Even with the slowdown in real estate prices in 2006, the major cities like Toronto are still way ahead of their counterparts in the suburbs in both prices and the number of residences per square kilometre. So is living close to where you work a huge benefit ?

For those that are big on the night life and the atmosphere of the big city it still is likely worth the price. The bachelor pad or group of friends living downtown and living it up with the nightlife of the big city is still fun, and of course they share the bills and it doesn’t look so expensive.

But for the family, is there a better way ?

The suburbs are more likely to be in a price range that a new family can afford, with prices ranging from 20% - 40% cheaper than in the downtown cores. Not only that many would say that for the average family the quality of life in the suburbs is so much better.

More property for less money.
The houses not packed in so tightly.
Generally the cost of living is lower.
Less pollution and smog.
More Choice.

Even though construction in the suburbs is extremely high they are by no means as highly populated as the downtown cores. The Brampton real estate market is booming right now with a huge number of new developments, but with population of 380,000 it is by no means rural, but by the same token it is not Toronto.

If you prefer something a little quieter still but still within the reach of Toronto consider the Georgetown Ontario real estate market. Georgetown with a population of around 40,000 could almost be considered rural, but has all of the facilities of a larger city without the huge population or costs to go with it.

So major city like Toronto or a suburb/rural area, I’d take the later anytime, hence why I live in London Ontario