Are you planning to move to Canada? Or relocate within? And consider Ajax to be a viable option?
Well, you aren’t wrong. As the largest selling ground on the shores of Lake Ontario, the town of Ajax gives plenty of reasons to make it your home.
Situated in the Durham region of Southern Ontario, it is the 4th least expensive town in Greater Toronto (GTA)- the most extensive municipality in Canada.
Although a modern community with ample greenery, shopping malls, and job-related options, the town of Ajax is rather suburban with a snowy lakeside view around the winters.
With a population of about 120K, it is full of young families, as well as minorities from different roots and cultures making it a perfect site for everybody.
Yet, as affordable and exciting as it sounds, there are also certain downsides to living in the town of Ajax which we’ll get familiar with in this post.
But first, let’s find out the positives.
Pros of Living in Ajax
1. Affordable Housing Market
Unlike Toronto, Whitby, Pickering, and other nearby towns, Ajax has a relatively cheaper real estate market with an average home price of about $1 million. And which can go as low as $600K should you be lucky enough.
With hundreds of new listings every month, including detached homes, townhouses, and condos, you’ll have all the freedom to choose a house for sale in ajax that best fits your budget.
2. A safe and sound community with a lower crime rate
Even with a diverse populace, the town of Ajax continues to prosper with a low crime rate and a higher safety index. The Durham Regional Police ensures a high response time of just 6 minutes or so in case of any emergency like a priority one call.
As far as ambulance/ emergency medical services and fire-fighting are concerned, the Durham region has got it covered from multiple stations.
3. Quality Education with tons of Job Opportunities
Looking to give your children the best form of education? Followed by a lucrative career within the city?
Well, look no further.
The school system in Ajax maintains the highest standard of education with tons of extra-curricular activities and an emphasis on sports and languages. No wonder why it maintains a staggering 92% literacy rate.
What’s more, is that it is totally free for students of all grades up to the 12th standard.
Yes, you heard that right. All Canadian public schools profess free education for all.
There are also many types of employment options to choose from in various sectors such as IT, medicine, nursing, and construction.
4. Fun & Adventurous Lifestyle
The quiet and peaceful town of Ajax offers plenty of getaways to break the day-to-day monotony in the form of shopping, entertainment, fishing, hiking, and so on.
Famous for its world-renowned Quarter Horse racing, the track is also connected with Ajax Downs- a crowded casino with over 500 slot machines.
Here’s a complete list of things you can do in your spare time in Ajax.
Cons of Living in Ajax
1. Higher Property Taxes & Cost of Living
Although the real estate market of Ajax is pretty small and reasonable as compared to other cities, the property taxes in Ajax are in fact a little high.
The same goes for the cost of living as Ajax falls in the top 3% of the most expensive cities in the world.
Due to the high quality of life in the town, the total cost per person is anywhere between $650 to $2200 depending upon the type of accommodation i.e. without rent and with rent respectively.
2. A little out-of-date when it comes to Public Transport
Still, the biggest challenge of living in Ajax is catching up with the public transit system which is a little backward to speak.
Daily commuters to adjacent cities have only two ways of reaching their destinations- the Durham Regional Transit Bus Service and the GO Transit local train service.
So if you don’t have a car or personal vehicle of your own, chances are you might have to face some difficulties in getting a ride back home late at night.
3. Heavy Traffic during peak hours (Obviously!)
Another issue in regards to the day-to-day commute via road transportation in Ajax is the high level of traffic that you could come across during rush hours.
Since Ajax is a bedroom community located parallel to highway 401 which runs east-west, residents can only either travel east or west to reach the nearby cities.
As a result, the highway is packed with heavy traffic throughout the week as commuters from various towns and communities take the only route possible to and fro Greater Toronto.
And finally, the middle ground i.e. extremely chilly weather in winter, which for some is quite appealing and for others not so adaptable.
All-in-all, the town of Ajax is one of the best places to live in Canada and the 20th most liveable in Ontario among all the 52 cities.
