11 Best Edmonton Neighbourhoods With HOAs or Community Leagues

Edmonton, a city bursting with life and culture, boasts a variety of community leagues and Homeowners Associations (HOAs) that elevate the living experience. These entities play a crucial role in fostering a sense of belonging, enhancing neighbourhood amenities, and ensuring residential satisfaction. They can also help guide those moving to Edmonton to the right neighbourhood. With many options available, pinpointing the best can be daunting, so exploring the top community leagues and HOAs in Edmonton can help shed light on their unique offerings and stand-out features.

HOAs vs. Community Leagues: What's the Difference?

While HOAs and community leagues both provide access to amenities like community centres and recreational facilities, they have different membership requirements, fees, and obligations.

HOAs are common in planned developments, especially those with amenities the city won't maintain. For example, homebuyers will likely find HOAs overseeing Edmonton’s best master-planned communities. Fees are typically around $100 to $200 annually, which goes towards maintaining and improving trails and pathways, fountains, community centres, and recreation facilities like tennis or basketball courts. This fee is tied to the home's title and paid by all neighbourhood residents, regardless of whether they use the community's amenities.

The HOA also makes and enforces rules for the subdivision to help maintain its beauty and property values. Some may provide landscaping and snow removal services to assist with maintenance.

Community leagues are unique to Edmonton, and each neighbourhood in the city can form one. Community leagues receive municipal reserve land from the city government, on which many build parks, community halls, community gardens, and recreational facilities. Some also offer athletics programs, classes, and events like barbecues, garage sales, and movie nights. Membership in community leagues is voluntary and open to anyone in the neighbourhood. Fees are generally much lower than those for HOAs, ranging from free to $40 annually.

Best Edmonton Neighbourhoods With HOAs

Lake Summerside

Lake Summerside is a newer neighbourhood centred on a resort-style lake in southern Edmonton, boasting one of the city's largest and most active HOAs. The community is located near the junction of Highway 2A and Anthony Henday Drive, which makes driving in Edmonton quick and convenient for residents.

Lake Summerside's moniker comes from a city on Prince Edward Island. The Summerside community has a nautical resort vibe, with a private 32-acre lake and a 10-acre park as its main attractions. The neighbourhood's first homes went up in the early 2000s, but construction remains ongoing.

About three-quarters of homes in Lake Summerside are detached homes. Many boast multi-level floor plans with 1,300 to nearly 3,800 square feet of space, one- to three-car garages and spacious lawns. These homes can cost $420,000 to $1.4 million.

The remaining homes are split equally between two-bedroom condos priced in the $200s and two-plus bedroom townhomes priced from $240,000 to $295,000.

HOA fees vary by property, ranging from $432.25 for a standard membership to $1,037.37 for lakefront homes. Lake Summerside is also part of the Horizon Community League, which represents it and five nearby communities.

As for shopping, Market at Summerside offers a grocery store, petrol station, post office, pharmacy, medical and dental care providers, dry cleaning service, and numerous restaurants. Lake Summerside is also home to The Workshop Eatery, a New Canadian restaurant with an open kitchen and a locally sourced, seasonal menu.

Upper Windermere

Upper Windermere offers 615 homes with breathtaking river valley views in the master-planned Windermere neighbourhood, one of Edmonton’s most expensive neighbourhoods.

This Southwest Edmonton community was built in the early 2000s, transforming farmland into a quiet, tree-lined residential development. Windermere takes its name from a town in Cumbria, England. The name's etymology references the area's stunning scenery, which many residents can appreciate from their homes.

Upper Windermere offers varied housing options, but most residences are spacious luxury homes featuring large windows, soaring ceilings, crown moulding, fireplaces, Jacuzzi en-suite baths, maple kitchens, and granite countertops. Craftsman, modern, Tudor revival and split-level are common styles.

Upper Windermere’s share of detached Windermere homes list from the $400s to more than $3 million, while condos range from the high $100s to the $700s. Meanwhile, HOA fees can range from $130 to over $700.

What sets Upper Windermere apart from the rest of Windermere is its Private Leisure Centre, open exclusively to the subdivision's residents and their guests. It offers a heated swimming pool, hard courts, and a playground. It also hosts fitness classes like Zumba and yoga. Upper Windermere is also a member of the Greater Windermere Community League.

Residents enjoy quick access to Windermere's many commercial options. The nearby Windermere Plaza, Windermere Crossing, and Currents of Windermere offer hundreds of shopping, dining, and entertainment options, including grocery stores, pharmacies, and a cinema.

Ambleside

The Ambleside neighbourhood is one of Southwest Edmonton's more walkable communities, with a mix of detached and attached housing options near beautiful parks and dozens of shops and restaurants.

This neighbourhood also takes its name from a small town in Cumbria, England, favoured by tourists for its rich Victorian history. Edmonton approved Ambleside's Neighbourhood Structure plan in 2005, and construction began the year after.

