Apartments for Rent in Kingston, ON

Renter's guide to Kingston, ON

Located on the eastern end of Lake Ontario and at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River, Kingston has been a historic trading hub for centuries. Starting in the 17th century, the French built a trading post and military fort on the site to establish a closer presence with the Natives in the region. Gradually, more and more people settled there and when the British took over, it was officially named Kingston.

The city is also quite centrally located, sitting halfway between other major cities of Toronto and Montreal and just 122 miles from Ottawa, the capital of Canada.

Another interesting fact about Kingston is that it was named the first capital of the United Province of Canada in 1841.

Due to its proximity of Lake Ontario, the weather in Kingston is moderately humid. Summers and winters here are colder than the rest of Southern Ontario as well with the lake doing a good job of moderating the climate and keeping it low throughout most of the year. The highest temperature ever recorded here is a meager 96 °F. If you can’t stand the heat, then Kingston might be the city for you. The bad news is that the lake also makes Kingston one of the windiest cities in Canada.

Tips for renting in Kingston, ON

Things to do in Kingston, ON

There are numerous things going on in the city every day, from free live music performances to ticketed events at the Kingston Grand Theatre, and the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. Festivals are also a regular occurrence in Kingston celebrating everything from music and art to craft beers.

Also nicknamed the “Limestone City”, Kingston is home to many beautiful heritage buildings built from local limestone. For those interested in history, simply taking a stroll through the streets filled with historic buildings, is one of the many fun things to do for free in Kingston.

The area is also dominated by trees and abundant water, creating plenty of opportunities for locals to enjoy nature all year round. Popular hiking trails in Kingston include the Cat trial, KP trail, and the Rideau trail.

For the foodies, you’ll be happy and surprised to hear that Kingston has the highest number of restaurants per capita in Canada so you’re spoiled for choice. If you’re not sure where to go, you can always find cheap eats and trendier food items near one of the city’s many post-secondary institutions.

Kingston, ON employment & economy

While it's not the same economic powerhouse as Mississauga or Toronto, Kingston is no slouch. Much of the employment in Kingston is in the public sector related to healthcare, education, military, and correctional services, but the tourism sector is growing steadily. Due to its central location between the major cities of Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Syracuse, NY, trucking and logistics is a growing industry here.

The top 3 employers in Kingston are the Canadian Forces Base Kingston, Queen's University, and Kingston General Hospital.

Education in Kingston, ON

One of the biggest factors drawing people to the city is access to great schools. Top universities in Kingston include the Royal Military College of Canada, which provides academic and leadership training to officer cadets and Queen’s University, one of the oldest in Canada serving a variety of degree programs to 25,000 students.

For more trades-oriented students, St. Lawrence College is also a great choice offering job-related training in behavioral psychology, trades, nursing, and business administration among other things.

The Limestone District School Board is responsible for administering primary and secondary-school education in Kingston. Like in other Canadian cities, students are assigned to the public schools in their catchment area so parents should choose their areas wisely if they plan on attending a public school.

Top public schools in Kingston, according to the Fraser Institute include Lord Strathcona, Rideau Heights, John Graves Simcoe and Kingston Collegiate Vocational Institute. The top private schools in Kingston include St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School, and John XXIII Catholic School.

For younger families, top elementary schools in Kingston include the Ecole Elementaire Catholique Monseigneur Remi-Gaulin and Winston Churchill Public School.