Every neighborhood in Montreal has its own unique character. How do young families and recent immigrants choose the best neighborhoods in Montreal? Moving to Montreal and choosing their neighborhood depends on your preferences and specific requirements, So, we list the best Montreal neighborhoods for newcomers.
The various Montreal neighborhoods are covered in the information provided here. Before making long-term commitments in Montreal, wait until you have explored the city more and decided where you want to live. Montreal consistently has affordable homes available.
In the east of the Island of Montreal, francophones are more prevalent than anglophones. Neighborhoods listed in Montreal include those located near the city center as well as those in the commuter corridor of the Greater Montreal Area.
The extensive public transportation system in Montreal includes bus routes and a metro system that is the third busiest in North America.
A number of Montreal neighborhoods are served by this excellent system. For newcomers moving to the west or south of the island of Montreal or to suburbs west of Trudeau International Airport, it may be more challenging to get around without a car. Therefore, more Montrealers are using car sharing for transportation in the suburbs and cities.
The Montreal neighborhoods and rental housing
It is common to discover that there are several apartment complexes that don’t advertise in the media in Montreal’s neighborhoods. The buildings will be adorned with signs announcing open positions. If you’re interested in living in a certain Montreal neighborhood, look for “For rent/à Louer” signs or try contacting the property management company to find out if any apartments are available.
As a rule, Quebecers define houses and apartments based on how many rooms they contain, with bathrooms counting as half of each.
Moving to Montreal: Temporary accommodation
If you need a good, fully furnished short-term rental for the first few weeks and are unsure of what neighborhood you want to live in, make an inquiry with Premiere Suites. In addition to professional management, auditing, and insurance, along with all ready-to-use appliances, many added conveniences, and twice-weekly housekeeping, these rentals are larger than a hotel room. You can stay in Montreal for as little as $115 per night, which is a significant saving compared to hotels!
Best places to live in Montreal for Newcomers
Ville Marie
Downtown Montreal is essentially Ville Marie, where the financial district and major commercial routes are located. The vast Ville Marie neighborhood, situated between the south shore and Montreal Island includes Saint Helen’s Island, Île Notre Dame, and Mount Royal Park.
A vibrant, global community with prestigious colleges and a business center, Ville Marie is the heart of the second-largest city in Canada. Consequently, the population continues to grow. Unlike the western side of Ville Marie, which has skyscrapers along its borders, the eastern side of Ville Marie has a more neighborhood-like feel.
Old Montreal
A large part of the old city of Montreal was located in the Old Port of Montreal, which dates back to the 17th century. A significant part of it is the Old Montreal (Vieux Montréal) historic district. Summer brings thousands of tourists to stroll along the charming pedestrianized streets and riverbanks, enjoying gift shops and numerous historic buildings, including Notre Dame Basilica, which is nearly 200 years old. Even in such a beautiful, historic, and cultural place, there are few family amenities. Young professionals are better off in Old Montreal than families are in any of the other Montreal neighborhoods.
You can easily get anywhere in Montreal by taking the orange Metro line through Old Montreal, and the city center is only a few minute’s walk away.
Griffin town
Griffin town has long been associated with the Irish community of Montreal. Immigrants and settlers arrived by boatloads following the famine, resulting in a boom in immigration and settlement. This Montreal neighborhood is close to the business areas around St. Catherine Street. Notre Dame Street has become a foodie haven as some of the world’s greatest chefs have opened restaurants there.
The closer you get to the Lachine Canal; the more affordable older buildings’ lodging becomes. Several gleaming new condos with prices to match are situated near the city center.
Plateau-Mont-Royal
The majority of artists in Canada are concentrated in this Montreal district, which is northeast of the city center and has a distinctive quality of life. In addition to Boulevard St-Laurent, which runs across the Plateau, Rue St-Denis is another major thoroughfare. There are numerous boutique stores, you-bring-your-own-wine (“apportez votre vin”) restaurants, pubs, and cafes to choose from on the Plateau.
Summertime picnics and ice skating are popular activities in Parc Lafontaine, which is the Plateau’s center. You can easily get downtown by foot, bicycle, bus, or metro if you live in the Plateau. Rent prices have been rising faster on the Plateau than in the city as it has become the place to live. Especially for those who share housing, the Plateau is still affordable.
