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

The southern Canadian city of Waterloo is located in Ontario and is part of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo (along with the nearby cities of Kitchener and Cambridge). Population-wise, Waterloo is smaller than both Kitchener and Cambridge.

In 2018, Waterloo was ranked 52^nd out of 415 Canadian cities in the MoneySense Canada’s Best Places to Live list. Categories such as culture, weather, commute, taxes, wealth and economy, amenities, affordability, crime, access to health care, population growth, and taxes were reviewed for each city to determine their ranking.

Waterloo’s population is about 4 percent of the population of Toronto, ON, and nearby Cambridge has around 25,000 more people than Waterloo does. About 70 miles separate Waterloo from Toronto, and the city is located 401 miles from Montreal, QC.

Waterloo’s climate is humid continental, featuring warm, humid summers and cold winters, although compared to much of the rest of Canada, it has moderate weather. The weather in Waterloo has summer temperatures that average about 79ºF, though temperature extremes can reach 97ºF. The city’s winter temperatures are around 30ºF, with severe cold snaps bringing temperatures as low as
-25ºF. The average rainfall in Waterloo is about 36 inches per year, mostly in the spring, summer, and autumn months. Snowfall in the winter months reaches about 63 inches per year on average. The city sometimes sees flooding in the spring during periods of heavy rain or melting snow.

Tips for renting in Waterloo, ON

Things to do in Waterloo, ON

Everyone can find fun things to do in Waterloo. The City of Waterloo Museum features exhibits that help visitors connect to the city’s past and culture. The museum is home to over 10,000 artifacts, including items related to early manufacturing, paintings, photographs, and books. Temporary exhibits, pop-up events, and speaker series are also offered here.

Some of the best attractions for kids in Waterloo include the Earth Sciences Museum, Waterloo Park, Waterloo Central Railway, and Doon Heritage Village.

There are also plenty of things for couples to do in Waterloo, including browsing the many stalls at the St. Jacob’s Farmers’ Market (Canada’s largest farmers’ market), which offers a variety of food, handmade goods, antiques, and unique clothing. A stroll through the Laurel Creek Conservation Area is also a romantic experience.

The Conestoga Mall, the Shops at Waterloo Town Square, St. Jacobs Outlets, and Bridgeport Plaza are some of the best places to shop in Waterloo. Nearby Kitchener and Cambridge offer even more shopping opportunities just a short drive away.

Waterloo, ON employment & economy

Waterloo is home to a strong technology industry, and hundreds of tech firms have headquarters or regional offices located here, including BlackBerry, Open Text Corporation, Google, Intel, McAfee, Shopify, Oracle, Maplesoft, Descartes Systems Group, Electronic Arts, and Kik Messenger.

Three well-known think tanks are also located here. The Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics focuses on the study of physics and other areas of science. The Institute for Quantum Computing is involved in computer, engineering, mathematical, and physical sciences research. Focused on challenges facing international governance, the Centre for International Governance Innovation is an independent, non-partisan think tank.

Waterloo’s largest employers include BlackBerry, the University of Waterloo, Manulife Financial, Sun Life Financial, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Sandvine.

Education in Waterloo, ON

According to the Fraser Institute, the highest-ranked Waterloo elementary schools include Abraham Erb, Laurelwood, Our Lady of Lourdes, Millen Woods, and Lexington. Waterloo’s highest-ranked secondary schools are Waterloo, Sir John A. Macdonald, Bluevale, St. David, and Kitchener Waterloo. The Waterloo Region District School Board operates public schools in the city, and there are also several private elementary and secondary schools here.

The top colleges and universities in Waterloo include the University of Waterloo (with the largest post-secondary co-operative education program in the world), Wilfrid Laurier University, St. Jerome’s University, St. Paul’s University College, Conrad Grebel University College, Renison University College, the Balsillie School of International Affairs, and a regional campus of Conestoga College.