Dieppe scored the top spot in PCMag’s ranking of best Work-From-Home communities in Canada, while Halifax came in second place and Quispamsis ranked at number 4.
PCMag, a leading U.S.-based technology magazine, highlighted Atlantic Canada’s lower real estate prices compared to major cities across Canada and the availability of 1.5 gigabyte-per-second Internet available through Bell.
In Dieppe, PCMag took note of downtown restaurants, parks, green spaces, and its growing business and residential area.
Speaking with Doug Robertson, CEO of Venn Innovation in Moncton, PCMag noted the strength in the greater Moncton area’s diversity.
“Atlantic Canada has been very aggressive going after that international talent,” Robertson told PCMag. “You can see the diversity out on the streets, you can see it in businesses, and you can see it in educational institutions. The Greater Moncton area is more diverse because of its linguistic duality and the history of its strong French-English balance.”
PCMag listed Halifax in second place but was more interested in the suburban areas outside of the city centre. They were particularly interested in Hackett’s Cove and Hubley for their affordable housing, hiking trails, and close proximity to the urban centre.
The HRM also had the lowest cost of Internet per month among the Atlantic communities with $99.95 for gigabit broadband, $13 less than the New Brunswick communities on the list.
In Quispamsis, ranked number four, PCMag highlighted the area’s parks, good schools, affordable housing, small businesses, and cultural sites. PCMag also highlighted Quispamsis’ community programs and wellness initiatives and its proximity to Saint John.
PCMag decided their rankings by dividing the score in two: half of the score was determined by affordability and half on livability. Factors involved in the affordability score included median home value and the minimum cost for gigabit broadband. Under livability, factors included the median home size, percentage of home-based workers in the community, the attractiveness of the city, and the presence of local amenities such as coffee shops and restaurants.
Liam Floyd is a reporter for Huddle Today, a content-sharing partner of Acadia Broadcasting.