The Village
Located in The Village, which is also known as The Gay Village, are the vibrant LGBT communities of Montreal. With the arrival of more gay-friendly businesses, the Village, once a working-class neighborhood, began to gentrify. The village’s residents come from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and sexual orientations.
An outdoor shopping area is created along St. Catherine Street, which passes through the Village every summer. The Village begins to come alive at this point.
McGill Ghetto
Although McGill Ghetto is not a ghetto as we know it, it’s sometimes called Milton Park because of the two streets in the neighborhood. Located in a fantastic area, residents can walk under 15 minutes to St-Laurent, Place des Spectacles, a downtown bar, the mountain, or class, using public transportation. During the fall semester, McGill Ghetto students scramble for housing before school starts. In contrast, you would be wise to search for a home nearby if you’re only going to Montreal for the summer. These tenants often sublet their apartments at rock-bottom prices during the summer.
Mile End
Despite being technically part of Plateau-Mont-Royal, Mile End is considered a separate neighborhood in Montreal. The stylish, close-knit, and multilingual Mile End neighborhood was the setting for several novels by Mordecai Richler. During their formative years, William Shatner and Arcade Fire both spent time in this area. Compared to the eastern portions of the Plateau, you will hear more English and Hebrew spoke here because of the Hassidic community’s presence.
In Mile End, which offers some of the best cuisines on the continent, you’ll find some of the best bagels and restaurants. Gentrification resulted in higher rents in the 1990s as the neighborhood has grown wealthier and more popular. The area still has reasonable prices despite this.
Outremont
The neighborhood of Outremont is located on the north side of Mount Royal and west of Mile End and boasts a diverse collection of affluent neighborhoods. Members of the French ex-pat community, the Hasidic community, and upper-middle-class francophone Montrealers comprise these groups. Due to its presence of high-class stores, cafes, restaurants, and parks, Outremont is frequently referred to as a “quality of life” area. Because of good public transportation connections, the area feels more urban than suburban despite being largely hidden from view by the mountain. Despite the high cost of real estate, there are some very affordable month-to-month rentals in the area, especially near the Mile End border.
Little Italy
This small neighborhood is brimming with the best smells, tastes, and traditions of the past. An annual farmer’s market known as Jean-Talon is the highlight of this city.
Compared to other areas within the Montreal Metro system, Little Italy often has affordable rents. Rents in this Montreal neighborhood are lower than in neighboring areas, so newcomers may want to consider living alone there.
Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, a collection of urban Montreal neighborhoods traditionally home to working-class francophones, is comprised of several working-class francophone communities. It is impossible to miss Montreal’s Olympic Stadium while visiting the Botanical Garden, Maisonneuve Market, or the Biodome. The latter attraction allows visitors to see four ecosystems from across the Americas.
Immigrants, students, and people from Québec have formed a thriving neighborhood in the west end of the borough’s Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighborhood. One of Montreal’s lowest average ages can be found here. You can walk from anywhere in the neighborhood to the green Metro line.
Rosemont—La-Petite-Patrie
The Mile End-Park-EX (“Mile-Ex”) intersection and Maisonneuve Park are at the heart of Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie, a large and predominantly francophone neighborhood in Montreal’s east part. As opposed to a single neighborhood, the region is more like a collection of urban towns. There are orange and blue lines running through Rosemont-La Petite Patrie, providing access to the city center and other neighborhoods of Montreal.
Villeray—Saint-Michel—Parc-Extension
The three communities comprise a single borough that stretches roughly from Boulevard Pie-IX in the east to Jarry Park in Parc-Ex, where the Rogers Cup is played each summer by the best tennis players in the world.
Some areas near downtown Montreal, such as Villeray, Saint-Michel, and Parc-Ex, may be less expensive to rent than Mile End, Outremont, and the Plateau.
Saint-Leonard
Some have asserted that Saint-Leonard is the actual location of Montreal’s Italian community, despite Little Italy’s ongoing gentrification. Italian-Canadian organizations and businesses serve the city’s second-largest cultural community. French is the primary language of instruction, Italian at home, and English is the language of interaction for local children.
