Is Brantford a good place to live?- Pros And Cons (As a Local)

Last Updated on July 27, 2024 by William Alexander

Are you wondering what type of city Brantford is? Do you have any doubts about the city? Is Brantford a good place to live? Shifting to a new city is definitely not an easy task. There are a lot of things you need to know about the latest city.

In this guide, I will provide you with complete information about the city and discuss the pros and cons of living in Brantford. Hopefully, after reading this guide, all your doubts about the city will be clear.

What is Brantford known for?

Brantford is like a small town with a lively community, historic neighbourhoods, and a rich industrial heritage.

Brantford is known as the telephone city because, in August 1876, Graham Bell made the first successful long-distance telephone call between Brantford and Paris, Ontario. This incident happened in this city.

This city has a grand river that provides natural beauty as well as opportunities for different recreational and outdoor activities.

Brantford is also known as the centre of agriculture and manufacturing industries. It is also famous as the hometown of hockey player Wayne Gretzky.

What is Brantford close to?

Brantford City is close to Waterford, Cambridge, and Hagersville, cities in Canada. It is only an hour’s drive away from QEW and Highway 403 from Toronto or Niagara. The total distance between Brantford and Hamilton is about 28 miles or 45 kilometres. A taxi takes about 32 minutes to drive, and the fare is about 76 to 91 dollars.

How big is Brantford?

Brantford is like a small town. It covers an area of about 72.47 kilometres per square. According to recent data, its population is more than 1 lac. Brantford, Ontario, is a mid-sized city with a blend of urban and suburban environments. This city is much smaller than Canada’s major cities, such as Toronto.

Things to do in Brantford

When we move to a new city or place, a few things come to mind. Fun activities are one of them. I will give you information about fun, outdoor, and recreational activities.

These activities give you a sense of refreshment and a break from the burden of work.

1. Bell Homestead National Historic Site

You should visit this historic site to learn about Alexander Graham Bell’s life and telephone invention.

2. Grand River

This is the best place in Brantford to enjoy scenic beauty. You can also go walking, cycling, and picnicking.

3. Visit the Wayne Gretzky Sports Center

This city is famous because it is the hometown of a hockey player named Wayne Gretzky. You should visit Wayne’s sports centre and engage in various fitness activities. 

4. Glenhyrst Art gallery of Brant

You should visit this gallery to explore the historical art exhibition.

5. Brantford famous market

This is one of the best markets in this city. Visit this market to discover fresh produce and different types of delicious food.

6. Canadian Military Heritage Museum

Museums are where we can learn about any place’s rich culture and history. Through this museum, you can learn about the Canadian military heritage.

7. Sanderson Center

In this historic venue, you should attend live performances in Sanderson Center, such as theatre, music, and dance,

8. Mohawk Park 

Spend a day in this large and beautiful park. It offers a playground, picnic and walking trails.

9. Lynden Park Mall

Go shopping in Lynden Park Mall and shop for your favourite brand and dining options in this famous park.

10. Brantford Twin Valley Zoo

This is the best place for families, especially children. Spend a day and explore the different types of animals and interactive exhibits.

11. Play Golf

Golf is a famous game in Brantford. There are many places in this city where you can enjoy golf, such as Brantford Golf and Country Club. 

12. SC Johnson Trail

This park offers different activities, such as hiking, bird watching, and walking on its beautiful trail that connects Brantford to Paris, Ontario. 

Festivals and fairs in Brantford 

Festivals and fairs are important in our lives. They provide cultural, recreational, and entertainment opportunities. Festivals allow us to be happy and forget our tensions, worries and stress.

Let’s discuss some exciting festivals celebrated in the city of Brantford. With the help of the table, I will discuss essential festivals.

Name Of Festivals	Detail About Festivals
Brantford International Village Festival	It is a multicultural festival offering different types of music, dance, food and cultural displays
Brantford Ribfest	It is a famous summer event that offers mouth-watering ribs, live music and family-friendly activities.
Brantford Kinsmen annual car show and swap meet	This event is about gathering classic cars and offering a swap meet for car parts and memorabilia.
Brantford Comedy festival	It offers standup comedy performances from both local and international comedians.
Brantford International Jazz Festival	It offers the celebration of jazz music from both local and international artists.
Frosty Festival	This festival is held in winter and features ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides, and other winter activities.
Canada  day celebration	It is a city-wide celebration on July 1st with fireworks and other types of family activities.
Scare in the Square	This festival is a Halloween-themed event downtown, with different types of haunted costumes and spooky fun.
Brantford film festival	It is an annual event featuring films from various genres, including local and international entries.
Brantford Pride	It is the celebration of the LGBTQ+ community with parades and different types of educational events.
Walter Gretzky street hockey tournament	It is an annual hockey tournament attracting teams from all over.

