Moving to De Winton AB: 8 Reasons to Live in De Winton

Sometimes, you just want to get away from the urban hustle, somewhere with space to relax and breathe. If this is you, the little hamlet of De Winton may be just the place to start looking for a new home.

Homes in De Winton offer a unique blend of serene country living and easy access to urban amenities. This area is known for its scenic landscapes, small population, and abundance of elbow room, making it an attractive option for those seeking a tranquil escape from the city. Thinking about moving to De Winton? Let’s go over some of the highlights of living in De Winton, Alberta, ensuring you have what you need to make an informed decision about your potential new home.

8 Reasons to Move to De Winton

• Small rural community with low population density
• Luxury country living close to the city amenities
• Low taxes
• Local golf and country clubs with golf course homes
• De Winton Community Hall
• Saskatoon Berry Farm for agritourism
• Easy commute to Calgary
• Community festivals and events

Cost of Living in De Winton

The cost of living in De Winton is average, with lower costs for rent in the area compared to North America but higher costs for other categories, such as food.

De Winton is known for its spacious luxury properties, new construction homes, and acreage homes. Many properties sit on large lots, but compared to similar properties in more populated areas, they have lower costs. The average home price in De Winton is around $660,000, but many luxury homes easily run into the millions. The community has few rental homes or apartments due to its small size and emphasis on luxury real estate, but the average rent for an apartment in nearby Calgary ranges from $990 to $1,400 a month.

Housing is just one aspect of the cost of living in De Winton, but because it is such a small hamlet, De Winton lacks the same amount of data on the cost of living as other areas. The cost of living in the greater Calgary area, which includes De Winton, is about $3,450 a month for a single person, not including rent. This is cheaper than the majority of North American cities. Utilities average around $120 a month for one person, while a monthly public transportation ticket is around $83. The cost of food is slightly higher than other local cities, with the average cost for lunch at a local restaurant hovering around $14.

De Winton Job Market

De Winton is largely a community for people who work in Calgary and desire housing in a more rural environment, so the job market mirrors the Calgary economy. Some of the area’s largest employers include:

• Suncor: An energy company that serves as one of the largest employers in Calgary
• Aecon: A safety-focused company in construction and infrastructure development
• Enerflex Limited: An industrial machinery company
• Foothills School Division: The Okotoks school district, which employs nearly 900 local teachers and workers
• Rogers Insurance Limited: A large insurance provider

Commuters traveling from De Winton to downtown Calgary should allot at least an hour for their trip during rush hour, though with good traffic the drive can take as little as 30 minutes.

Popular Industries in the Area

The economy in De Winton and the Calgary area is diverse, with multiple industries being prominent. In both De Winton and Calgary, agriculture is one of the fastest-growing industries. The city strongly focuses on the technology that impacts the agriculture industry, while De Winton’s open spaces provide areas for farming.

Aerospace and logistics are also popular industries in the area, which makes sense since Calgary has one of the country’s busiest airports. Companies such as Aerium Analytics work to develop new aerospace technologies to serve in other industries as well, creating such technologies as drones used in building inspections or forestry management.

Calgary is also home to the Calgary Film Centre, a popular film studio location. With over 50,000 square feet of studios, it attracts many filmmakers year-round. FinTech, or financial technology, is also a growing industry in Calgary, and artificial intelligence and blockchain technology are growing in importance in the region.

Things to Do in De Winton

De Winton’s rural location provides ample outdoor activities, and it is also known for its many community festivals and events, though restaurants and nightlife are less common. Hiking is a common pastime in De Winton because of the many open spaces throughout the community, and the area also has several golf courses that add to its appeal.

Outdoor Activities

Hiking and biking are popular outdoor activities in De Winton. Brown-Lowery Provincial Park is a year-round destination for hikers, and it features tall trees and trails for hiking and snowshoeing. The Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park comes alive with wildflowers in the spring, and it provides lovely views of the nearby mountains. Residents who enjoy horseback riding and equestrian sports can visit Homeplace Ranch to take tours and head out on the many equestrian trails through the countryside.

Golfing is a popular pastime in De Winton as well. The Carnmoney Golf and Country Club is a beautiful location with rolling hills accentuating the fairways. Those who want to learn the sport can take classes at The Golf Academy at Heritage Pointe Golf Club.

