12 best neighbourhoods in Calgary

Methodology

To create our list, we focused on factors like liveability, good schools, affordability, access to parks, safety and transit. To gather data, we used a variety of sources, mainly relying on numerous community websites, as well as Zumper, CMHC, Remax and other real estate sites to get housing prices. Neighbourhoods varied widely as to the amount of detailed information that was available.

Here are the top 12 neighbourhoods in Calgary

1. Beltline

Key features: Parks, close to downtown, a little bit of everything

Average house price: $485,483

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment: $2,759

Located just south of Downtown Calgary (making it ideal for young professionals who work in the inner city), this bustling urban hub is jam-packed with amenities. It’s got a wonderful mix of retail shops, lively bars and restaurants, as well as businesses like banks, medical services and yoga studios so you never have to go far to get what you need. The area is especially popular for its nightlife, with plenty of brew pubs, live music and dance clubs. The Beltline Urban Murals Project showcases public art (and is part of the popular BUMP festival) so you’re essentially living amidst an open-air art gallery. The neighbourhood is also home to Central Memorial Park, a large space that is the city’s oldest park. Beltline also has good access to transit via several buses and the relatively close C-Train, and it also has plans to create two kilometres of protected bike lanes.

2. Altadore

Key features: Family friendly, lots of parks, shopping and good schools

Average house price: $1,324,937

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment: $1,906

One of the best (and more expensive) neighbourhoods in Calgary for families, as well as for young professionals, Altadore lives up to the old cliche that it really does have something for everyone. Offering a mix of bungalows, luxury homes and condos, it’s close to one of Calgary’s most popular shopping and dining districts (there’s over 190 retailers), Marda Loop, so you’re never far from great shopping, dining and activity options. The area also has top schools, parks, daycares and an arena. In the summer, Sandy Beach with its pathways and picnic areas is a popular community hang out. While it is one of Calgary’s more expensive areas, Altadore gets top marks for safety and overall livability.

3. Sunnyside

Key features: Great transit, scenic views of Bow River, good schools

Average house price: $455,596

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment: $2,245

Close to the downtown core (which can be easily accessed via a leisurely walk across the pedestrian Peace Bridge), on the north side of the Bow River, this picturesque neighbourhood is great for families and young professionals who want to live close to where they work in the city centre. You’ll find some of Calgary’s oldest historic homes in Sunnyside, as well as new condo developments. The pathways along Bow River invite long walks and bike rides. The neighbourhood is known for its good schools, community spirit and excellent transit, as it’s served by bus routes, as well as its own dedicated station on the C-Train.

4. Hillhurst

Key features: Community spirit, good schools, close to Bow River

Average house price: $1,248,294

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment: $2,029

Abutting the Sunnyside neighbourhood, this community on the north bank of the Bow River shares many of its assets, like coveted schools, an active community centre and amenities like parks. Close to Bow River, you can also enjoy water-based sports, as well as ample biking and hiking pathways.

5. Kensington

Key features: Trendy, artistic and youthful feel

Average house price: $455,596

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment: $2,179

Tap into Calgary’s hip, youthful vibe in this walkable area. Filled with independent stores, hip cafes and well-regarded restaurants, there’s plenty to see and do in Kensington, which is also why it’s popular with tourists. Exuding an eclectic energy, the area is one of the city’s foremost creative hubs with lots of galleries, as well as the delightful Kensington Art Walk. The neighbourhood is especially known for its indy coffee shops, Sunday brunch restaurants and live music venues.

