Community Profile

Photo credit Paul WashHistory on the waterfront, cultural amenities, world renowned colleges and universities and cutting-edge research - these are just a few of the reasons that Kingston is generating buzz and is home to breakthrough ideas and healthy lifestyles.

How We Measure Up:

Kingston has consistently been ranked an outstanding Canadian city. 

  • 3rd Best Place to Live
    (Moneysense Magazine, 2009)
  • Best Canadian Hotspot for Young, Talented Workers in the "Mighty Micro" Population
    (Next Cities™ Report)
  • 3rd Most Sustainable City
    (Corporate Knights)
  • 2nd Most Healthy Downtown
    (Journal of American Planning Assoc.)
  • Most Walkable City in Ontario
    (Stats Canada)
  • Smartest Workforce in  Canada with most PhD graduates per capita
    (Stats Canada)
  • 1st Canadian City to adopt protocol for sustainable energy procurement

General Overview:

 Population (2006)
- 25th largest census metropolitan area in Canada		 152,358

 Unemployment Rate (November, 2009)
- consistently one of the lowest unemployment rates in country

      6.2%
 Median Family Income (2006) $69,051
 Real GDP at basic prices (2008 - $millions)     5,146
 CPI (2008 - percentage change)      2.3%
 Retail Sales ( 2008 - $millions)    1,767
 Total Building Permits ( 2008 - 000s)304,040
 Total Housing Starts (2008 - 000s)        0.7
 Average Commute to Work (2006)   5.9km

Canada's Most Sustainable City:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you add our rankings with our enviable lifestyle, diversified economy, and talented workforce, you can see why Kingston´s charms are setting national standards. Kingston has also gained international recognition with UNESCO´s newest World Heritage Site designation of the Rideau Canal, Fort Henry National Historic Site and Kingston fortifications and our region is also recognized as part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves with the Frontenac Arch Biosphere. 

Kingston - a great place to visit, live and work, and do business!