10 Reasons to Move to Lethbridge in 2024

Lethbridge is in the south-central region of Alberta, close to the US border and the Rocky Mountains. Its prime location makes it a central hub for transportation and business in southern Alberta. The city has experienced significant population growth in the past two decades and currently has around 100,000 residents, making it the fourth-largest city in Alberta. While an underrated city, Lethbridge has a lot to offer newcomers.

Before we dive deeper into why you should think about moving to the Alberta town, let’s look at the state of the Lethbridge real estate market.

Snapshot of Lethbridge Housing Market

According to the Lethbridge and District Association of REALTORS (LDAR), the total home price average in July was $391,104, up more than 19 per cent compared to the same time a year ago. Here is a breakdown of the different residential categories:

• Detached: +14.6 per cent to $438,325
• Semi-Detached: +3.4 per cent to $342,526
• Townhome: +6.7 per cent to $272,583
• Apartment: +8.7 per cent to $187,039

Sales activity held steady, rising nearly two per cent year-over-year, totalling 199 units. Additionally, new listings climbed more than eight per cent to 238 units, while active listings plunged 15.7 per cent year-over-year to 375 units. The number of months of supply, which measures the number of months it would take to exhaust current inventories at the present rate of sales activity, fell 17 per cent to 1.88.

The Lethbridge housing sector continues to seesaw between a buyers’ market and a sellers’ market.

10 Reasons to Move to Lethbridge in 2024

Now, let’s learn about some of the reasons you should consider moving to Lethbridge.

1. Beautiful Moderate Climate

One of the big things that draw newcomers to Lethbridge is its moderate climate, which is made possible by the proximity of the Rocky Mountains. It can sometimes be very windy, with warm summers and mild winters. During the winter, warm winds blow in from the mountains, bringing mild temperatures and melting snow. The 320-plus days of sun per year make Lethbridge one of Canada’s sunniest cities.

2. Low Cost of Living

Compared to Alberta’s two major cities, Calgary and Edmonton, Lethbridge is a considerably cheaper city in which to live. According to the government of Alberta, the average weekly earnings in the city are $1,268, while the average cost of living comes in at $1,530 per month. Reasonable home prices are another major factor that drives individuals and families to move to Lethbridge since they are generally a fraction of the price of homes in Calgary and Edmonton. Lethbridge ranked 6^th on the top places to invest in real estate in Alberta by the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN).

3. Quality Education

In addition to its five high schools and four middle schools, Lethbridge is home to two post-secondary institutions. The University of Lethbridge is the largest, known for its leading research programs and more than 200 degrees, diplomas, and certificate courses, including graduate programs. Lethbridge College was the first publicly funded community college in Canada and has transfer agreements with other Alberta universities so that students can continue their studies if desired.

The two institutions account for about 20 per cent of the city’s population during the school year since many move in from outside of town.

4. Abundant Job Opportunities

Lethbridge is the central hub of Southern Alberta and has plenty of opportunities in various industries. Of Lethbridge’s top ten employers, nine are in health care, education, and government services (the tenth is in freight transportation), and these account for more than 13,000 jobs in Lethbridge, about 20 per cent of employed residents. As an agricultural and manufacturing hub, Lethbridge is also a good place to move for work in other key industries like agri-food, manufacturing, and logistics.

5. Lack of Traffic

Lethbridge provides residents with a comfortable small-town vibe. Most essential services are conveniently located where you live. Even if you want to travel to the other side of the city, it will not result in bumper-to-bumper traffic. It may take about 15 minutes to get to any corner of Lethbridge. That said, Lethbridge maintains plenty of biking and pedestrian infrastructure if driving is not your thing. While it has fallen short on the public transit file, the city has begun investing more in public transportation to support its growing population.

6. Proximity to Other Areas

Lethbridge is in a prime location for access to other landmarks. Calgary is only a two-hour drive north by car, and many residents enjoy the convenient access to its larger businesses. Going south, the border is only an hour’s drive before crossing into Montana. The Rocky Mountains are about a 90-minute drive west, where many residents enjoy camping, hiking, skiing, or simply enjoying the crisp mountain air. While Waterton National Park is the most common tourist location, the Crowsnest Pass is also a beautiful location to visit in the Rockies. Just remember your winter tires if you want to cross into BC during the winter months!

7. Abundance of Recreational Activities

Within the city of Lethbridge, there is always something to do and enjoy. The city has an independent business culture, including some notable eateries like Two Guys and a Pizza Place, featured on Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here! Residents are big supporters of their baseball and hockey teams, the Lethbridge Bulls and the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Lethbridge has an active arts scene with its own symphony orchestra, local theatre groups, and music concerts that host major artists like Bryan Adams, Styx, and Three Days Grace.

8. Safety First!

Lethbridge is attractive because it enjoys a relatively low violent crime rate. This makes the city a safe place to live for families, which is welcomed news at a time when crime rates are rising across the country. Statistics Canada’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) report showed that Lethbridge fell in the national crime rankings in 2023. Additionally, Lethbridge Police Service Deputy Chief Gerald Grobmeier told Global News that crime was down 25 per cent in the first half of 2024.

“Officials say lower crime levels mean police will be able to focus their front-line personnel on areas that need it the most, such as Lethbridge’s downtown area,” the news network reported.

9. Tolerating Winters

Yes, let’s be honest: Winters are extremely cold in Lethbridge. It is so cold that even polar bears wear sweaters and two layers of winter coats. However, this is important because the city adequately prepares and manages the frigid temperatures. Officials and residents will not be blindsided by -30 degrees Celsius weather. Even in Canadian cities where it hardly cracks the negative teens, the population can be stumped!

10. New Housing Construction Activity

While home prices have been steadily increasing, the Lethbridge real estate market might provide some relief to prospective homebuyers as new housing construction activity has remained strong this year. In the first seven months of 2024, housing starts have tripled to 301 units, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Lethbridge Is a Prime Destination

There are many features that make Lethbridge an ideal place to live. It has a reasonable cost of living compared to other parts of Canada, a strong economy, and plenty to see and do while still having the feel of living somewhere small and intimate.

Ready to explore Lethbridge, or another part of the country? Click below to find a RE/MAX agent near you.