Happiness Index

We live in one of the world's happiest countries. But where, exactly, are we happiest? To answer that question, we asked people in two of Canada's most vibrant cities—Toronto and Vancouver—which characteristics of their communities bring them the most joy, then ranked the top neighbourhoods based on their proximity to each.

Now, let's find your happy place!

The GTA

Happiest neighbourhoods based on access to:
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59% say proximity to parks and other outdoor spaces is a big happiness booster
Study after study shows that spending time in the great outdoors can lower your stress levels and boost your mood.¹ So it's no surprise that the #1 priority for people looking to move to a new neighbourhood is proximity to parks and other green spaces.

Top 5 neighbourhoods for the outdoor enthusiasts

1
ThistletownEtobicoke

2
The ElmsEtobicoke

3
HumberleaEtobicoke

4
O'Connor-ParkviewEast York

5
Sonoma HeightsYork
Neighbourhood map
Neighbourhood Spotlight

Thistletown

This historic GTA neighbourhood has been an oasis for outdoor lovers since its outset. Bordered by the Humber River, Thistletown is home to Etobicoke’s oldest park (Village Green Park, FYI) and a near-endless number of picturesque hiking and biking trails.

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45% say living close to ample restaurants, bars, and coffee shops is crucial
Food and happiness go hand in hand. When you eat or drink something delicious, your brain releases dopamine—aka the “happy hormone”²—which ultimately means that living near lots of good food can, quite literally, improve your mood.

Top 5 neighbourhoods for the insatiable foodies

1
Milliken Mills West Markham

2
Little ItalyToronto

3
Harbord VillageToronto

4
Bickford ParkToronto

5
Trinity BellwoodsToronto
Neighbourhood map
Neighbourhood Spotlight

Milliken Mills West

No matter what you’re craving, trust you’ll be satisfied by the delicious fare you’ll find just minutes from your doorstep in Milliken Mills West. For an authentic experience, head to one of the area’s top-rated Asian restaurants. Your stomach will thank you.

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21% say it’s necessary to have a selection of schools and childcare options nearby
You know the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child"? Clearly, quite a few people agree—because more than one-in-five GTA residents rank proximity to multiple childcare and school options as a must-have when they're on the hunt for a new home.

Top 5 neighbourhoods for taking care of the kids

1
Bickford ParkEtobicoke

2
BanburyNorth York

3
Little ItalyToronto

4
Maple LeafNorth York

5
OarkridgeScarborough
Neighbourhood map
Neighbourhood Spotlight

Bickford Park

If you’re raising your kids in the big city (aka Toronto), Bickford Park is the place to be. On top of its pristine playgrounds and community centres, the family-friendly neighbourhood has no shortage of daycares, schools, and alt-ed programs for you to choose from.

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20% want a neighbourhood with an endless supply of new activities to try
One of the best ways to avoid boredom and boost your mood is by living in an area with readily available recreational activities (like open sports or public art classes). Not only will you have more fun, but studies show you'll also be a lot happier.³

Top 5 neighbourhoods for more delightful downtime

1
Trinity BellwoodsToronto

2
Downtown BramptonBrampton

3
Bracondale HillToronto

4
Harbord VillageToronto

5
Bickford ParkToronto
Neighbourhood map
Neighbourhood Spotlight

Trinity Bellwoods

Outsiders recognize Trinity Bellwoods for its park, but the people who've settled down here stay for everything else the area has to offer, from its bustling arts scene and community cultural centres to its colourful streets lined with locally-owned shops.

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7% prioritize living in a place where their neighbours feel more like family
We're social creatures, which is why community connection (ideally the in-real-life kind) has the power to significantly raise our spirits. It's science!⁴ So naturally, being able to bond with their neighbours is a top priority for many people when they move.

Top 5 neighbourhoods for community connection

1
Humber SummitNorth York

2
Milliken Mills WestMarkham

3
AmesburyNorth York

4
HumbermedeNorth York

5
Seaton VillageToronto
Neighbourhood map
Neighbourhood Spotlight

Humber Summit

What started as a pioneer settlement has since developed into a diverse yet incredibly close-knit community. Humber Summit’s residents come from countless ethnic and religious backgrounds, most with their own local cultural centre and place of worship.

Metro Vancouver

Happiest neighbourhoods based on access to:
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55% say proximity to parks and other outdoor spaces is a big happiness booster
Study after study shows that spending time in the great outdoors can lower your stress levels and boost your mood.¹ So it's no surprise that the #1 priority for people looking to move to a new neighbourhood is proximity to parks and other green spaces.

Top 5 neighbourhoods for the outdoor enthusiasts

1
West Point GreyVancouver

2
Port HaneyMaple Ridge

3
AlbionMaple Ridge

4
CitadelPort Coquitlam

5
University Endowment LandsVancouver
Neighbourhood map
Neighbourhood Spotlight

West Point Grey

Whether you’re a fan of sand, swimming, or sunbathing, West Point Grey is where it’s at. One of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhoods, this beachfront community (which is just a quick commute from the big city) is beloved for its serene, small-town sensibility.

