The City of Edmonton has been an engine of new home growth in the country, and its surrounding municipalities are growing right along with it.

According to BILD Edmonton Metro (BILD EM), the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is currently the fastest-growing major metro area in Canada. The region’s population has boomed, adding over 187,000 residents since 2021 to reach roughly 1.24 million. “This translates to a massive 3 per cent year-over-year growth rate driven by both international immigration and interprovincial migration,” the BILD EM report says.

Municipalities such as Strathcona County (Sherwood Park), St. Albert, Leduc, and Parkland County are all seeing thousands of new residents as the region pushes outward, it adds.

The report credits the region’s strong affordability as among the main drivers of growth, along with economic opportunity for new residents, and crucial policy streamlining, like the City of Edmonton’s new Zoning Bylaw and permitting processes to accelerate housing development.

Shifting towards satellite communities

Cantiro Development Manager, Lucas Brown, says these satellite communities represent “a shift” in how people are choosing to live. “Buyers no longer have to choose between affordability and lifestyle – or between space and convenience.”

Most now have their own shopping centres, cinemas, recreation complex and, increasingly, more places of work that makes a true life-work balance easier to find. It’s also good to note that all offer a wide range of new home opportunities from single- to multi-family homes.

Land prices are also generally lower in those towns and cities, so homes tend to be less expensive. Although that gap is closing steadily.

Daisy Lieu, Division Marketing Manager at Rohit Communities, says affordability is certainly part of the conversation, but it’s only one piece of the picture.

“People are drawn to the quality of life these areas offer such as quieter and safer streets, strong community identity, neighborly feel and room to breathe, all without sacrificing access to urban conveniences.”

“Safety also plays a role, especially for families,” says Mattamy Homes Vice-President of Sales, David Wan. “There’s also that small town, close knit feel you get in places like Sherwood Park.”

Here’s a snapshot of what are available in the region.

Spruce Grove

Spruce Grove is a lively city just 11 kilometers west of Edmonton. It serves as an excellent choice for buying a home, finding work, and raising a family. Spruce Grove is a perfect blend of business, industry, and community.

Cantiro’s Greenbury and Greenbury Park communities here are the perfect example of fresh opportunities for new home buyers.

“Buyers are increasingly looking beyond Edmonton for a better balance between affordability and lifestyle—and Greenbury delivers both in a proven, established setting,” Brown says.

In Greenbury, buyers can access newer homes, more space, and thoughtful design at a more attainable price point than many established Edmonton neighbourhoods, Brown says. “There’s less congestion, shorter daily drives within the community, and a quieter pace – without sacrificing access to the city.”

He adds that schools, parks childcare, and recreation are already in place. “This isn’t a future promise; it’s a lived experience today.”

Greenbury diverse streetscapes stand out with its New York-inspired brownstones. Front-drive and laned single-family homes are also available.

While Greenbury Park has a mix of townhomes and single-family homes that are perfect for first-time homebuyers as well as move-up purchasers. “As demand shifts toward master-planned communities, Greenbury Park offers the opportunity to get in early in a growing, connected neighbourhood,” Brown says.

It is located in a rapidly expanding part of Spruce Grove, with continued investment in commercial, recreation, and civic infrastructure. This includes Heavy Metal Place, a nearby large-scale recreation and culture facility with arenas, art space and community programming that not only benefit the residents of Greenbury and Greenbury Park but all of Spruce Grove.

“Cantiro plans communities with a long-term view – integrating nature, amenities, and design to support how people actually live,” Brown says. Find out more at cantiro.ca/greenbury.

Sherwood Park

Growth is the abiding promise in Sherwood Park, and it’s bound to grow even more, as there are several ongoing residential developments that make it the perfect place to put down roots in. Mattamy Homes’ Hearthstone and Rohit Communities’ Cambrian are two of the latest and both focus on the easy living appeal of life here.

Cambrian is a 310-acre master-planned community designed around connection to nature with over 8km of walking paths and trails, the ravine-living lifestyle to enjoying the spacious dog park within the community. “With a future commercial amenity, a school site and a new playground to come, it has been a well-received neighborhood for our residents,” Rohit’s Lieu says.

Additionally, Sherwood Park sits just east of Edmonton, so Cambrian residents enjoying a straightforward commute to downtown via Whitemud Drive or Yellowhead Trail.

Coming up in Cambrian, Rohit is working on two streetscape (wide shallow) showhomes for later this year. “This gives prospectives an expanded range of product types that allows for more choice. In addition, Rohit Communities is excited to plan a second playground that will be built for 2027,” she adds. Find out more at liveincambrian.com.

Also in Sherwood Park is Hearthstone. This young Mattamy community has a very neighbourly, welcoming feel. “It’s the kind of place where people spend time outside and connect with each other. You see that at Helen Lavender Park, which has become a natural gathering spot for families, kids and neighbours,” Wan says.

“There are walking trails, open green space and even a small fruit orchard, which adds a bit of character you don’t typically see. Overall, it feels like a close-knit community with a lot of charm and a really strong sense of belonging,” he adds.

Hearthstone is very well connected. It’s about a 25-minute drive to downtown Edmonton and around 20 minutes to Whyte Avenue, with easy access to Anthony Henday Drive and the Yellowhead.

“Closer to home, residents have quick access to everyday amenities at Emerald Hills in Sherwood Park, including shopping, restaurants and services,” Wan says. “Local spots like Greenland Garden Centre are also nearby. Being located between Sherwood Park and Fort Saskatchewan also means easy access to recreation centres, parks and venues like the Dow Centre for events and entertainment.” Go to mattamyhomes.com for more information.

St. Albert

Work-life balance may seem like just another buzzword in the real estate industry, but in St. Albert achieving this ideal lifestyle is its sole purpose. In fact, the life of leisure it promises is why this dynamic, young city just outside Edmonton continues to attract more new homebuyers, and why it has consistently been named as one of the best places to live in Alberta. One community that’s moving this needle is Chérot by Rohit Communities.

“Chérot carries an elevated, European-inspired character that appeals to buyers seeking something unique and with curb appeal,” Lieu says. “It has a quietness and charming feel including the famous Paris-inspired playground and community architecture.”

At Chérot, Lieu points out that the charming streetscape and architectural character gives the community a boutique feel. “Our exclusive French Farmhouse and French Country Modern architectural styles, with steep rooflines, open gables, and rustic stone features to give the streetscape a cohesion and elegance. The one-of-a-kind Paris Playground, featuring a bridge with locks and a 25-foot Eiffel Tower for year-round play – a landmark that for Chérot’s creating something truly memorable.”

Both Cambrian and Chérot, communities have earned industry awards showcasing Rohit Communities’ commitment to quality, a distinction that gives buyers confidence they’re investing in something built to a higher standard. “What Cambrian and Chérot offer are communities designed with a clear identity, not just a collection of lots,” Lieu says. “In both communities, residents enjoy thoughtfully designed streetscapes, a strong sense of belonging, and the kind of pride of place that comes from living somewhere truly well-crafted.

More information for Chérot is available at cherot.ca, and for other Rohit developments, go to rohitgroup.com.