Fredericton Named 6th Best Place to Live in Canada (as published in the Daily Gleaner on March 30/11)

Fredericton is the only municipality in the Atlantic provinces to be named to the Top 10 places to live in Canada by MoneySense magazine in its annual ranking of the country's most liveable communities.

Fredericton was sixth from among 180 Canadian cities and towns with populations of more than 10,000. Cities were rated based on home affordability, climate, prosperity, crime rates, access to health care and lifestyle, with subcategories in each area. Points were also given for transit, amenities and culture.

"This is the fifth straight year that Fredericton has been named to the MoneySense Top 10 list," said Mayor Brad Woodside. "All residents can take great pride in the fact it doesn't get much better than right here at home."

According to MoneySense, Fredericton's top advantages are the affordability of housing and chances of finding work, as well as the number of citizens committed to active transportation.

The unemployment rate is 5.6 per cent, the average household price is $142,642 and 9.28 per cent of the population walks or takes a bike to work.

Other areas in which Fredericton ranked well included: average household income ($76,659); number of doctors for each 1,000 residents (2.27); days of precipitation annually (156.6); and number of days a year where the weather is below freezing (178).

Ottawa-Gatineau was named the best place to live in Canada in 2011, followed by: Victoria, B.C.; Burlington, Ont.; Kingston, Ont.; St, Albert, Alta.; Fredericton; Brandon, Man.; Edmonton, Alta.; Repentigny, Que.; and Winnipeg, Man.

MoneySense is Canada's best-selling investment and lifestyle magazine. It's published six times a year by Rogers Media.