Choosing where to live is one of the most important decisions in your life. In Montreal, with its dozens of neighborhoods with distinct personalities, the choice can seem difficult. This guide helps you objectively evaluate a neighborhood's quality of life before moving there.
The 5 essential criteria
1. Safety (Weight: 30%)
Safety is often the primary concern. Here's how to evaluate it:
- Crime statistics — SPVM publishes incident data by neighborhood
- Crime types — Distinguish violent crimes from minor offenses
- Evolution — A neighborhood can improve or deteriorate
Typical scores by neighborhood type
| Neighborhood type | Score | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Peaceful suburbs | 70-75 | Pointe-Claire, Cote-Saint-Luc |
| Residential neighborhoods | 60-69 | Rosemont, Ahuntsic, Verdun |
| Dynamic urban neighborhoods | 50-59 | Plateau, Mile End, Little Italy |
Conclusion
Choosing a neighborhood is a personal decision that depends on your priorities. Use objective data as a base, but don't forget to feel the neighborhood by visiting it.
Recommended tool: CivicScore — Free quality of life analysis for any address in Montreal.