There are many Italian taverns, cafes, and pastry shops in Saint-Leonard, as well as wide-set, spacious brick apartments and homes. Having an Italian influence in this Montreal neighborhood makes soccer a particularly popular sport. Saint-Leonard’s parks include numerous bocce courts and open-air soccer fields.
Anjou
Near the east side of the Island of Montreal lies Anjou, a predominantly francophone neighborhood. The last stations on the green line of the Montreal Metro are south of Anjou, which has a suburban vibe. Costco is close by, and people come here on weekends to shop.
Ahuntsic-Cartierville
Located along the north shore of the Rivières-des-Prairies facing Laval, the borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville features the two main neighborhoods of Ahuntsic and Cartierville. There were the first Europeans in the Greater Montreal Area in this area.
Luxury homes line the edge of the river in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, one of Montreal’s most tranquil areas.
Mount Royal
TMR stands for Town of Mount Royal, a luxury neighborhood on an island in Montreal. TMR was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 2008 for being an “outstanding example of a planned community in Canada” and for its “remarkable synthesis of urban renewal movements in the early 20th century, as well as its quality of construction and its high level of integrity.”
More than three-quarters of residents of TMR are now bilingual as a result of the influx of francophones in an area that was traditionally anglophone until the 1960s. People in this area have high median incomes. Located in the city’s center, Connaught Park is connected to the town’s edges by four planned boulevards. Additionally, TMR has a commuter train stop on the RTM Deux-Montagnes line, as well as Metro stations nearby.
Côte-des-Neiges
In Côte-des-Neiges, one of the few areas of Montreal without a dominant language, there are more than 100 ethnic communities from different parts of the world. Located on the western slope of Mount Royal, Saint Joseph’s Oratory dominates the skyline and is a top tourist destination. The presence of the Université de Montréal draws a sizable population of students to the area. Due to its size and density, rent costs in Côte-des-Neiges can differ significantly.
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG)
West of downtown Montreal lies the lively NDG neighborhood, which is a great place to live in. As with many Montreal neighborhoods, NDG has recently undergone gentrification due to its brick homes and tree-lined streets. NDG is divided in half by the Décarie Expressway, with the western half of the city speaking French and the eastern half speaking English. It is Monkland Avenue, which is the heart of NDG’s social life, with bars, restaurants, cafes, and shops for everyone’s taste. While the western side of NDG is somewhat distant from the Metro station, the 105-bus route serviced the entire neighborhood, including Vendome Metro station as well as Sherbrooke Street.
Hampstead
In contrast to the surrounding areas, Hampstead possesses a distinct character because it is a separate municipality from Montreal. Compared to the national average salary in Montreal, this neighborhood’s median salary is around 40% higher. About 90% of people in Hampstead prefer to communicate in English, making it one of Montreal’s most anglophone neighborhoods.
Montreal-Ouest
Located along Westminster Avenue, Montreal Ouest (also known as Montreal West) is a vibrant neighborhood with a strong English-speaking community. In addition to its charm and sense of community, the area is home to many independently owned small businesses.
Metro stations are not located in Montreal Ouest; however, six bus lines pass through the area. The area west of downtown Montreal is also connected to the island by a commuter train station.
Côte Saint-Luc
Côte Saint-Luc is home to approximately 40% of Jewish residents, who primarily speak English. It was in this area that William Shatner grew up. Having been home to generations of immigrants, the area has many eateries to suit every taste. Compared to neighboring cities, Côte-Saint-Luc may have cheaper rent.
Westmount
Rich anglophones have ruled Westmount, a municipality at the foot of Mount Royal, since the eighteenth century. Despite its fierce independence, the borough still has a snooty air. St-Catherine Street becomes a little more normal as you move away from Summit Circle. In addition to large parks, fashionable shops, and exclusive private schools, Westmount also has more affordable housing near the Ville-Marie Expressway at its southern end, near the Vendôme Metro station. Immigrants who can live the traditional Westmount lifestyle are attracted to the city’s traditional way of life.
Saint-Henri
It was considered the antithesis of its Neighbour Westmount, a historically French-Canadian, Irish, and black working-class neighborhood in Montreal before gentrification took hold. The Atwater Market is a large farmers’ market nearby, and downtown is easily accessible.
