There are many reasons for Mississauga’s popularity that make it one of the most desired destinations in the GTA. It offers a good balance of city and suburban life, is situated on Lake Ontario and is home to Canada’s largest airport.
Those amenities do come with a price, however. If you’ve looked into buying or selling a home in Mississauga, then you already know it’s on the pricier side of the GTA’s real estate market.
That said, the fact that it’s Canada’s sixth-largest city by population proves that plenty of people think it’s well worth it and below are five of the reasons why.
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1. Proximity to Toronto
This is arguably one of the biggest reasons for Mississauga’s growth as the population size doubled in the 25 years between 1986 and 2016. Getting from downtown Mississauga to downtown Toronto can be done in about half an hour by GO train during rush hour, making it an easy commute for people working in Toronto. However, outside of those high-service times, using public transit to get to Toronto can take a long time, depending on which part of Mississauga you live in.
The opposite is true for driving into the city. During off-peak hours, driving to Toronto can take 30-40 mins by car – unless the Leafs, Raptors or Blue Jays are playing a home game.
This accessibility makes it convenient to get to Toronto for both work and play, making Mississauga a best-of-both-worlds for those who enjoy the big city’s excitement but not its high cost of real estate and cramped living conditions.
2. Weather
While a good portion of Missauga’s jurisdiction is north of Lake Ontario, it still benefits from lake-effect mildness and is usually a degree or two warmer than other cities in the GTA like Scarborough, Richmond Hill and Vaughan. This may not seem important, but that little extra warmth and mildness make a difference during long, harsh Canadian winters.
3. Family Friendly
Plenty of schools, libraries, parks, sports leagues, and facilities make Mississauga an exciting place for kids. The Living Arts Centre and dozens of community centres offer programs that cater to almost every interest a child would want to explore. And the low crime rate makes its neighbourhoods among the safest in the GTA.
4. Plenty to do
Those same facilities offer programs, leagues and classes for adults as well. And Celebration Square has something happening every weekend in the summer. For those who love to shop, Mississauga is the place to be. Not only is Square One the third-largest shopping mall in Canada, but the sprawling Heartland Town Centre attracts shoppers from around the GTA. Don’t let the name fool you, it’s not a mall or a shopping centre, it’s a vast network of plazas featuring outlet stores of the world’s largest brands in everything from fashion to housewares to tech to home improvement.
5. The Diversity
Mississauga is rich with cultural diversity as over half the population speak a language other than English as their mother tongue. You can find a cultural event that brings a small piece of the world to you on any given weekend, especially in the summer. And foodies with a taste for trying new dishes find no shortage of international cuisine in Mississauga.
