8 Best Suburbs of Edmonton

Those considering moving to Edmonton likely have a lot on their minds. One of the most important is where to live. While many love the hustle and bustle surrounding Edmonton homes for sale, others prefer the slower pace and extra space of its many vibrant suburbs. Each has its unique personality and offers different advantages to would-be residents. Keep reading to learn about the best eight suburbs of Edmonton.

St. Albert

Located northwest of Edmonton, St. Albert is one of the city's largest suburbs, with more than 65,000 residents. It was founded in the 1860s by missionaries, and St. Albert's original log church and the Musée Héritage Museum showcased this history. Along with many other town facilities and events, the museum is centred around St. Albert Place, a carefully designed public and cultural space set along the Sturgeon River. St. Albert has a rich arts and culture scene, supported by venues like the Arden Theatre. It's also home to western Canada's largest outdoor farmer's market. The city is just off Anthony Henday Drive and the St. Albert Trail, making car travel into Edmonton and the surrounding area a breeze.

St. Albert real estate spreads over a wide range of prices. For example, modest 1-bedroom condos can sell for the low $100,000s, while larger homes can list for up to $2 million or more. Naturally, this means would-be residents have a choice of a wide variety of housing types (from condos to detached single-family homes) and styles (from bungalows and colonials to more modern designs.)

Sherwood Park

Sherwood Park began as a bedroom community for the area's thriving oil refinery industry. That industry still plays a significant role in the area, but Sherwood Park has blossomed into a full-fledged town in its own right. The city has recently helped develop Centre in the Park, a community that combines homes, commercial space, government services, public space, and more. Sherwood Park homes for sale can cost anywhere from the low $100,000s to $800,000 or more, depending on the desired style and size of the house. About half of homes are detached, single-family dwellings, with the other half split between townhomes, duplexes, condos, and different types of homes.

Sherwood Park's location is also ideal for lovers of both the city and the country. Its western edge borders the Anthony Henday Drive beltway for easy access to all parts of the Edmonton area, while rural and preserved areas like Elk Island National Park are just a short drive to the east. There's also an active community art scene, including Festival Place, which hosts dozens of shows a year.

Royal Gardens

Those seeking a suburb close to the Edmonton core will find what they're looking for in Royal Gardens. Located less than 10 kilometres from downtown, this small community is tucked into just over a square kilometre area along Whitemud Drive NW. The neighbourhood offers a quieter residential enclave and quick and easy access to the many amenities in more built-up surrounding communities. These include the Southgate Centre shopping complex, a high-end mall home to fashion boutiques, other luxury stores, and more traditional offerings. The complex is home to the Southgate LRT station, which provides light-rail transit around the Edmonton area. Residents can also take care of everyday shopping just a short trip away at the many big-box stores along the Gateway Boulevard/Calgary Trail NW corridor.

Royal Gardens real estate prices range from the mid-$300,000s to the mid-$500,000s, though condos and townhouses can sometimes be found around $200,000 or less. The vast majority of residences date back to the 1960s and 1970s and include single-family homes, rowhouses, condos, and various other styles. It's also an appealing neighbourhood for those on a budget - prices can be notably lower than the Edmonton area as a whole.

Fort Saskatchewan

Fort Saskatchewan is set approximately 25 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, along the North Saskatchewan River. As its name implies, it began as a fort to keep order in the area in the late 1800s, a history that's preserved in the Fort Heritage Precinct along the river. This museum and historical site even has its flock of sheep used to cut the grass in the summer! The city was once the site of the provincial prison. These days, Fort Saskatchewan is part of the region's primary industrial and petrochemical industry and provides unique character not found in every Edmonton suburb. The town also offers excellent outdoor recreational opportunities, including more than 75 kilometres of paved, multi-use trails which connect to other regional trails. This has helped establish Fort Saskatchewan's reputation as a hub for provincial trails and even national ones like the Trans Canada Trail.

Fort Saskatchewan real estate presents a variety of housing for all budgets. There are significant numbers of homes available from the mid-$100,000s through the mid-$300,000s. Those looking for larger or luxury homes will also find them from the $500,000s up to over $1 million. More than half of the city's housing stock comprises detached single-family homes, with smaller semi-attached homes, townhouses, and condos.

