UPDATED: JANUARY 2025
One of the biggest challenges when relocating to Halifax, Nova Scotia is choosing the right neighbourhood and finding a home that fits your needs. If you’re moving with a family, especially with school-aged children, you’ll want to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible for everyone.
Starting your children in school only to have to move again can be disruptive, so it’s crucial to carefully research the neighbourhoods you’re considering. By narrowing down your options based on what’s most important to you, you’ll be setting your family up for a successful transition.
This advice is relevant for everyone moving to Halifax, whether you have children or not.
When we decided to relocate to Halifax, we knew we needed an area with excellent schools, a safe and friendly community, and access to ample space and land. We wanted to be close enough to amenities but still have that peaceful, suburban lifestyle. It was important for us to find a home with enough room for our three kids and to be within reasonable distance of major highways.
After a lot of research and a quick fact-finding trip in May 2006, we fell in love with one of the communities here, and even 18 years later, we still love where we live (sometimes, I still pinch myself in disbelief about how lucky we are).
Of course, your list of priorities might look completely different. Maybe you prefer to be closer to the downtown core for work or study, want a more established neighbourhood with nearby amenities, or need easy access to public transportation. Your unique needs and wants will guide your decision-making process when relocating to Halifax.
With so many great neighbourhoods in this city, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the options. But by carefully considering what you truly want and need, narrowing down your choices will become a lot more manageable. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before making the move to Halifax.
Type of house:
- Decide on the type of neighbourhood that suits your lifestyle—whether it’s a quiet suburban area, a vibrant urban area close to amenities and entertainment, a semi rural setting offering a balance of nature and convenience, or a countryside setting with wide open spaces
- Determine what type of house you want (single family home, townhouse, apartment, lakefront etc.)
- Consider the size of the home (how many bedrooms? how many bathrooms? garage? large yard?)
Identifying what’s important to you can help me guide you towards the perfect neighbourhood uniquely suited to you. Check out this Relocating to Halifax Neighbourhood Guide for a comprehensive list of communities that will give you an idea of the make-up of each neighbourhood including schools that you can then check out and review as part of your research.
Here are some of the tips that helped us the most when I was relocating to Halifax and choosing a place to live.
1. Affordability
No matter what your pay is or is going to be, living comfortably and within your means should be your first concern when relocating to Halifax. Affordability includes more than just housing expenses; the prices for consumable goods, like groceries, utility services, electric, water, taxes etc all need to be taken into consideration too. Affordability should be a top priority when relocating to Halifax. It’s very easy to get carried away buying a home much larger than you probably really need, but bear in mind the upkeep and expenses that go along with owning a larger home.
2. Commute Time and Public Transport
The length of your commute can play a big role in choosing the right neighbourhood when relocating to Halifax.
Having commuted in Cardiff for years, I can confidently say you couldn’t pay me enough to do that again! Thankfully, commuting in Halifax is generally manageable, with only occasional congestion during peak hours—though it’s becoming more challenging as the population grows and traffic increases, so bear this in mind when choosing a neighbourhood.
That said, public transportation here isn’t as streamlined or efficient as in some medium-sized cities—but improvements are on the horizon! While we don’t have light rail or trains, we do have two ferry routes connecting Dartmouth to downtown Halifax, with three more planned in the future. The bus system is fairly reliable and affordable, making it a practical option for getting around—and even for helping your kids get to where they need to be if you’re unavailable.
If good public transportation is a top priority for your move, be sure to add it to your “must-have” list when deciding where to settle in Halifax. It can make all the difference!The length of time it takes to get to work can be a determining factor in the decision to move to a new neighbourhood when relocating to Halifax.
3. Choosing the Right School
Halifax has some fantastic public schools and several really well established and reputable private schools. If you have children, this is probably one of the first considerations when looking for a good neighbourhood to live when relocating to Halifax.
You can check out the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) to learn more about the individual community schools and email the Principal with any questions you may have. Another factor to consider is how your child will get to school.
Is there public transportation?
Can they walk?
Is it safe?
How far is it to drive?
Also, is there a before and after school care program (called EXCEL)?
When you start to narrow down your search to certain communities, you can then get a feel for the housing types and prices in that area. That’s where I can help.

When relocating or immigrating to a new city, having a trustworthy Real Estate Agent by your side is essential. You need someone who will be your eyes and ears, someone who truly has your best interests at heart. Having gone through the relocation process to Halifax myself, I can offer firsthand knowledge of what it’s really like—both the highs and the challenges.
If you’re still unsure or feeling a little uncertain (which is totally normal), I’d be happy to chat and help you create a list of homes in various Halifax neighbourhoods. There’s no commitment or obligation, but it will give you an idea of what’s available, along with price points and expected expenses.
The best way to truly get a feel for an area is to visit in person. If possible, I always recommend a research trip to Halifax before making the move. Not only will this help you explore different neighbourhoods, but it will also give you the chance to do some house hunting firsthand.
If a visit isn’t feasible, we can still make it work. I can provide video tours of homes and neighbourhoods through video calls. While video tours are a great start, there are things like smells, sounds, and that gut feeling you get when you visit in person that can’t be captured on camera. But it’s certainly a great way to begin the process.
As your move date becomes clearer, I’ll continue to update you on suitable properties and even help you find a rental if you need one temporarily. Rest assured, I’m here to guide you every step of the way in your relocation to Halifax!

I really hope this helps with your relocating to Halifax research. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have and we will do our best to help in any way.
In the meantime, you might find these articles helpful:
Relocating to Halifax, Nova Scotia: A Guide to Halifax Neighbourhoods
Relocating to Halifax, Nova Scotia: What’s it Like Living in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Relocating to Halifax, Nova Scotia: A Guide to Buying a Halifax Home