Agritourism is also a draw in De Winton. The Saskatoon Berry Farm is a local attraction not far from the community that attracts many visitors during the harvest seasons.

Local Attractions

In addition to the hiking trails and golf course, De Winton has a few popular local attractions, even with its small size. The De Winton Community Hall hosts many community events and serves as a popular location for private banquets and receptions. When they want to catch a movie, De Winton residents head to the Cineplex Cinemas Seton. With reclining seats and an UltraAVX theater, this cineplex has cutting-edge technology. It also boasts a VIP section restricted to adults, where visitors can enjoy alcoholic beverages while taking in their favourite movies.

Restaurants & Nightlife

De Winton is a small community, but that doesn’t prevent it from having its share of local dining establishments. Stockman’s Restaurant & Lounge is a popular choice for both dining and nightlife. It sits at the front of The Lake at Heritage Pointe community, which offers waterfront homes in De Winton. With a restaurant and separate lounge, it offers something for most diners. De Winton also has its own pizza parlour and ice cream location, 2 Scoops and Pizza on Pointe. The Canadian Brewhouse is a popular bar and restaurant as well, with Calgary locations convenient to De Winton.

De Winton Climate

Because of its location in southern Alberta, De Winton has cold winters but also offers comfortable, mild summers. While the area has snow for around 88 days per year, its general climate is a prairie-steppe climate, which means sunny weather for much of the year. Rain is uncommon but does come on occasion in the summer. The area also has a significant amount of wind, which can sometimes bring warm temperatures in from the Rockies.

Because of the mild summer weather, the summer months are the best times to visit De Winton. June sees high temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius for a high and 7 degrees for a low in June, and wind and rain are less common then. In contrast, January has an average high of -3 degrees Celsius and an average low of -11 degrees Celsius, with an average 10% chance of rain or snow each day.

Commuting from De Winton to Calgary

Many De Winton residents will travel to Calgary for work. By car, if there are no traffic issues, it takes about 30 minutes to get to the center of Calgary via AB-2 North of Macleod Trail SE. Bus service is also available to make the trek into Calgary from De Winton, and these routes take between 60 and 80 minutes.

Rush hour, which starts around 7:30 a.m. and then again around 4 p.m. on weekdays, can be challenging for commuters. It can make the drive as long as an hour, or even more. In addition, though the region is adept at clearing winter roads, ice and snow can slow down the commute during winter months.

One of the busiest roads in the Calgary area is Macleod Trail, and this is also the main route into De Winton. Drivers wanting to avoid slowdowns should avoid this road during rush hour if possible, but as it’s the main highway near De Winton and the shortest route to downtown, this can be difficult. Highway 2, also known as Deerfoot Trail, is also quite busy. It runs from the northern to the southern edge of the city and serves as a major artery within town. Taking the bus can help limit the impact of traffic and ease stressful drives.

Though it can have traffic issues like any major city, Calgary is fairly easy to navigate when compared to other similar-sized cities. Once you arrive in town, you will find ample parking options downtown. After 6 p.m., street parking is free. Banker’s Hall and CORE Shopping Centre in the downtown area offer free and low-cost parking options as well, depending on when you visit.

Schools in De Winton

De Winton does not have many schools of its own, but nearby local communities offer education options. Some students living in De Winton attend Calgary area schools run by the Calgary Board of Education district. The Foothills School Division also serves some students in De Winton, and the area has a handful of private schools as well. The Strathcona-Tweedsmuir private school in the town of Okotoks is one of the closest K-12 schools, and St. Francis of Assisi Academy is also close by and teaches K–9. The De Winton Community Preschool, situated 10 minutes from Okotoks and Calgary, serves the area’s youngest students.

Ready to Make the Move to De Winton?

De Winton in Alberta stands out as a remarkable choice for anyone looking to relocate. Its serene rural setting, combined with the convenience of being close to Calgary, provides an ideal living environment. The community's welcoming nature and scenic beauty contribute to its appeal. By choosing De Winton, you're not just selecting a place to live; you're embracing a lifestyle that balances tranquillity with access to the big city.