{"id":2661,"date":"2020-04-24T15:08:18","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T19:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paradisedevelopments.com\/blog\/?p=2661"},"modified":"2023-08-23T13:57:02","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T17:57:02","slug":"top-6-reasons-for-living-in-aurora","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paradisedevelopments.com\/blog\/communities\/top-6-reasons-for-living-in-aurora\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 6 Reasons for Moving To and Living in Aurora"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Thinking about living in Aurora, Ontario? You\u2019re not alone. Aurora is considered<\/a> York Region\u2019s best place to live — and for good reason. In this post, we\u2019ll take a look at all the perks of living in Aurora, including recreation, quality of life, and affordability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How far is Aurora from Toronto?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Aurora Town Hall<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aurora lies within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). But how far is Aurora from Toronto?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two cities are just under 50 kilometres apart. That\u2019s about a 40-minute drive on the 404. It\u2019s not uncommon for people living in Aurora to make that commute to work daily. If that\u2019s a bit of a stretch for you, keep reading to learn about the many employment opportunities that exist in Aurora.
Also keep in mind that Aurora is close to several other great cities like Pickering<\/a>, Brampton<\/a>, and Whitby<\/a>, all of which offer employment and travel opportunities of their own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in Aurora: A Brief History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In 1793, Canada\u2019s Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe called for Yonge Street to be extended<\/a> all the way to Holland Landing, a small community near Aurora. That was the beginning of residential development in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 1801, a small community of 14 homes<\/a> had sprung up. It wasn\u2019t until 1863, however, that Aurora was officially incorporated<\/a> as a village. It became a town<\/a> in 1888 and has since become a central part of the Greater Toronto Area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson grew up here in the 1960s<\/a> and you\u2019ll find plenty of historical relics detailing Canada\u2019s rich history going back centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Aurora, Ontario has a population<\/a> of roughly 53,000 people. While this makes it one of the smaller cities in the GTA, Aurora has a whole lot of character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 Reasons Why Living in Aurora is so Great<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

#1. Enjoy Not One But Two <\/strong>Fantastic Lakes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lake Ontario<\/a> lies south of Aurora while Lake Simcoe<\/a> is to the north. While Lake Simcoe is not formally one of the Great Lakes<\/a>, you\u2019d never guess it based on the recreational activities and stunning scenery that surround it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around Lake Simcoe, you\u2019ll enjoy several exciting trails<\/a>, picnic spots, and conservation areas stretching all the way around to cities like Innisfil, Barrie, and Shanty Bay. The lake even houses Georgina Island<\/a>, a Native reserve that you can visit to learn more about the history of Canada\u2019s Indigenous Peoples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2. You\u2019ll Find Lots of Quirky Local Shopping in Aurora, Ontario<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One major perk of living in a relatively small city is that you have a much more interesting shopping experience than you\u2019d find at big box stores in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for a unique culinary experience, for example, head to La Jolie Cheese Shop<\/a>, which is considered one of Ontario\u2019s finest boutique cheese locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On historic Main Street<\/a>, you\u2019ll find a great collection of locally-sourced items ranging from decorations to specialty wall paint, spas, and clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3. The Cost of Living in Aurora, Ontario is Very Reasonable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to Numbeo<\/a>, Aurora has a substantially lower cost of living than Toronto. Renting a three-bedroom apartment, for example, will cost you an average of $1,700 compared to Toronto\u2019s exorbitant $2,650. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basic groceries like beef, meanwhile, are as much as 48% cheaper in Aurora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking to buy a property?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houses for sale in Aurora<\/a> have an average cost of $679,45 according to Point 2 Homes.<\/a> In Toronto, the average house price<\/a> is a staggering $1.04 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make a long story short, your money goes a lot further in Aurora than in other parts of the GTA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4. Wages Are Higher in Aurora, Ontario Too<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite the cost of living in Aurora being much lower than elsewhere in the GTA, people typically earn more here. Numbeo lists the average post-tax monthly salary as $5,693.33 compared to just $3,945.59 in Toronto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These two factors (low costs of living combined with higher income) mean you can expect a much greater quality of life in Aurora than in Toronto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#5. There Are Several Large Companies in Aurora, Ontario<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As land in Toronto becomes scarcer, many major companies have turned to other parts of Southern Ontario (including Vaughan<\/a>) for new offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Companies in Aurora, Ontario include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n