Schooling Options in Brantford

Education is a crucial factor whenever one moves to Brantford or any other new city. People prefer to get all the information about the education they are thinking of pursuing.

I will solve this problem by giving you all the information about Brantford’s education system, such as the schooling system, the best schools in Brantford, and the famous and well-renowned universities and education. 

These things can help you decide whether to live in Brantford. 

Schooling system 

There are two types of schooling.

1. Public schooling
2. Private Schooling

In many cities in Canada, there is a public schooling system. In public schooling, the government covers all the expenses of children’s education at the secondary level or grade 12. But Brantford, Ontario, and other cities of Canada also give you the option of private schooling if you have any problems with public school education.

Best schooling options in Brantford

Elementary schools

• Christ, the king catholic elementary school
• Ryerson Heights Elementary School
• Walter Gretzky Elementary School
• Ecole Dufferin
• James Hillier Public School

Secondary Schools

• North park collegiate and vocational school
• Brantford Christian School
• Assumption college school
• St. John’s College
• Pauline Johnson collegiate and vocational school

Private Schools

• Brantford Christian School
• Braemar house school
• Nederland school
• Faith Christian Academy
• Colborne Christian school

These are the best schools in Brantford. Hopefully, this information will help you to decide what school is best for your child.

School boards in Brantford

• Grand Erie District School Board( GEDSB)

This board oversees public, elementary and secondary schools in Brantford and surrounding areas.

• Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School

Control all catholic elementary, secondary schools in Brantford.

Best Post-Secondary institutions

• Wilfrid Laurier University- Brantford campus

This university offers different types of graduate and undergraduate programs. This institution is famous for its strong community engagement and other experiential learning opportunities.

• Conestoga College- Brantford campus

This university offers career-oriented business, community services, health, and technology programs. 

• Nipissing university-Brantford campus

It offers a variety of undergraduate programs, especially a bachelor of education (B.Ed) program. This campus has small class sizes. 

Where to stay in Brantford

Information about where to stay is necessary when moving to a new place. I have compiled a table of famous hotels with their rents and ratings.

Name of hotels	Rent in USD dollars	Rent in PKS	Rating
Holidays Inn and Express	143 dollars	39,334 rupees	4.4 stars
Days Inn by Wyndham	97.69 dollars	26,865 rupees	3.1 stars
Hampton Inn and Suites	126.41 dollars	34,765 rupees	4.1 stars
Best Western Brantford	125.20 dollars	34.432 rupees	4.0 stars
Comfort Inn	99 dollars	27,234 rupees	3.6 stars
Home2 suites by Hilton	166 dollars	45,879 rupees	4.5 stars
Arlington Hotel	173.68 dollars	47,762 rupees	4.3 stars

House price in Brantford

The average house price in Brantford is about $765,125 in June 2024. In May, the house price was about $704,159, which means the price increased by about 8.6 per cent in one month. 

A house in Brantford is quite affordable compared to Hamilton. Overall, living in Brantford is more affordable than living in Hamilton.

Where to eat in Brantford

If you are a food lover, then you are very interested in the best places and their delicious food before moving to a new city. 

I recommend you visit the best restaurants and their unique food in this guide.

So, let’s start

1.The Olde school restaurant

It offers stunning dining options with both traditional and contemporary dishes.

2. Sociable Kitchen 

This is the best restaurant, famous for its casual atmosphere and for offering different types of food such as burgers, tacos, and craft beers.

3. The works gourmet burger bistro

This restaurant is famous due to its variety of burgers with unique toppings.

4. Mercasa Little Italy eatery

This restaurant offers Italian cuisine, wood-fired pizza, pasta dishes, and gelato.

5. Cafe Andreou

This restaurant has a unique menu, including steak, seafood, and pasta prepared with a Mediterranean flair.

6. Burrito Brothers

This spot is famous for its fresh and flavorful Mexican food, including burritos and tacos.

7. Duke on Park

It is different from other restaurants because it is a traditional pub that offers a cosy atmosphere and a unique menu like fish and chips, wings and poutine.

8. Admiral Submarine

This restaurant offers flavorful subs and sandwiches, and this place is perfect for quick services and satisfying meals.

9. Gran Sasso restaurant

This restaurant offers authentic Italian dishes with famous quality ingredients and traditional recipes.

This city offers a variety of restaurants that provide delicious and pocket-friendly food. 

Pros and cons of living in Brantford-Is Brantford a good place to live?

As we all know, living in the same place has some advantages and disadvantages. The same is true of living in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.

