Apartments for Rent in Hamilton, ON
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Renter's guide to Hamilton, ON

Hamilton is a large Ontario city situated in southern Canada. The city is part of a region known as the Golden Horseshoe, located along Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The Golden Horseshoe is known for its dense population, as the cities here make up 55 percent of the population of Ontario and more than 21 percent of the nation's population overall.

Hamilton boasts excellent recreation and arts options, as well as affordable healthcare. In 2018, Hamilton Health Sciences, one of the major healthcare facilities in the city, was ranked by Research Infosource Inc. as one of Canada's top three research hospitals.

Hamilton is considered the third-largest Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) in Ontario, and the ninth-largest in Canada. The city's population is about 20 percent of Toronto's and it has about six times the number of people compared to the nearby city of Niagara Falls. The distance between Hamilton and Toronto is 43 miles, and the city is 321 miles from Ottawa.

Hamilton's climate is fairly moderate when compared to other Canadian cities. It is classified as humid continental, which means the city has warm, humid summers and cold winters. The weather in Hamilton consists of summer temperatures that average at around 72ºF, with extreme temperatures rising above 90ºF. The city's winter temperatures are around 40ºF, with extreme lows around -20ºF. The average annual rainfall in Hamilton is 33 inches, which occurs mostly in the spring, summer, and autumn months. Hamilton gets a lot of snow and ice in the winter months, about 47 inches every year. The city can experience floods, and rarely tornadoes and earthquakes.

Tips for renting in Hamilton, ON

Things to do in Hamilton, ON

There are many fun things to do in Hamilton, including visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens, which sits on 1,100 acres. The area has 27 km of walking trails, as well as an indoor greenhouse, an arboretum, a nature interpretive centre, and a large rock garden.

The best Hamilton attractions for kids include the African Lion Safari, the Hamilton Children’s Museum, Wild Water Works, Puddicombe Farms, Adventure Village, and Westfield Heritage Village. The city is also home to numerous parks and conservation areas where kids can explore nature and even enjoy some waterfalls.

There are plenty of things for couples to do in Hamilton, including wandering through the picturesque Dundurn Castle, which features 40 lavishly decorated rooms. The castle was built in the 1830s and is an example of the Italianate style. Guided tours are available and feature staff dressed in period attire.

If you’re looking for some of the best places to shop in Hamilton, check out Lime Ridge Mall, Eastgate Square, the Downtown Hamilton Shopping District, Ottawa Street Shopping District, and the Hamilton Farmers’ Market.

Hamilton, ON employment & economy

Hamilton has a long history of manufacturing which continues to be one of the city’s largest industries. Known as the Steel Capital of Canada, Hamilton produces about 60 percent of the country’s steel via Stelco and Dofasco.

Healthcare is also a major Hamilton industry, with the city being home to six hospitals, including McMaster Children's Hospital, St. Peter's Hospital, Hamilton General Hospital, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, McMaster University Medical Centre, and Juravinski Hospital. The city also has six specialized facilities.

Other major industries in Hamilton’s economy include education, construction, finance, insurance, real estate, and science and technology. Hamilton’s unemployment rate is around 5.6 percent, which is on par with the national rate of 5.8 percent.

Education in Hamilton, ON

Some of the top elementary schools in Hamilton, as ranked by the Fraser Institute, include the Islamic School of Hamilton, Corpus Christi, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, St John the Baptist, and St Teresa of Avila. Hamilton’s highest-ranked secondary schools include St Mary’s, Westmount, Westdale, Mère-Teresa, and Bishop Ryan. There are several private elementary and secondary schools in the city.

The top colleges and universities in Hamilton include McMaster University (one of the U15 group of Canadian public research universities), a regional campus of Brock University (focused on teacher education), Redeemer University College, McMaster Divinity College, and Mohawk College (applied arts and technology programs).