Okotoks Moving Guide: 10 Reasons to Love Living in Okotoks

Many people moving to Alberta are considering the town of Okotoks to enjoy small-town vibes while living in an active community. This town has a big personality, too, complete with a bustling downtown district and plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. On top of that, a lucrative job market and low cost of living come together to afford a comfortable lifestyle for all its residents.

If that sounds like perfection, why not explore all that Okotoks has to offer? This guide makes it easy to get the inside scoop, so dive right in and check out what prospective residents can expect while living in this town.

10 Reasons to Move to Okotoks, AB

The top 10 reasons people move to Okotoks, Alberta:

• Inviting small-town vibe
• Relatively low cost of living
• Many excellent neighbourhoods
• Superb job market full of opportunities
• Vibrant downtown area and town square
• Good eats at locally-owned restaurants
• Ample outdoor activities year-round
• Breathtaking views of the mountainside
• Easy access to the Trans Canada Highway
• Fantastic bus service seven days a week

With so much to see, do, and experience here, it's surprising that this town is not even more popular than it is. There are over 28,000 residents now, but if word gets out, that number could increase considerably in the coming years.

Cost of Living in Okotoks, AB

The cost of living in Okotoks is 9% lower than the average for the nation and below the overall cost of living in Alberta. Housing costs the most of all the monthly expenses, although it's almost 40% lower than the national average. Residents need to make at least $3,000 to cover their monthly bills while living in this town.

When considering homes for sale in Okotoks, homebuyers can expect an average price of $403,000. At this price, homeowners usually have a mortgage in the $2,000 per month range. This price typically includes homeowners' insurance and property taxes.

Renting a home, on the other hand, costs an average of about $2,000 a month. One-bedroom apartments start at $1,200, while three-bedroom units are up to $2,550 monthly. Utilities add about $190 per month to the overall cost of housing. Single-family rentals cost anywhere from $1,200–$3,800 each month.

Other monthly expenses Okotoks residents may have include:

• Food: $345 per person
• Essentials: $190 per person
• Phone: $40 per line
• Internet: $80 for each household
• Car Insurance: $125 per driver
• Bus Pass: $3.25 per ticket

Entertainment adds about $125 to each person's monthly costs. Tickets to sporting events, shows, and other attractions usually cost $10 to $40 per person. Regularly eating out at restaurants can cost up to $300 per month. Fast-food restaurants charge up to $20 a meal, while fine-dining establishments can cost more than $100 per person.

Okotoks, AB, Job Market

On average, residents make about $35 per hour or $74,000 annually. All employers in the province must pay at least the minimum wage of $15 an hour. Salaries vary depending on the industry and position. For example, bank tellers make $41,000 annually, while pharmacists earn around $148,000 annually.

The biggest employers in the area are in the education, retail, and health industries. Foothills School Division has over 870 workers helping provide educational opportunities to more than 8,200 students. Similarly, Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools employs more than 425 workers in its administrative office and across its 16 schools.

As a major retailer in the area, Costco Wholesale employs over 310 people in their big-box store, onsite auto shop, and pharmacy. Okotoks Health & Wellness Centre has more than 300 workers as well. This health centre operates as a part of Alberta Health Services, which provides care to people all over the province.

The Town of Okotoks is another major employer in the area. This municipal services entity has nearly 290 employees in various roles, including engineers, accountants, human resources specialists, transportation operators, and firefighters.

Popular Industries in the Area

The top industries in Okotoks are agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and professional, scientific, and tech services. Each industry helps keep the community moving forward regarding innovation and enjoying a high standard of living. Though far smaller, many of the biggest industries in town line up with Calgary and Edmonton's major industries.

Okotoks has a notable workforce helping provide the province and beyond with wood products, food, and chemicals in the manufacturing industry. Manufacturers focused on making furniture, clothing, machinery, and leather products also excel in this region.

About 7% of the local workforce works in the professional, scientific, and tech services industries. About 30% of these employees are self-employed, while the rest work for small to large local companies. In this sector, people work as lawyers, tax preparers, consultants, designers, software engineers, and public relations professionals.

Things to Do in Okotoks, AB

Outdoor attractions abound across Okotoks, Alberta, but that's not all there's to do. This area also has many top-notch indoor attractions and places to get tasty food and drinks whenever hunger strikes. Residents never have to go far to find something fun to do, adding to the value of living in this exciting town.

Outdoor Activities

Okotoks, Alberta, sits just east of the Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park and many other parklands. Each park offers endless opportunities to enjoy hiking and mountain biking, kayaking and canoeing, camping, birdwatching, and much more. Whenever the blue skies appear overhead, even more fun awaits at the D'Arcy Ranch Golf Club.

In the wintertime, residents can add skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and snowshoeing to their list of things to do. The Nakiska Ski Area, in particular, offers tons of slope-side activities for adults and kids of all ages. Visitors can stay in the onsite lodging or just come by for a day trip.

Local Attractions

When the weather doesn't cooperate, there are plenty of unique indoor attractions for Okotoks residents to enjoy. To enjoy beautiful works from local artists, residents just have to head to Lineham House Galleries or the Okotoks Art Gallery. For a glimpse into the past, there's the Okotoks Museum and Archives, Museum of the Highwood, Millarville Historical Society, and Bomber Command Museum of Canada.

