Are you considering moving to Kitchener after selling off your Riverdale, Toronto real estate? Are you buying a new home and wondering whether Kitchener or Toronto would be a better fit for you? If you answered yes to either of these questions, this article is for you. In it we will outline the main differences between Toronto and Kitchener and how they would impact your life. Though the two cities are quite close geographically, we think you will find that in every other way they can be very different, so it's best to get all the facts before you make a decision.
Jobs
In these tough economic times, the question most people want answered is "will I be able to find a job?" Toronto has always been a source of jobs in all fields from finance to retail to film to business to industry. Anyone who is looking to push power of sale properties in Brampton or round up money to fund a film would look there. Not so much in Kitchener, which was once a powerhouse of industry and is now in the midst of an economic shift that would make the former blue collar city into a white collar health care and education hub like neighboring Waterloo.
Culture
Toronto is a melting pot for cultures. As one of the primary destinations for landed immigrants, any tour of the Toronto real estate listings or walk down the street will expose you to several different cultures and languages, and restaurants have food from all over the globe. In Kitchener, the vast majority of the residents have German Protestant backgrounds which leads to a lot of sausage and beer on offer in the pubs. Less than 15% of the population belongs to a visible minority here compared with over 50% in Toronto.
Transport
In Toronto, taxis are something you take when you're drunk and the subways have stopped running for the night. In Kitchener, they're the primary means of transit for people who don't have cars. While large numbers of Torontonians have no need for a vehicle, almost everyone in Kitchener has one as the public transit system can't really be called extensive. The GO train, which makes commuting so easy in Toronto, doesn't extend to Kitchener.
Housing
The biggest difference homeowners will find between Kitchener and Toronto is in the real estate prices. Houses in Toronto proper sell for $500,000 to $1,000,000 usually, while the average single family home in Kitchener costs just $300,000, which means you can get a lot more for your money here. However, the lower population density means that you'd be better of looking for condominiums in downtown Toronto if a condo is on your menu, as there are only a few near downtown in Kitchener.
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