8 Top reasons to move to Saint John, New Brunswick

Located along the coast of the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Saint John is a city steeped in history. It is family-oriented, heritage-proud, and remains a great place to settle a family. Here are the eight top reasons to move to Saint John.

1. Affordability

Housing and rent costs are very reasonable in the city. Average housing prices are in the area of $165,000 and average rents start around $580.

2. Employment growth

Irving Oil is a major employer in Saint John, although tourism (especially from cruise ship visits) and the research and IT sectors are growing significantly.

3. Post-secondary schools

In addition to the basic school system (elementary, junior and high schools), post-secondary education is available at the New Brunswick Community College and University New Brunswick – Saint John campus.

4. Livability

Saint John features all of the basic amenities like banks, churches, hospital services, a public library, and sporting facilities. The Saint John Sea Dogs play out of Harbour Station, which is a professional-sized hockey arena and facility.

5. Beautiful scenery

The streets of Saint John are lined with lovely heritage buildings, and the scenic Loyalist Burial Ground is in the Uptown neighbourhood. The city's surrounding scenery is beautiful, especially the Reversing Falls, Rockwood Park, and the Irving Nature Park.

6. Thriving art Scene

Arts and culture are very popular in the city of Saint John. There are many clubs, programs, and galleries (like Trinity Galleries). The beautifully-restored Imperial Theatre plays host to many concerts, shows, and productions, and the New Brunswick Museum provides a fascinating look into Saint John’s history.

7. Shopping options

There are a lot of shopping options in Saint John. The central neighbourhood, Uptown, boasts many shops and boutiques housed in heritage buildings, as well as the elegant Brunswick Square and Market Square shopping centres. The City Market is a must-see. The northern and western neighbourhoods feature smaller shopping malls and plazas, and East Saint John serves as the city’s shopping district. It includes McAllister Place and big-box store shopping.

8. Great restaurants

There are plenty of dining options in Saint John, such as Grannan’s Seafood (best fried clams in the city), Rocky’s Sports Bar (delicious pub grub), and Romano’s Pizza (a local favourite).

Photos by: Wikimedia Commons, 147 Douglas Ave, John Bessa - Wikimedia Commons, Cusack5239 - Wikimedia Commons, Station Nation, Tourism New Brunwick, Canadian Mosaic, TripAdvisor