Ambleside features a mix of high, medium, and low-density housing. One- and two-bedroom Edmonton condos list from around $170,000, while one- and two-bedroom townhomes list from the $200s to the $600s. The detached homes can range from two to five bedrooms and 1,253 to 2,765 square feet for $400,000 to $980,000.

The West Ambleside HOA serves part of the neighbourhood. Fees are $50 for attached homes, including condos, townhomes, and duplexes, and $100 for single-household homes. Ambleside is also part of the Greater Windermere Community League.

Ambleside sits just south of Currents of Windermere, a massive shopping and entertainment complex featuring a grocery store, a movie theatre, big box stores, office space, professional services, and a mix of chain and local restaurants like Spartans Greek Taverna and Japonais Windermere.

The Orchards

The Orchards is a sustainability-minded development boasting 98 acres of parkland and mid-sized homes in southeastern Edmonton.

Brookfield Residential began developing The Orchards in 2011. The 733-acre community consists primarily of single-household homes, but buyers can also find some condos and Edmonton townhomes. Craftsman, Tudor revival, and modern styles dominate the neighbourhood. Many of the development's newer homes also have charging stations for electric vehicles.

The neighbourhood’s share of the single-family homes in Edmonton list from $390,000–$725,000 for 1,354 to 2,777 square feet of living space. Meanwhile, two-bedroom townhomes can range from $235,000 to $330,000, and a three-bed, three-bath condo costs about $700,000.

The neighbourhood features a solar-powdered palm tree art installation at its entrance and lush green spaces with fragrant fruit trees and naturalized landscaping that provides a home for local wildlife.

The Orchards Club House is the centre of the community, boasting gardens, a residential tool shed, and recreational facilities. It hosts regular programs like fitness classes, playgroups, book clubs, seasonal events like pumpkin carving, a haunted house, and a winter fest.

HOA fees are $404.24 annually. The Orchards is also part of the Horizon Community League.

The nearby Orchards Gate shopping centre offers a pharmacy, petrol station, specialty shops, and restaurants like Thirsty Camel and Tandoori Kitchen.

Wedgewood Heights

Set above the Wedgewood Ravine, Wedgewood Heights is a tranquil West Edmonton neighbourhood with spacious luxury homes near parks, shops, and restaurants.

Wedgewood Heights saw limited initial development in the 1960s, but most of the neighbourhood's homes were built after 1985, with 72.8% built during the 1990s. This lengthy development cycle means Wedgewood Heights offers a wide range of lot sizes, including some sizable gated estates. However, the community's architectural guidelines help it maintain a pleasant, cohesive aesthetic.

The neighbourhood's moniker comes from the adjacent Wedgewood Ravine, a popular hiking and mountain biking area. Meanwhile, its brick fence-lined streets feature names honouring well-known Edmontonians.

There are almost 500 homes in Wedgewood Heights, offering three-plus bedrooms and at least 2,100 square feet of living space. Prices can range from $525,000 to $4 million.

Meanwhile, the Wedgewood Ravine HOA fees are $450 annually, discounted to $350 if paid early. Unlike other neighbourhoods, the HOA's dues include Wedgewood Ravine Community League membership.

Wedgewood Heights has just one entrance, which is across from a commercial area with a grocery store including a Bento Sushi, a petrol station, specialty shops, services, and restaurants like Vivo Ristorante Westend, an upscale eatery with shareable, large-format portions of Italian comfort food.

Edmonton Neighbourhoods With Community Leagues

Cloverdale

Nestled on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River near Downtown Edmonton, Cloverdale offers a small-town feel with spacious homes, tree-lined streets, and one of the city's oldest community leagues.

Cloverdale is also one of Edmonton's oldest communities, dating to two farms' establishment in the 1870s. The neighbourhood's earliest residential development included the construction of working-class homes on former industrial sites in the early 1900s. Cloverdale was a fully established neighbourhood by 1915, with a school, church, and community league. Construction continued until the 1940s when it stopped entirely. However, another round of building in the 1980s replaced many older residences with larger modern homes.

Single-household homes in Cloverdale range from $420,000 to $900,000 for 722 to 2,310 square feet. Meanwhile, two- and three-bedroom townhomes can cost $340,000 to $405,000, and two-bed, two-bath condos are $225,000 to $385,000.

Membership in the Cloverdale Community League includes access to programs like Sportball, walking club, and book club, events like summer block parties and ping pong nights, and free tickets to the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, a beloved four-day music festival held in Gallagher Park since 1980.

Cloverdale is also home to the Muttart Conservatory, one of Canada's largest indoor botanical collections, and Pioneers Cabin, a rustic log cabin hosting weddings, corporate events, and social celebrations since 1959.

Crestwood

Set between the North Saskatchewan River and MacKinnon Ravine Park, Crestwood features some of the most sought-after luxury homes in Edmonton, excellent river valley views, and one of the city’s oldest and most active community leagues.

When Crestwood was developed in the early 1950s, it was known as Jasper Place and Capital Hill. Most homes in Crestwood were built between the end of World War II and 1960, but the community also has some newer homes.

