Comparing Neighbourhoods — Montréal

CMHC's study compares different types of neighbourhoods located in the Montréal region, based on their proximity to downtown and the types of homes they offer.

Source: Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood types were defined by establishing consistent thresholds for housing types, using data from the 2001 Census. Area boundaries (e.g. central area vs. inner or outer suburbs) were based on definitions established by the Transportation Association of Canada's Urban Indicator Survey project and refined through discussions with local municipal staff.

Neighbourhood Types

Neighbourhoods in the central area that offer homes consisting of mostly high- and low-rise apartments and condominiums, like Plateau Mont-Royal, Milton Park, Old Montréal and Côte-des-Neiges.

Neighbourhoods in the central area that offer a mix of housing types, like parts of Westmount and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.

Photo credit: Ville de Montréal

Photo credit: Ville de Montréal

Neighbourhoods in the inner suburbs that offer a mix of housing types*, like Rosemont - La Petite-Patrie, Côte-Saint-Luc and Hampstead.

Photo credit: Ville de Montréal

Photo credit: Ville de Montréal

Neighbourhoods in the inner suburbs that offer homes consisting of mostly single-detached houses, like Pointe-Claire and Kirkland.

Photo credit: Ville de Montréal

Photo credit:Ville de Montréal

Neighbourhoods in the outer suburbs that offer a mix of housing types**, like Vieux-Longueuil and Chomedey.

Photo credit: Ville de Longueuil

Neighbourhoods in the outer suburbs that offer homes consisting of mostly single-detached houses, like Châteauguay and Repentigny.

Photo credit: Ville de Châteauguay

* Also refers to the most compact neighbourhoods of the inner suburbs.
**Also refers to the most compact neighbourhoods of the outer suburbs.

How do different Montréal neighbourhoods compare:

• What were the monthly costs to rent or own a home in 2001?
• How many rooms are there in the homes?
• How close are the homes to schools, jobs and other daily destinations, so people can choose how to get there (for example by walking, biking or using public transit)?
• Do people get by with fewer cars or do they drive less, which can lead to saving money?
• Do people reduce greenhouse gas emissions by driving less? 
• Is there a range of housing choices available, so people can remain in the neighbourhood as their needs change?

What were the monthly costs to rent or own a home in 2001?

For owners, average monthly housing costs were lowest in outer suburban neighbourhoods like Vieux-Longueuil and Châteauguay. Costs for owners were highest in the central area, in neighbourhoods like Westmount. For renters, costs were highest in central area neighbourhoods offering a mix of housing, like Westmount. But given that a higher percentage of people rented in central area neighbourhoods where homes are mostly high-and low-rise apartments, like Plateau Mont-Royal, the overall housing costs were lowest there. Overall housing costs were highest in the central area neighbourhoods offering a mix of housing, like Westmount.

Average monthly housing costs

Data is from the 2001 Census, Statistics Canada, and has not been adapted to reflect inflation. It includes rent for renters; for owners, it includes mortgage payments, utilities, property taxes and condo fees. Monthly mortgage payments for identically priced homes today may differ significantly depending on date of purchase and other variables in individual homeowners' mortgage situations.

Photos and descriptions of these types of neighbourhoods

Did you know that if you drive about 18,000 km per year, it costs on average over $9,000 annually to own and operate a car in Canada? If living in a more pedestrian/public transit-oriented development enables you to get by with one less car, think of the savings.

But consider your transportation costs. People living in more central neighbourhoods, like Plateau Mont-Royal, Milton Park, Westmount and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, drive less and own fewer cars than those in suburban neighbourhoods, like Châteauguay and Repentigny.

How many rooms are there in the homes?

Suburban neighbourhoods with mostly single-detached homes, like Pointe-Claire and Châteauguay, offer more space in terms of number of bedrooms and total rooms, than central area neighbourhoods typified by high- and low-rise apartments, like Plateau Mont-Royal and Milton Park. However, some sections of the central area, like parts of Westmount and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, offer homes that have a comparable number of rooms to suburban areas.

For many residents living in the urban core, a smaller home is a worthy trade-off for being closer to amenities like parks and shopping.

Average number of rooms

Data is from the 2001 Census, Statistics Canada.
*excludes bathrooms, halls and vestibules

Photos and descriptions of these types of neighbourhoods

How close are the homes to schools, jobs, parks and other daily destinations?

Homes in more centrally located neighbourhoods, like Plateau Mont-Royal, Milton Park and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, are closer to daily destinations like jobs, schools, parks, as well as shopping and entertainment, than they are in suburban neighbourhoods, like Châteauguay, Repentigny and Pointe-Claire.

