It’s the best kept secret in the province! Windsor is a city in transformation and growing; a border city that offers all the benefits of living in a major American city, while offering safety, affordable homes and exceptional quality of life. The advantages of living in Windsor-Detroit are endless. If you’re looking for more space and time for your family and are tired of spending hours in your car commuting, Windsor could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Quality of Life
Safety, accessibility, affordability, diversity and fun; Windsor has something for everyone and is now the place to be in Canada! It’s not just our proximity to Detroit that makes us special. Windsor is a growing city of over 210,000, and committed to being a vibrant destination which celebrates cultural diversity. We work hard and play hard!
It goes without saying that Windsor benefits from being so close to Detroit. For sports fans, there is no better place to live. In Windsor you can enjoy the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and the Windsor Express in the National Basketball League. In Detroit, there are 4 professional sports teams: the Detroit Red Wings (NHL), the Detroit Tigers (MLB), the Detroit Lions (NFL) and the Detroit Pistons (NBA). Being near Detroit means more travel options as well. It’s just a 30 minute drive to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. On top of that, Windsor Airport now offers more destination options than ever before.
Windsor is filled with green spaces with over 209 parks across the city. The crown jewel is the waterfront which is a beautiful five kilometre stretch of greenspace and trails. It’s completely unobstructed with a bike/running/walking trail which is reminiscent of Chicago. There’s also a world famous sculpture garden, which is truly unique and a special way to spend an afternoon. The waterfront also plays host to a number of amazing festivals, which take place every weekend all summer long. The annual Freedom Festival at the end of June features a fireworks display that is considered the biggest and most elaborate in North America!
If you’re coming here from a bigger city, you’ll enjoy driving immensely. The E.C. Row Expressway runs from east to west, meaning you can get across the entire city in just 20 minutes. It will feel like a dream compared to living in places like Toronto.
For those looking for a house of worship you have many options with the Catholic directory of churches, local mosques, and non denominational churches.
There are 2 hospitals, both under the Windsor Regional Hospital banner.
In terms of educating your kids, information on all four board can be found here:
Greater Essex county School Board
Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board
This link will help you find the schools in your new neighbourhood depending on which board you choose.
Culture & Things To Do
Anchored by the waterfront, Windsor’s downtown is thriving with unique businesses and amazing restaurants. Windsor has the only Caesars casino in all of Canada, which offers world class entertainment, dining and gaming all year round. Located in the east end of the city, the WFCU Centre is a swimming venue which is used for both recreation and pro swimming. It recently hosted the 2016 FINA World Swimming Championships. As well, there is a state of the art aquatic complex right downtown, home of the Adventure Bay Water Park and the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre.
The arts are an important part of Windsor with a small but mighty arts scene. The Art Gallery of Ontario sits on the waterfront and houses stunning collections of some of the best Canadian art. The historic Capitol Theatre first opened in 1920 and is still home to all kinds of musical and theatrical performances.
The city is a cycling paradise as it’s completely flat with an extensive trail system. That trail passes through Riverfront Festival Plaza, the location of several popular festivals including: Rib Fest, Windsor Colour Run, Summer Fest, Festival Epicure and the Bluesfest. It’s also the site of one of the biggest fireworks displays in North America, which are shot off at the end of June in a joint presentation with officials in Detroit.
For a smaller city, the city’s diverse population means incredible options for dining. Windsor is known for its Italian, Greek, and Middle Eastern cuisine. Believe it or not, the city is renowned internationally for its pizza!
Local Real Estate
Windsor has an extremely diverse market with homes starting for as low as $50,000 and going as high as $5,700,000. Location plays a huge role in the price, but, as a whole, the market remains incredibly affordable. At the end of 2016 the average home price in Windsor was just under $230,000. The market is heating up in this region as more and more people realize all the benefits of living here.
Employment Opportunities
Windsor has an extremely diverse market with homes starting for as low as $50,000 and going as high as $5,700,000. Location plays a huge role in the price, but, as a whole, the market remains incredibly affordable. At the end of 2016 the average home price in Windsor was just under $230,000. The market is heating up in this region as more and more people realize all the benefits of living here.