible, which has been made convenient through Line 1 of the subway station on either the University or Younge sides.
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Vaughan
The population of Vaughan is growing rapidly with the expansion of the Toronto subway line into the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.
This subway has made transportation easy, and this is one of the major attractions in this neighborhood.
Other side attractions are Theme Park, Canada’s Wonderland, and Vaughan Shopping Mall.