Walking, cycling and using public transit are more feasible when these destinations are close to home and when routes for pedestrians and cyclists are pleasant and safe, for example, on streets with slow-moving cars, shade trees overhead and shops or homes beside the sidewalk, rather than parking lots. Therefore people who live in walk-cycle-transit friendly neighbourhoods have more choice in their mode of transportation — they don't have to take their car for every trip. Walking or biking to get to your daily destinations is excellent for your health and driving less or needing one less car means you save money.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, like walking or biking, to reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease and stroke. Where homes are within walking distance of stores and other services, people are 2.4 times more likely to meet the 30-minute minimum than those in homes that are not within a convenient or pleasant walk to stores/services.

Proximity to daily destinations

Sources: CanMapR Streetfiles V6.3 and the 2001 Census, Statistics Canada.
*includes elementary and secondary schools only

Photos and descriptions of these types of neighbourhoods

Do people get by with fewer cars or do they drive less?

The study estimates that people living in centrally located neighbourhoods, like Plateau Mont-Royal, Milton Park and Westmount own fewer cars than those in suburban neighbourhoods, like Pointe-Claire, Longueuil and Châteauguay, even accounting for the average number of people and income per household. They also drive less for weekday urban trips, like going to work or shopping. Owning fewer cars saves money and those who decide to manage without a car can expect big annual savings. Even car owners can expect to save money by driving less. If you drive 18,000 km per year, the average cost to own and operate a vehicle in Canada is over $9,000 annually.

Estimated vehicles owned per household, on average

Source: Estimated by CMHC's Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Urban Travel: Tool for Evaluating Neighbourhood Sustainability. All scenarios based on weekday urban travel, 245 weekdays, average Montréal Area household size of 2.4 people, and Montréal Area average household income. These estimates are meant only to provide a relative comparison between neighbourhood types. Although empirical data from actual Montréal neighbourhoods was used to input into the estimating tool, actual values for each neighbourhood and household will vary from the estimates shown above.

Estimated distance driven for weekday urban trips
(km per household per weekday, on average)

Source: Estimated by CMHC's Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Urban Travel: Tool for Evaluating Neighbourhood Sustainability. All scenarios based on weekday urban travel, 245 weekdays, average Montréal Area household size of 2.4 people, and Montréal Area average household income. These estimates are meant only to provide a relative comparison between neighbourhood types. Although empirical data from actual Montréal neighbourhoods was used to input into the estimating tool, actual values for each neighbourhood and household will vary from the estimates shown above.

Photos and descriptions of these types of neighbourhoods

Do people reduce greenhouse gas emissions by driving less?

Households located in central area neighbourhoods produce fewer greenhouse gases for weekday urban trips, like going to work or shopping, than those in suburban neighbourhoods.

Estimated annual greenhouse gas emissions from weekday urban car trips
(kg of GHG per household, on average)

Source: Estimated by CMHC's Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Urban Travel: Tool for Evaluating Neighbourhood Sustainability. All scenarios based on weekday urban travel, 245 weekdays, average Montréal Area household size of 2.4 people, and Montréal Area average household income. These estimates are meant only to provide a relative comparison between neighbourhood types. Although empirical data from actual Montréal neighbourhoods was used to input into the estimating tool, actual values for each neighbourhood and household will vary from the estimates shown above. Additional GHG emission would be incurred from public transit use. On an equivalent passenger-km basis, GHGs from public transit are considerably less than from private vehicles.

Photos and descriptions of these types of neighbourhoods

Is there a range of housing choices, so people can stay in the neighbourhood as their needs change?

Certain central area and inner suburban neighbourhoods offering a mix of housing, like Côte-Saint-Luc, Hampstead and parts of Westmount and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, have the broadest range of housing choices. First, these neighbourhoods offer a broader mix of housing types, including townhouses, high- and low-rise apartments, single-detached homes and semis. Whereas, many suburban neighbourhoods, like Pointe-Claire, Kirkland, Châteauguay and Repentigny, tend to offer a higher proportion of single-detached homes, while central area neighbourhoods, like Milton Park and Plateau Mont-Royal, tend to offer mainly high- and low-rise apartments. Also, the percentage of rental vs. ownership is almost equal in the neighbourhoods with a mix of housing. Whereas the suburban neighbourhoods that have mainly single-detached homes, like Pointe-Claire and Châteauguay, tend to have a significantly higher proportion of owned housing and fewer rental options, while the central area neighbourhoods where homes are mostly in apartments, like Milton Park, offer significantly more rental compared to owned housing.

A neighbourhood that offers a variety of housing choices is one where you can stay as your age, family and income change.

Mix of house types

Data from the 2001 Census, Statistics Canada.
This index describes the mix of homes that are single-detached, semi-detached, townhouses and apartments. 0 = all one type; 1.0 = equal mix of different types.

Mix of house types

Data from the 2001 Census, Statistics Canada.

Percentage of rental housing

Data from 2001 Census, Statistics Canada.

Photos and descriptions of these types of neighbourhoods