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50% say living close to ample restaurants, bars, and coffee shops is crucial
Food and happiness go hand in hand. When you eat or drink something delicious, your brain releases dopamine—aka the “happy hormone”²—which ultimately means that living near lots of good food can, quite literally, improve your mood.

Top 5 neighbourhoods for the insatiable foodies

1
Golden VillageRichmond

2
WindsorBurnaby

3
Downtown VancouverVancouver

4
West EndVancouver

5
Grandview - WoodlandVancouver
Neighbourhood map
Neighbourhood Spotlight

Golden Village

Go on a gastronomic journey across East Asia from the comfort of home in Vancouver's Golden Village. And for a special treat, head north of the neighbourhood to Richmond's iconic summer Night Market to sample the best of all its local eats (and drinks!).

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19% want a neighbourhood with an endless supply of new activities to try
One of the best ways to avoid boredom and boost your mood is by living in an area with readily available recreational activities (like open sports or public art classes). Not only will you have more fun, but studies show you'll also be a lot happier.³

Top 5 neighbourhoods for more delightful downtime

1
QueensboroughNew Westminster

2
UptownNew Westminster

3
WillowbrookLangley

4
Burnaby HeightsBurnaby

5
Riley ParkVancouver
Neighbourhood map
Neighbourhood Spotlight

Queensborough

Historically a hub for new immigrants, Queensborough has always put its diversity on full display. Long-standing community and cultural centres are the backbone of the area, which is quickly becoming one of Metro Vancouver's most popular places to live.

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18% say it’s necessary to have a selection of schools and childcare options nearby
You know the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child"? Clearly, quite a few people agree—because more than one-in-five GTA residents rank proximity to multiple childcare and school options as a must-have when they're on the hunt for a new home.

Top 5 neighbourhoods for taking care of the kids

1
Ranch ParkCoquitlam

2
Central CoquitlamCoquitlam

3
SaundersRichmond

4
Eagle RidgeCoquitlam

5
Steveston NorthRichmond
Neighbourhood map
Neighbourhood Spotlight

Ranch Park

Parents come to Ranch Park for its unrivalled mountain views but stay because it’s one of Metro Vancouver’s best places to raise a family, thanks to a wide range of educational and childcare programs, large lot sizes, plentiful parks, and top-notch transit system.

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10% prioritize living in a place where their neighbours feel more like family
We're social creatures, which is why community connection (ideally the in-real-life kind) has the power to significantly raise our spirits. It's science!⁴ So naturally, being able to bond with their neighbours is a top priority for many people when they move.

Top 5 neighbourhoods for community connection

1
SunsetVancouver

2
Douglas-GilpinBurnaby

3
OakridgeVancouver

4
Victoria-FraserviewVancouver

5
East CambieRichmond
Neighbourhood map
Neighbourhood Spotlight

Sunset

This South Vancouver neighbourhood (aka the most ethnically diverse area of the city) is a mosaic of multiculturalism. Everyone is welcome here! Especially in the heart of Sunset: its Community Centre, complete with a gym, playground, dance studio, and more.

Additional Findings

We asked the same people across the GTA and Metro Vancouver (the majority of whom report loving where they live⁵, by the way) how much the following factors contribute to their happiness at home.

1. Activities for living a healthy life
Health really is wealth! According to the survey, being close to activities that promote a healthy lifestyle has a huge positive impact on people’s happiness.
82%GTA residents
74%Vancouver residents
2. Social and cultural connections
More than half of survey respondents said having cultural or social ties to their neighbourhoods is essential in boosting their happiness levels.
59%GTA residents
61%Vancouver residents

Methodology

In partnership with Maru/Blue, we surveyed 1,624 residents (aged 18+) in Ontario and British Columbia from June 1-3, 2022 to understand the impact that "access to activities that promote a healthy lifestyle" and "cultural/social ties to their neighbourhood" has on their happiness, as these were identified as key indicators of happiness by the World Happiness Report. We asked these same respondents to rank which factors (or "happiness indicators") contribute most to their happiness at home.

With the top happiness indicators identified, we pulled data points from multiple sources⁶ and merged those with our neighbourhood boundaries⁷ to determine the number of neighbourhood features (e.g. the number of playgrounds) available per neighbourhood. These data points were then normalized against the total number of properties in the corresponding neighbourhoods (based on sold properties over the past 20 years). Neighbourhoods with less than 1,000 properties were removed.

Once normalized, the data points were converted into rankings by calculating the distance between each data point and the median of all the points across neighbourhoods. A collection of neighbourhood features that best support each happiness indicator were weighted to create an index of neighbourhoods, which were ranked for each happiness indicator.


  1. https://time.com/5539942/green-space-health-wellness
  2. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181227111420.htm
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2863117
  4. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/ is_social_connection_the_best_path_to_happiness
  5. Based on a survey of 797 residents of the Greater Toronto Area and Metro Vancouver, conducted from June 1-3, 2022, 62% of GTA residents and 65% of Vancouver residents are happy with where they currently live
  6. Data sourced from StatsCan, Open Street Maps and SafeGraph
  7. Neighbourhood boundaries informed by Precisely

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