Looking to buy an affordable home in a safe neighbourhood? A new study is revealing the safest cities in Canada that also have affordable housing options.
While buying a house requires a careful decision-making process that takes into account several factors like location, property size, budget, neighbourhood structure, and property taxes, a Zoocasa study decided to focus on safety and price to help Canadians determine the best cities to own a home in the country.
The study, by the Canadian brokerage, revealed that Quebec is the safest province to buy a house, with several cities ranking high in security and affordability.
Sherbrooke, QC and Gatineau, QC were considered some of the best places to buy a house in 2025, with violent crime indexes of 102 and 154 respectively, standing out as cities with very low rates of violent crime and average prices around $500,000. The cities are also close to Ottawa, allowing residents to work in government jobs while avoiding high costs.
GTA-based realtor Christina Assuncao says safety is a very important aspect to consider when buying a home, and depending on the client’s priorities, it can even be a deal breaker.
“The areas I service are generally considered safe, but I’ve definitely had clients tell me, ‘I don’t care how nice the house is—I won’t move to that neighbourhood.’ Some buyers—especially families with young kids or those relocating from a different city—may research crime rates, school safety, and the overall feel of a community before even considering a home,” she said.
Other Quebecois cities also made the list as some of the most affordable places to buy a home in Canada, with Saguenay, Trois-Rivières and Quebec City offering options within a $300,000 to $450,000 price range.
ONTARIO CITIES RANKED LOWER IN SAFETY
Although Ontario cities tend to have some of the most expensive real estate markets, security is still a concern in some of them.
Barrie, Guelph, St. Catharines-Niagara, Belleville and Kingston are some of the safest Ontario cities, with house prices ranging from $650,000 to $770,000.
While Toronto ranked average in safety, with an index of 203.1 incidences of violent crime per 100,000 residents, its housing market is still one of the most expensive among urban Canadian cities, with average prices going over a million dollars.
Assuncao said that while big cities like Toronto and Vancouver might not be No.1 in safety, there are other aspects that could make them attractive to buyers, such as entertainment options, job opportunities and walkability.
“People are drawn to the convenience and lifestyle that city living offers, which means buyers may be willing to compromise on a neighbourhood’s safety rating if it means they can be in a prime location with everything at their fingertips,” she said.
Other Ontario cities like Thunder Bay, Greater Sudbury and Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo were ranked among some of the most dangerous places to own a home, with violent crime indexes as high as 546.
St. John, N.B. was also considered a great place to buy a home, having one of the lowest prices in Canada, at an average of $332,480 with an average safety rating.
Alberta cities occupied some of the higher positions in violence and property crime in the country, with Lethbridge reaching a rate of 401.9 in the violent crime index and Edmonton at 368.7, while average house prices are currently under $450,000 in both cities, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.
Vancouver, B.C., known for having one of the highest housing prices in Canada at an average of $1,173,000, also ranked average in safety, with an average of 257.1 in violent crime rates.
The most dangerous urban city in Canada, Winnipeg, MB, with a rate of 675 in violent crime, has a relatively low housing price average, at $363,200.
While safety might be an essential aspect to take into account when making the important decision of buying a property, Assuncao points out that numbers are not enough to determine if an area is safe.
“Safety is a personal thing—what feels ‘safe’ to one person might not be the same for another,” she said.
The realtor says she encourages clients to take a tour of the neighbourhood before committing to a property, as things like street lights, traffic and road safety can also influence how a person might feel about that area.
“A home isn’t just about the property itself—it’s about the community you’ll be living in. I always encourage buyers to drive around the neighbourhood at different times of the day, check out local businesses, and even talk to people who live there. It’s about getting a feel for the area and making sure it aligns with their comfort level and lifestyle.”
