Abbotsford has been given a low ranking in a recent study listing Canada’s best places to live.
MoneySense Magazine examined 190 Canadian cities and placed the Abbotsford-Mission CMA (Census Metropolitan Area) 174th overall, one position higher than Chilliwack.
The rankings were created by examining several categories, including housing prices, population growth, cultural opportunities and household income. Each category was assigned a maximum number of points. According to the magazine’s website, by adding the points in all categories, a “comprehensive data-driven snapshot of the benefits and drawbacks” of a community can be measured.
While Abbotsford-Mission finished close to the bottom of the overall list, there were some high marks. The area ranked 14th overall for population growth, 56th overall for discretionary income and 90th for household income.
However, the area also ranked 179th for new cars (2009-2011 models) which promote better emissions, 172nd for percentage of people walking or biking to work, and 157th for affordable housing.
Other categories included doctors per 1,000 people (153rd), jobless rate (152nd) weather (134th), culture (128th) and low crime (113th).
While the numbers can be considered unflattering, Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman said he is taking them with a grain of salt.
“Basically, what it does is it says there is room to improve, and I agree,” said Banman.
One category, the availability of affordable housing, puts the area near the bottom of the rankings.
However, Banman suggested that shows the city is a desirable place to live, otherwise housing prices would be lower.
“People definitely want to live here.”
He also said some of the categories, like the ability to bike and walk to work, will change over time.
“That will improve. As we build up versus out, that will improve.”
Other areas are beyond the city’s control.
“We can’t do much about the weather.”
He also said the ranking system is subjective.
Last year, the same study ranked Abbotsford-Mission in 165th place.
The top five cities according to the list are Ottawa, Burlington and Kingston, all in Ontario, followed by Halifax, N.S. in fourth and Regina, Sask. in fifth.
The highest-ranked B.C. city was Saanich, which placed 15th.
The worst city, in 190th place, was New Glasgow, N.S. which finished just below Williams Lake, B.C. in 189th.
To view the entire list, visit www.moneysense.ca.
