5 Neighbourhoods for Young Professionals in Toronto

There are several reasons why Toronto is the most populous city in Canada with over 6 million people in the Greater Toronto Area. Toronto is Canada’s economic hub and it ranked in top 10 of Forbes Magazine’s “World’s Most Economically Powerful Cities.” The city has a low unemployment rate. Data from Statistics Canada show that there were more than 96,000 jobs created in the 12 months to June 2018 for an unemployment rate of 6.4% at the end of June. Toronto has a vibrant nightlife and social scene, has many recreation options, has a good quality of life, and has a milder climate (compared to the rest of Canada) due to its Great Lakes location.

Although rental prices are not friendly to young professionals, Toronto is still attractive because getting a job here is easier than elsewhere in Canada. Some neighbourhoods are better suited for young professionals than others. Below are some of the most popular:

The Annex

The Annex in Downtown Toronto lies between Dupont Street, Bloor Street, Bathurst Street, and Avenue Road. This is mostly a residential area and is characterized by streets that are lined with huge trees that dwarf the massive Victorian and Edwardian mansions and homes built between 1880 and early 1900s. Young professionals usually live in the mid- and high-rise apartment buildings that replaced some of these mansions and homes in the 1950s and 60s.

Bloor Street, particularly between Avenue Road and Bathurst Street, offers a vibrant social and mixed-use area. The area is well served by the public transit system, with 4 Toronto Transit Commission subway stations, streetcar services, and bus service. There are several good restaurants here, the most notable being Puck’n Wings, Sushi on Bloor, Fanny Chadwick’s, Greg’s Ice Cream, and Sushi Couture. Other attractions are the Koreatown shopping district and the Vermont Square Park.

Yonge and Eglinton

Yonge−Eglinton at the intersection of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue was the highest-ranked neighbourhood in the Greater Toronto Area in 2017, according to Toronto Life, in terms of housing, transit, people, entertainment, crime rate, health, and employment. Yonge & Eglinton is a hot spot for diners and moviegoers.

The condos here are built with young professionals in mind. There are also several corporate businesses in the vicinity.

The Junction

The Junction is one of the liveliest neighbourhoods in Toronto. It gets its name from the fact that it lies between the intersections of 4 railway lines in the area. The Junction is a hotbed of craft beer activity. It is popular with young couples with and without children, mostly due to the fact that it is not in the downtown core and there are more houses than condos.

King West

King West has condos priced just right for young professionals. There are many office buildings in the vicinity, including offices for some of the most recognizable businesses in Toronto. This is one of the fastest growing neighbourhoods in Toronto and has been compared to New York’s Soho neighbourhood. It offers residents an urban lifestyle and is within walking distance to the entertainment district.

Queen West

Vogue magazine recently called Queen West the second coolest “hood on the globe” after one in Tokyo. This is home to several art galleries, open mic bars, Graffiti Alley, independent boutique shops, fabulous eateries, patisseries, trendy bars, hip resto-lounges, and film production studios.