Life in Kingston

Enjoy Life in Kingston, Ontario, Canada

  • Kingston is recognized as a Top City for raising a family (Today's Parent), and Best Canadian Hotspot for young, talented workers (Next Cities) as well as one of the best places to be a woman in Canada (2019 Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives).  
  • Striving to be one of the most sustainable cities in Canada. Queen's University, the City of Kingston and various businesses are partners in the "Kingston Protocol for Sustainability"
  • Ranked in the top 3 Best Small Cities to live and work in Canada in 2022 

Kingston City Hall just before sunset.

Here's what else makes Kingston a great place to live and work:

  • A comfortable size (147,000 residents in the region, 123,363 in the City)
  • Most walkable/cyclable city in Ontario
  • Location on the shores of beautiful Lake Ontario, by the scenic Thousand Islands, the St. Lawrence River, and Rideau Canal with Fort Henry World Heritage Site
  • A historic downtown with diverse and eclectic cultural offerings, entertainment and festivals year-round. Independent merchants offer interesting specialty and boutique shopping
  • Lots of dining choices to explore and taste farm-to-table cooking
  • Exceptional outdoor recreational experiences within minutes of the Queen's campus
  • Affordable housing choices in safe, attractive neighbourhoods
  • An excellent public school system with many choices
  • The advantages of much larger cities with the lifestyle of a small city. 15 minutes is considered a long commute...

See Kingston's historic downtown via a webcam pointed at the market square featuring a skating rink in winter, and Canada's oldest Farmer's Market in the warm season.

Visit City Hall and find out everything you need to know about being a resident of Kingston.