6. Edgemont

Key features: Massive green space, walking and biking paths, family friendly

Average house price: $639,583

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment: $1,928

Located in northwest Calgary, if being close to nature and an outdoor lifestyle is important to you then Edgemont may be a perfect fit. The area boasts ample green spaces, like Nose Hill Park, as well as a network of ravines that provides over 30 kilometres of walking and biking trails. Perched atop a hill, the views are second to none, with equally excellent vistas of the Calgary city skyline, as well as the Rocky Mountains on clear days. Safe, with good schools and an enviable sense of community, Edgemont is one of the best neighbourhoods in Calgary for young families

7. Brentwood

Key features: Active community association, good transit, close to University of Calgary

Average house price: $525,335

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment: $2,186

Often topping local lists of the top neighbourhood, Brentwood is an attractive mix of large estates, single-family detached homes and a few condos. It’s got an active community association, as well as a recreation centre. Parks (including newly renovated Blakiston Park), proximity to biking and hiking trails and respected schools, make it one of the best family neighbourhoods in Calgary. Because it’s close to the University of Calgary, it has robust transit service, with a network of bus routes and its own C-Train station stop.

8. Varsity

Key features: Popular with families, good schools and transit

Average house price: $545,062

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment: $2,565

This well-established community in the city’s northwest is everything you’d expect from suburbia: Tree-lined streets, a nice mix of housing types, a family-friendly vibe and an abundance of parks. Boasting a C-Train stop and various bus routes, it also has excellent schools and is close to one of the city’s main shopping destinations, Market Mall, making it one of the best neighbourhoods in Calgary.

9. Crescent Heights

Key features: Close to post-secondary institutions and Bow River

Average house price: $912,387

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment: $1,591

A welcoming residential neighbourhood with a family-friendly feel, Crescent Heights has great schools, offers easy access to some of the city’s best hospitals and is close to post-secondary institutions like the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and the University of Calgary. Residents also appreciate its proximity to bucolic Bow River with its numerous biking and hiking paths and water-based activities.

10. Inglewood

Key features: Expensive, historic homes, safe

Average house price: $1,014,029

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment: $2,679

A small town feel with big city amenities, that’s the best way to describe this safe, quaint neighbourhood. One of the city’s oldest districts, it’s got lots of historic homes, generous greenspace and a convenient mix of shops, restaurants and bars. Centre Street North is a popular shopping and restaurant destination.

11. Currie

Key features: Tight community, urban development success story

Average house price: $803,989

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment: $1,747

Just southwest of downtown, Currie is one of Calgary's most historic neighbourhoods. Set on a former Canadian Forces Base, it’s considered a major success story in urban transformation and community development. It’s known for its walkability, close-knit community, parks and variety of housing.

12. Upper Mount Royal

Key features: Exclusive, some of Calgary’s most expensive real estate, excellent schools

Average house price: $6,077,980

Average rental cost of 2-bedroom apartment:  Ranges between $1,600 and $2,975

If money is no object, consider calling the neighbourhood of Upper Mount Royal home. Reputed to contain Calgary’s most expensive real estate, you’ll find mainly stately old historic homes (some of the oldest in the city) and new, architecturally awe-inspiring mansions with sweeping, landscaped yards in this southwest corner of Calgary. The area pretty much gets As across the board when it comes to factors like top-notch schools, walkable distance to downtown, very low crime rates and overall livability (though it gets an F when it comes to affordability).

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FAQs

What is the nicest neighbourhood in Calgary?

What makes a neighbourhood the “nicest” will depend on your own individual priorities. If you want a family-friendly place close to downtown, Brentwood may be ideal. If you value a hip, youthful buzz, check out Kensington. Edgemont could be a good fit if you prioritize an active outdoor lifestyle with plenty of walking and biking.

What is the safest area to live in Calgary?

Calgary is generally regarded as a safe city, however, Upper Mount Royal, Brentwood and Edgemont have reputations as being especially safe.

Which side of Calgary is best to live on?

Calgary as a whole is a safe and dynamic city with ample amenities and beautiful, liveable neighbourhoods so the “best” side to live on will depend on your own unique needs. That being said, the southwest and northwest regions are considered by some to contain Calgary’s best residential areas.

What is the richest neighborhood in Calgary?

Upper Mount Royal is generally regarded as one of the richest neighbourhoods in Calgary.