Leduc

Leduc is the suburb for homeowners looking for a quieter spot removed from the hustle and bustle of the immediate Edmonton area. Still, along the Queen Elizabeth Highway south of the city, it's an easy 35-kilometre commute to downtown. The city bills itself as the "crossroads of air, highway, and rail transportation" due to its location along the CANAMEX trade corridor, near several rail lines, and close to the Edmonton Airport. The oil and gas industry has also been a significant part of the local economy for decades. Leduc especially prides itself on the Leduc Recreation Centre, a more than 300,000 square foot facility with three NHL-sized hockey rinks, an aquatic complex, fitness facility, curling complex, running track, and more. Leduc also has an intense local art scene centred around the Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts, which hosts theatrical and musical performances in its 450-seat theatre.

Most Leduc homes for sale list for between $200,000 and $500,000, with median prices in the high $300,000s. Leduc homes are almost entirely limited to detached single-family or duplex/triplex units, with few condos or other housing types.

Beaumont

Beaumont, another Edmonton suburb located outside the city sprawl, offers a popular spot for those working in Edmonton but desiring a quieter hometown. Recent estimates suggest about half of the town commutes into Edmonton every day. Beaumont even operates its transit service to the nearby Heritage Valley Transit Centre, where commuters can catch other transportation into the city. Even those working in the area or working from home will benefit from Beaumont's upcoming project to massively upgrade its high-speed internet system. Beaumont started in the late 1800s as a small farming community centred around St. Vital Church and only began growing in earnest in the 1970s. The town also hosts the yearly Beaumont Blues and Roots Festival, which has brought a diverse group of musical artists to Beaumont for more than a decade.

The prices of Beaumont homes for sale start in the mid-$200,000s. However, newer, larger, or more finely finished homes can sell for up to $600,000 or more. Homebuyers will find the vast majority of properties are single-family detached houses, with some small townhome developments throughout the community.

Northeast Edmonton

Northeast Edmonton refers to a loosely defined area along the northern and western bank of the North Saskatchewan River, made up of several smaller neighbourhoods like Beacon Heights, Beverly Heights, and Belmont. Thanks to routes like the Yellowhead Highway and Wayne Gretzky Drive, the entire area offers easy commutes around and through Edmonton. Residents also have access to extensive shopping options, from big box stores to luxury stores near the intersection of 137th St and 50th St. Numerous parks are also spread throughout the area, providing green space for all parts of the community. A variety of restaurants are also located along the 118th Avenue corridor.

Northeast Edmonton homes for sale vary widely in price depending on housing style, size, and location, with a median price around $300,000. However, buyers can find luxury and new construction homes as much as $1 million, and some condos are even available as cheaply as the $60,000-$100,000 range! This same diversity applies to the type of homes, ranging from large single-family detached houses to modest studio or one-bedroom condos.

Spruce Grove

The only western Edmonton suburbs to list, Spruce Grove sits just about 15 kilometres outside of the downtown core. The small city prides itself on its well-rounded development, with a robust arts and culture scene, shopping and dining options, and plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. Set between the Yellowhead and Parkland Highways, Spruce Grove residents have easy, direct access to Edmonton and areas to the west. Most of the suburb's commercial development is set along the Parkland Highway, allowing residents to enjoy quiet, residential subdivisions but still be able to have all the city conveniences they need just a few minutes away. In addition, it's home to the TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre, a regional facility that offers hockey rinks, an aquatic centre, a gym, an indoor track, a fitness centre, and more. Spruce Grove's agricultural history is also preserved at the Spruce Grove Grain Elevator Museum.

Average Spruce Grove homes for sale sell from the high $200,000s to the low $400,000s, with some available as cheaply as the high five-figures or as expensive as the $800,000s. About half of the city's homes are single-family detached houses, with the other half split about evenly between duplexes/triplexes, townhouses, and condos.

Picking The Best Edmonton Suburb

With so many incredible and unique communities in the area around Edmonton, it's hard to make a wrong choice. However, would-be residents should consider their preferred style of home, budget, and commute time, as well as their desired amenities in terms of arts, leisure, and outdoor recreation. Whether future Albertans opt for the denser, lively Royal Gardens, the more rural, historic charms of Fort Saskatchewan, or even one of Edmonton's master-planned communities, they'll be prepared for life in the "City of Champions."