Which is a better place to live with kids, NW or SW Calgary Canada?

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nunuc2000

Calgary is a lovely city with much to offer for a family with kids, and considereing the very high cost of living, all four quadrants should be taken into consideration when determining where to raise a family. Broken down into the four quadrants, here are the pro's and cons of each:

NW - Very desirable area, good schools, close to university and technical college, excellent proximity to mountains (which results in excellent mountain views from most of the communities in this quadrant), hilly (as opposed to flat), very good access to downtown (corporate sector), good access to LRT (Calgary's public transit train system), fairly expensive homes (approx $450K to $700K for an average home). Some of the most desirable family communities in the NE are Tuscany, Royal Oak, Arbour Lake, Citadel, Rocky Ridge, Edgemont, Hamptons.

NE - Lots of ethnic shops, schools, churches (the vast majority of Calgary's muslim community resides in the NE), highest crime rate in Calgary, good access to downtown and LRT, not very close to post secondary institutions, flat as opposed to hilly, least expensive area for homes (approx. $250K to $400K for an average home), good access to the airport (which can also mean increased noise). A fair bit of industrial businesses call the NE home. Some of the "least desirable" areas in the NE are Martindale, Taradale, Falconridge, Pineridge, Marlborough. Some of the better NE communities would include Panaroma Hills, Coventry Hills, Harvest Hills and Evanston.

SE - This one's tricky... the further South you go in SE, the nicer the areas tend to be, like Douglasdale, Lake Chapparal, New Brighton, Lake Bonavista and Parkland (all of which have homes in the $500K to 900K range) but all of which also have some serious commuting issues to getting downtown. The shopping and schools are good there, but there's limited access to post secondary. The further East you go in SE, the scarier the neighborhoods get - Dover, Forestlawn, Forest Heights and Pembrooke should be avoided if at all possible - though these areas are the cheapest (houses range from $180K to about $250K) that comes with a multitude of problems that just aren't worth it if you can avoid that area. Additionally, the bulk of Calgary's industrial sector is in the SE.

SW - Desirable area, with good access to both downtown and the mountains (and the promise of a new LRT route being built in the next few years to that area, improving the access to downtown even more), good shopping and schools, good access to Mount Royal College, some issues with Native Tribes concerning a future "ring road" planning to be built through native lands, some flat and some hilly areas, fairly expensive housing (approx $450K to $800K for an average home. Some of the most desirable (And expensive - $800k plus!!) communities in the SW include Licoln Park, Palliser, Pumphill, Strathcona, St Andrews Heights and Tanglewood. Some of the more modest communities in the SW include Cedarbrae, Woodbine, Shawnessy and Sundance.

Now, having said all that, where you eventually settle will depend a lot on your personal preferences. Personally, I live in the NW and I really like it up there - hubby and I both work downtown, and our morning commute takes about 25 minutes... slightly longer to get home in the afternoon. Great schools for our teens, and close to the University when the time comes. Excellent shopping and recreational facilities. Love going camping in the mountains during the summer, and skiing in the winter. You could choose to settle in one of Calgary's "bedroom" communities, like Okotoks (south of Calgary), Airdrie (North), Chestermere or Strathmore (both East), or Cochrane (West), but the housing prices are about the same, and the extra commuting time can make it prohibitive.

L L

I thought a lot of the richer people lived in NW Calgary? I don't know but I used to live in NE Calgary, and it was kinds scary....now I live in SE...much safer, nicer....but SW is nice too....alot of newer homes in SW....older homes in SE

Hello.

i'd say sw , or even s.e
safest place.

Nicole H

south west

samanntha

i live in the north west and to be honest it depends what neighbourhood you choose but if it's a bit further away from the city it's nice (because it's not as close to the NE, which is a bad are..

i have friends who like in the SW and its nice there. It's definitely very safe around there.

Really, either are fairly nice areas.

If you're trying to chose between houses, why not find a way to go talk to some of the neighbours from where you want to move? It could help you get an idea of the area.

As I said, it's got to do with what specific neighbourhood. The SW as a whole is safer, but there are extremely nice/safe areas in the NW aswell.

Hope I helped :)

DAVID C

Oh, SW for sure, I live in Mackenzie Town and it is so geared for kids it is crazy. The weather in the North is not as good either. In the South we miss alot of the bad weather.

Mackenzie Town, Brighton, Prestwick all good

karmagurl

David C: McKenzie Towne/New Brighton/Prestwick/Copperfield, etc are in the SE not SW

I really think Nunuc2000 answered this question with the most realistic info - not just personal preference but facts. Can't think of anything to add.

Okeedokee

Well the south west is a lot quieter and safer, but the north west is closer to the childrens hospital, C.O.P, the highway to the mountains (Provided you don't live ridiculously far north), the university, and mcmahon stadium.
While there are good neighborhoods in the nw, sw, and se, the sw is probably the safest, cleanest, and quietest, and it's close to fish creek park.
Stay away from the N.E...

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