Verdun
It was once devoid of nightlife but now has an expanding restaurant and club scene as more restaurants and clubs open along the green Metro line. Verdun is a secure, cheap neighborhood in Montreal located near the green Metro line. A parcel of land southwest of Verdun, as well as Nun’s Island, lies within the city limits.
Allophones, or those who do not speak either English or French as their first language, make up a sizable minority in Verdun, where English has historically been the main language. As gentrification has allowed people to migrate from other parts of the city, Verdun has shed its reputation for crime and has become a quiet, peaceful place to live. Verdun is a fantastic alternative if you want to live close to other young families but are on a limited budget or don’t want to live in the suburbs. Apartments and rooms can be found for a low price.
LaSalle
Approximately 75,000 people live in the LaSalle neighborhood of Montreal. There is a pretty even distribution of French, English, and other languages among Lasallians. Despite the fact that most of them are bilingual.
Between LaSalle and the neighboring city of Verdun is Angrignon Park, a sizable urban park with 20,000 trees and winding pathways. It is modeled after English gardens from the 19th century. There are two more points of interest in the area, including the Lachine Canal and Angrignon Mall. There are some stunning views of the south side of the Saint Lawrence River from the southern regions of LaSalle.
Lachine
There are two neighborhoods of Montreal called LaSalle and Dorval and Lachine is located at the inlet of the Lachine Canal. While Lachine lacks a Metro station, it has a commuter train that passes through, making up for some of this.
Due to the abundance of public schools serving the French- and English-speaking populations in Lachine. The city is home to a large number of young families. In Lachine, you can buy a home for a cheaper price than in many other Montreal neighborhoods. But you may not find as many bars, cafes, and restaurants as you would in other areas.
Pointe-Saint-Charles
Pointe-Saint-Charles, with its scenic location between the Saint-Lawrence River and the Lachine Canal, draws new inhabitants looking to live close to lovely open spaces without compromising accessibility to the city core.
Since many new housing units were built in Pointe-Saint-Charles in 2002, industrial structures have been converted into business incubators, lofts, and condominiums, and the Lachine Canal was reopened for recreational and tourism use in 2002, it has become one of Montreal’s most attractive neighborhoods.
West Island
Located in the western part of Montreal’s Island of Montreal. The West Island is a collection of communities collectively known as the West Island. Aside from St. Anne-de-Bellevue and Point-Claire, these neighborhoods are also home to wonderful towns. As well as Kirkland, Pierrefonds, and Dollard-des-Ormeaux, there are many other communities nearby.
There are many English-speaking neighborhoods in the West Island of Montreal and throughout the province, not only in Montreal. Bilingual West Islanders have become more common than monolingual West Islanders in the past.
It is crossed by the 20 and 40, two major thoroughfares that run through the West Island. As a result, finding a work-life balance without a car is challenging in West Island. It does not have access to the Montreal metro system.
Laval
It is located north of Montreal Island and is considered to be an independent city. Even though it is technically part of the Greater Montreal Area. The total population of Laval, which is divided into 14 municipalities, is about 423,000. More than 25% of this group is made up of immigrants.
Highways, two Montreal Metro stations, and other modes of public transportation are all accessible to Laval residents. Previously regarded as a commuter town, Laval’s economy has recently diversified, now focusing on technology, pharmaceuticals, industrial, and retail industries. Pharmaceutical research facilities can be found in Laval, in addition to stone quarries and a thriving agricultural industry.
South Shore
There are a number of suburbs along the southern shore of the Saint Lawrence River, across from Montreal Island, that are collectively referred to as The South Shore. Over 750,000 people live in this territory, with approximately 250,000 of them living in Longueuil. It is directly opposite the downtown core of Montreal. Newcomers are especially welcomed in Brossard, where at least one percent of the population comes from more than 23 different ethnic groups.
Through four bridges and a tunnel that crosses the Saint Lawrence, residents of the South Shore can travel quickly to both downtown Montreal and the Island of Montreal. The Montreal Metro serves Longueuil as well.
Conclusion
Montreal offers something and somewhere for everyone and every family, regardless of age or income. Depending on your objectives, your budget, proximity to the center of Montreal or your workplace, open spaces, or any other criteria may be an important consideration when choosing where to live in Montreal. West Island and South Shore are less crowded neighborhoods for families, whereas NDG is. The Plateau is a more popular neighborhood for young individuals, couples, and students.