For indoor sports, residents can always count on the Centennial Arenas, which has two NHL-sized ice arenas and a leisure rink. An indoor walking track makes it easy for people to get their steps in no matter what the weather looks like outside. Their multi-use rooms give the community space for all their special events, including birthday parties and conferences.

Restaurants & Nightlife

The restaurant scene in Okotoks, Alberta, leaves little to be desired, especially for those who love home-cooked meals. Bars and breweries add even more places for residents to enjoy delicious beverages and the grub to match.

At Heartland Café & Restaurant, patrons enjoy classic scratch-made meals in a historical setting. Their romantic ambiance is second-to-none, and their dishes have people singing their praises around town. Their most popular dishes include Vegan Stuffed Zucchini, Triple Cheese Pasta, and their signature Heartland Burger.

John Henry's Pub also rolls out tasty American fare, plus beer, wine, and cocktails made to order. Bradley's Grill House, The Canadian Brewhouse, and Grand Central Bar & Grill never fail to delight.

Okotoks, AB, Climate

Okotoks treats residents to four distinct seasons every year, one of the factors that earn it mentions among Alberta's best places to live. In the summer, the weather stays sunny more often than not, bringing temperatures into the comfortable 21°C range. On average, July rolls out the most sunshine, at over 315 hours of sunny weather.

As the fall season arrives, temperatures drop, reaching 3°C by the end of November. Snowfall usually begins in earnest in mid-September and continues through the winter months. On average, more than two inches of snow falls every month through autumn and winter. In November and again in March, the region gets up to six inches of snow throughout the month.

The snowfall ends as spring comes into view, and temperatures again start rising. By the end of March, temperatures reach 5°C and then continue to rise to 17°C by the end of May.

As far as storms go, most adverse weather conditions occur in winter. During that time, it's common to see snowstorms, thunderstorms, and other weather events roll through the region. With that in mind, early July to late August is the best time to visit when planning to spend any time outdoors.

Traffic in Okotoks, AB

Traffic in Okotoks is pretty light, especially compared to bigger areas like the Calgary. Over half of the residents have a 15 to 45-minute commute to work, while 33% only commute 15 minutes each way.

About 5% of residents commute more than an hour, likely going to a job in Calgary or beyond. Travelling to that city center only takes about 38 minutes in light traffic, but drive times can extend to over an hour during busy periods.

Over 87% of people living in Okotoks drive their vehicle to work, while 5% carpool with someone. Only 1% of people use public transportation, and up to 3% ride a bike to work. So, the lack of heavy traffic is likely due to the relatively low population and well-designed city streets.

About 25% of commuters leave for work between 7:00–8:00 a.m., while the rest typically leave in the hour before or after that range. Commuters rule the roads again from 4:00–7:00 p.m. While technically rush hour, these high-traffic periods do not usually result in much longer drive times.

Alternative Routes

The main thoroughfares going east to west are Elizabeth Street, Milligan Drive, and Cimarron Boulevard. Major north-to-south thoroughfares include Veterans Way, 32^nd Street East, and Crystal Ridge Drive. Residents also have easy access to onramps for Alberta Highway 2A and Highway 7.

Since heavy stop-and-go traffic is rarely an issue, commuters typically tough it out rather than finding alternative routes. They can take streets running parallel to the road they're currently on, but that move doesn't equate to much time saved anyway.

Okotoks, AB, Public Transportation

Both Okotoks Transit and On-It Transit provide public transportation services to residents. Each service picks up and drops off passengers from early morning until evening hours.

When using Okotoks Transit, riders can book their transit services up to three weeks before the indicated date. To do so, create an online account and then pick the date and time, pick-up and drop-off location, and the total number of passengers. After confirming their route, they can pay online as well. Pricing varies depending on the location and passenger count.

On-It Transit Serviceworks a bit differently. This provider picks up and drops off passengers at set stops all day. Their Okotoks route starts at the Cimarron Common at 6:02 a.m. and continues through town until 7:30 a.m. In the evening, the driver repeats the route in the opposite order, from 4:20–5:30 p.m. One-way tickets are $15 each, and the monthly pass costs $270 per rider.

Schools in Okotoks, AB

Students in Okotoks, Alberta, may attend public schools within the Foothills School Division, Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Division, or the Southern Francophone Education Region No. 4 (Conseil scolaire FrancoSud). Multiple private schools also provide educational services, including Tanbridge Academy, Edison Private School, and Strathcona Tweedsmuir School.

The majority of local students go to school in the Foothills School Division. This district has 19 elementary, secondary, and post-secondary public schools. Students can start their educational journey with junior kindergarten and then move through the schools in the district until graduating from 12^th grade.

After graduation, students can continue their educational journey by attending classes at the Bow Valley College Foothills Campus. Programs offered at that campus range from business administration and practical nursing to early childhood education and open studies. Other colleges and universities near this town include Mount Royal University, St. Mary's University, University of Calgary, and Cambrooks College.

See the High Standard of Living in Okotoks, Alberta

Ready to experience the Okotoks difference? Consider planning a day trip or weekend getaway to see what this region offers. All the fun things to see, do, and experience await; it'll be an excellent opportunity to soak in the charming town of Okotoks. The trip will undoubtedly open your eyes to the possibilities and confirm whether this town is the best choice for your next big move.