About 90% of residences in Crestwood are single-household homes, with ranchers, cottages, and modern-style homes as the most common. Floor plans range from 1,079 to 3,102 square feet, with up to six bedrooms and four bathrooms. These homes sit on large lots with mature trees, with many boasting excellent river valley views.

Detached homes cost anywhere from $315,000 to $2.4 million, while a 1,000-square-foot, four-bedroom condo costs around $500,000, and a 1,500-square-foot, two-bedroom townhouse costs about $700,000.

Crestwood Community League was formed in 1917, making it one of the city's oldest. Crestwood also has a long tradition of extravagant winter light displays for YEG Candy Cane Lane each winter.

Crestwood residents enjoy quick access to essential shops and services at Jasper Gates Shopping Centre, which hosts the Mediterranean restaurant Best Donair. Rendezvous Pub, a bustling rock and metal music venue, is also close.

Laurier Heights

Laurier Heights is one of Edmonton's few hilly neighbourhoods, boasting larger-than-average lots, an active community league, and fun local attractions. It’s also home to one of Edmonton’s best parks, Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park.

Laurier Heights is one of Edmonton's first residential neighbourhoods with a curvilinear street layout. It was likely named for the nation's seventh prime minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier. While 58% of residences were built between 1946 and 1960, the remainder are from 1961 to 1970.

Single-household homes in Laurier Heights offer 999- to 2,775-square-foot layouts with three to six bedrooms and two to four bathrooms for $490,000 to $1.8 million. Many have a two-car garage or walkout basement. Split levels and ranchers are common, but the neighbourhood's hilly terrain makes for unique home designs. Many larger lots also boast backyard toboggan hills.

Laurier Heights Community League, established in 1958, offers plentiful events and programming at the community hall and across the neighbourhood, including various sports, playgroups, and an art society.

In the heart of Laurier Heights, a neighbourhood with great access to Edmonton’s public transit system, lies Sweet Pea Café and Playhouse, which offers a plant-based menu and six mini-homes to explore. To the northwest, the two-storey Lynwood Centre has a veterinary hospital, a pharmacy, medical providers, a gym, a florist, specialty shops, and restaurants. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Valley Zoo boasts over 250 animals just east of the neighbourhood.

McKernan

McKernan is a walkable, centrally located neighbourhood with elm tree-lined streets and an active community league.The neighbourhood takes its name from James McKernan, who originally owned the land. McKernan joined the city as part of Strathcona—one of Edmonton’s most walkable neighbourhoods—in 1912, but development did not commence until the 1940s when McKernan Lake was drained and the original McKernarn family farmhouse demolished.

Most low-density housing construction came between 1947 and 1953. Homes in McKernan today are a mix of older bungalows on large lots and newer and larger single-household homes and duplexes that have replaced some of the former.

Split-levels, ranchers, and modern homes dominate McKernan. Many boast large windows, and some also have spacious porches or balconies. While single-household homes and half-duplexes can cost $465,000 to $1.1 million for 1,098 to 2,723 square feet, a three-bedroom townhouse costs around $360,000.

McKernan Community League membership fees range from $10 to $25. The league is very active, hosting various events and programs, including a haunted house and an outdoor playgroup.

The centrally located neighbourhood is near one of the most important schools in Edmonton—and in all of Alberta—the University of Alberta, and several major medical facilities, including Stollery Children's Hospital. It also has several local restaurants, like Mood Café and Coriander Cuisine.

Horse Hill

Horse Hill is a Northeast Edmonton community with sizable estates, an active community league, and some of the best golf courses in Edmonton.

Horse Hill's name first appeared in 1825, owing to the area's use as a guarded pasture for horses from Fort Edmonton in the early 19th century. By the 1880s, much of the area had become farmland. Horse Hill's community league was established in 1972, and Edmonton annexed the area in 1982. When the community was formally established in May 2013, it was planned to have five neighbourhoods.

Single-household homes in Horse Hill feature Craftsman, Tudor, and modern architectural influences. They can sell for anywhere from $330,000 to $1.1 million, while condos typically range from $50,000 to $160,000 and townhomes from $200,000 to $290,000. Meanwhile, lots for new construction homes can cost $280,000 to $600,000.

Horse Hill Community League has about 18,000 members and hosts up to 15 events annually. Its programs include soccer, baseball, free swim time at three locations, and free skating at the Clareview Rec Centre. The organization also oversees the Gorman neighbourhood, which is located just across Anthony Henday Drive from Horse Hill.

While much of Horse Hill comprises residences and farmland, the neighbourhood also has Happy Pizza Bar & Grill and Kuhlmann's, a family-owned flower shop and garden centre.

Find Your Edmonton HOA or Community League

The fabric of Edmonton is interwoven with dynamic community leagues and HOAs, each contributing to the city's vibrant mosaic. Their importance cannot be understated as they continually shape and redefine Edmonton’s best neighbourhoods, enhancing the living experiences for residents. With these insights, one can better navigate the options and align with a community that resonates with their aspirations and values. A thriving community awaits!