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Which neighbourhoods in Edmonton are the best for you? We’ll help you to find out with this overview of the popular neighbourhoods. You can also use our Edmonton neighbourhood maps to explore each area in more detail.
South
The south and southwestern neighbourhoods in Edmonton are often identified as some of the most desirable. Areas such as Haddow, Henderson Estates and Ogilvie Ridge have comparatively low crime rates and high affluence. Generally speaking, the city’s southside tends to be very family-friendly and comparatively safe.
Old Strathcona
A notable area of Edmonton’s southside is Old Strathcona, Edmonton’s main arts and entertainment district, shopping hub, and close to the University of Alberta. The popular Whyte (82nd) Avenue is a draw for residents and tourists alike, and is buzzing with shops, bars, and great restaurants. Whyte Avenue runs through several neighbourhoods, including Garneau, Queen Alexandra, Strathcona and Bonnie Doon. This is perfect for those looking for a slightly arty and alternative area to call home.
Mill Woods
Mill Woods is another area in the southside, comprised of more than eight neighbourhoods in Edmonton. Over 100,000 people live in Mill Woods, and it offers more affordability than most other southside addresses. Mill Woods is a largely self-sufficient community, with amenities such as a hospital, police headquarters and recreation centre. Mill Woods has a reputation for higher levels of crime, but this reputation is largely unwarranted, and neighbourhoods such as Jackson Heights and Greenview offer high quality of life and low crime.
Summerside
Summerside in the southwest of the city is a new residential area popular with many families. It’s a pretty quiet area with many new houses and apartments. The bus service is pretty good for those without cars, and many people use bikes during the summer. Lake Summerside is a man-made lake with a playground, boats, swimming in the summer and skating in the winter, and they often have family days. It is a private lake and only the residents on Lake Summerside can use the water.
Downtown – Surrounding Areas
As is to be expected, Edmonton’s downtown core is also the city’s central business district. Unlike other downtown cores across Canada, Edmonton’s is conveniently located in the geographical centre of the city, making it easy to navigate outward from there. The downtown core is home to the Arts District as and the iconic Churchill Square.
Oliver
Located immediately west of the downtown core, Oliver is one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods. Oliver features both older homes and newer apartment buildings and condominiums, and is one of the densest neighbourhoods in Edmonton. Jasper Avenue, Edmonton’s main street, cuts through Oliver and is lined with shops, restaurants and other amenities.
Cloverdale
Cloverdale has kept its focus on residential, rather than commercial, development, making it one of the quietest neighbourhoods in Edmonton. It is located on the river valley, immediately across the river from the downtown core. In the summer, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is held in Cloverdale, and it is also home to the distinct Muttart Conservatory pyramids and Edmonton’s oldest ski hill.
Boyle Street
The Boyle Street area is one of the oldest parts of the city, and has some of the highest concentrations of old buildings in Edmonton. It lies just east of the downtown core, is very ethnically diverse, and features walk-up apartments and brick buildings. Although the area is largely considered low income, it is currently undergoing redevelopment and the future of the neighbourhood is promising.
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