Pros of living in Brantford

Cost of living in Brantford

Brantford offers an affordable cost of living compared to the other larger cities of Canada, especially in terms of housing and everyday expenses. However, the cost of a few things like dining and utilities is not much lower than in the other cities of Ontario, Canada. Overall, this city has an affordable cost of living compared to other larger cities like Toronto. That’s why this city is the best option for families, students, and individuals.

To clarify the cost of living, I will use a table to explain it better.

Name Of Things	Prices In CAD  Dollars
Rent of 1 room apartment in the city centre	$12,00-1400 per month
Rent of 1 room apartment outside city centre	$900-1300
Rent of three-room apartment to city centre	$1900-2500
Rent of 3 room apartment without a city centre	$1600-2100
House purchase price( per square metre at the city centre)	$3,000-4,000
House purchase price( per square without city centre)	$2600-3500
Essential utilities ( electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage ) for an 85-metre square apartment	approx. $ 150-260 per month
Internet 60GB or more unlimited data	$61-100 per month
Monthly public transportation pass	$ 83-90
Taxi one kilometre	$ 2.00-3.00
Gasoline 1 litre	$ 1.30-1.40
Milk 1 litre	$1.60-2.00
loaf of bread	$2.60-3.50
rice 1 kg	$3.00 4.50
apples 1 kg	$3.00-4.50

Close to major cities

Brantford is close to some major cities. Its location provides easy access to some major cities like Toronto and Hamilton. To live in this, we can easily travel to major cities for jobs or any other work.

Growing economy 

Brantford’s economy is growing rapidly due to the increase in job opportunities in various fields, such as manufacturing, education, and healthcare.

Job opportunities in Brantford

• In the field of education

1. Teacher
2. Educational assistant
3. Administrative
4. Custodian

• Healthcare

1. Registered nurse
2. Personal support worker
3. Pharmacist
4. Administrative Assistant

• Retail and customer service

1. Sales Associate
2. Store Manager
3. Cashier
4. Merchandiser

Information technology

1. Software Developer
2. IT Support 
3. Network administrator
4. Cybersecurity Specialist

Construction and Trades

1. Carpenter
2. Electrician
3. Plumber
4. General labourer

Finance and Administration

• Accountant
• Financial Analyst
• Administrative Assistant

Educational Opportunities

Brantford is a home of education opportunities. This city offers the best universities and reputed schools. And a detailed description, as I discussed before in this article.

Strong sense of community and family-friendly environment

This city has a strong sense of community, and people are amiable and different types of family-friendly recreational activities like walking, picnics, etc.

Historical significance 

This city is rich in historical significance due to the successful telephonic experiment. This city is known as “telephone city”. This city also has many cultural sites, such as the Canadian Military Heritage Museum and Homestead National Historic Site. 

Recreational activities 

This city offers many recreational activities, both indoor and outdoor. I will first discuss outdoor recreational activities.

Outdoor activities

• Hiking 
• biking
• fishing
• picnicking
• camping
• water activities such as canoeing and kayaking
• Golfing
• playing basketball

Indoor activities

• visit museums and galleries 
• enjoy theatres and performing art 
• Dining at a famous restaurant
• Shopping from a well-known shopping mall.

Cons of living in Brantford

Limited public transportation

This city has limited public transportation compared to other larger cities in Canada. It is more convenient to have your car rather than use public transit.

Now, we discuss some public transportation options in Brantford.

• Brantford Transit
• Brantford lift
• GO bus
• VIA Rail
• Greyhound
• Local taxi services
• Uber 
• Lyft

Limited healthcare access

This city has limited access to health care. There are fewer specialised medical services than in the other major cities of Canada.

Fewer opportunities for entertainment

This city has fewer entertainment opportunities than the other major cities of Canada, which some people consider a drawback.

Harsh winters

Like other major parts of Canada, this city also faces harsh winters with snowfall. That’s why this city is not suitable for those who like moderate weather.

High crime rate

Brantford has a mixed reputation for crime rates. Some areas have higher crime rates than others. Let’s discuss this in detail with the table.

Types of Crime	Such as	Crime Rate
Violent crime	assault, robbery, sexual assault	above the national average
Property crime	Theft, burglary, vandalism	above the national average
Drug-related crime	buying and selling of drugs	it is also above the national average

Overall, Brantford’s crime rate is much higher than that of other cities in Canada. 

FAQ’S

Final words

Overall, Brantford offers a balanced lifestyle with advantages and drawbacks. But after reading this article, you will have a clearer understanding of whether Brantford is a good place to live.

It is a good place to live, but there are some hurdles you may face while living in this city. Now, it’s your choice whether you want to move to this city or not.