Kelowna

Photo: Contributed - JCV

MoneySense magazine has released its 8th annual list of the best places to live in Canada, and Kelowna is moving on up.

We rank 76th overall out of 200 cities across Canada, and sit lumped between Langley and Sudbury, Ont.

When compared to other mid-sized cities (pop. 100,000-400,000) we sit in 28th spot.

The ranking is based on information gathered by Statistics Canada and is made up of 33 categories that paint a picture of what life is like in various communities across the country.

Kelowna ranks high when it comes to the percentage of the population who walk or bike to work and the weather related categories, but that is negatively offset by expensive real estate and a high crime rate. We rank in the middle of the road when it comes to many of the other categories and did not place within the top 10 of any particular grouping.

According to MoneySense, the best place to live is Calgary, Atla., which jumped up after finishing in 14th place last year. It was also chosen as the best place to raise kids and finished in the top three of best places for new immigrants.

The worst place to live is Lachute, Que., which fell from 134th place last year. Its problems are a shrinking population, low incomes and high taxes. On the plus side, there are plenty of doctors in the city and house prices are relatively low.