Moving to Strathmore AB: Is Strathmore a Good Place to Live?

Moving to Strathmore, AB, opens a world of new opportunities and experiences. Nestled in the heart of Alberta, this welcoming town offers a unique blend of small-town charm and modern amenities. Strathmore boasts a thriving community spirit and an array of recreational activities, making it an ideal place for a fresh start. The town's close proximity to Calgary provides easy access to city life while maintaining a close-knit community atmosphere. Discover the benefits of living in Strathmore, from its scenic parks to its vibrant local events, and see how this town can be the perfect setting for your new chapter.

10 Reasons Strathmore is a Great Place to Live

• A 45-minute commute to Downtown Calgary
• Small-town atmosphere
• More affordable real estate than in Calgary
• Land available for new construction homes
• Located in one of the sunniest regions in Canada
• Public and private school options
• Public pool and rec centres
• The town never experiences rush hour, and there’s free parking everywhere
• Your choice of great neighbourhoods to explore for your new home
• Great appreciation potential for new home purchases

Cost of Living in Strathmore

The cost of living is one of the main draws for living in Strathmore. Buyers can purchase a lot more “house" in Strathmore compared to Calgary or even to the whole of Canada. Housing costs here are lower than both the national and Alberta average. Homes for sale in Strathmore typically start in the $250,000 range, while the average price for a home is in the mid-$500,000 range. Even the most expensive luxury homes that hit the market in Strathmore rarely top $1.5 million.

The total cost of living for a person in Strathmore, including housing, utilities, food, and transportation, is generally around $3,500 a month. Groceries, healthcare, transportation, and goods and services cost about the same in Strathmore as in the rest of Alberta (which is cheaper than in other provinces), while utilities are slightly more affordable than in Calgary's cost of living or Edmonton's.

Strathmore Job Market

Strathmore has a strong and growing job market, with It has a friendly business climate for anyone wanting to launch a startup. The town has an Economic Development Center aimed at helping startups and luring new industries to the area. The center has had several successes in recent years that are coming to fruition.

• Aircraft manufacturer De Havilland is opening a huge manufacturing plant east of Calgary, situated about halfway between Strathmore and Chestermere. It's expected to create as many as 1,500 jobs when it is fully operational. 
• Agribusiness firm Phyto Organix is opening a plant protein hub near Strathmore that will provide dozens of jobs. 
• A wallboard manufacturing plant will soon open in Carseland, which is about 20 minutes south of Strathmore. 

Sales and service businesses are the main employers within the town limits of Strathmore. Trades, transport, and equipment is another large employment sector in Strathmore, in addition to business and finance.

Popular Industries in the Area

Oil, natural gas, and agriculture are the main industries that underpin the economy in Strathmore. Oil and gas exploration has increasingly grown in this part of Alberta in recent years. Agriculture is especially big and has been since the 19th century. The area surrounding Strathmore has numerous cattle ranches and feedlots, and large irrigation farms are also commonplace outside the Strathmore city limits. 

There are also plentiful restaurants and fast food places available in Strathmore, partly due to the Trans-Canada Highway. The restaurant service sector provides many jobs in the town.

Things to Do in Strathmore

One of the first things people notice when exploring Strathmore is that, despite only having a population of around 15,000 people, it doesn't want for amenities. Residents don't have to travel to Calgary to have a nice meal in a restaurant or shop for groceries. There are multiple fitness clubs, rec centres, and indoor and outdoor activities year-round.

Outdoor Activities

Kinsmen Park is the biggest park in Strathmore and has a lot of amenities to enjoy. There's a playground, a splash park, a picnic area, and even Kinsmen Lake for fishing and canoeing. The lake is converted into a skate pond during the winter. 

• The Strathmore Golf Club is a championship-style golf course in Strathmore with 18 holes and a driving range.
• The Strathmore Stampede is a major Alberta rodeo that takes place once a year. 
• The town also has kilometres of paved walking paths that wind through the neighbourhoods and parks. 

Local Attractions

Strathmore has multiple indoor athletic facilities and arenas for locals to enjoy, including Strathmore Aquatic Centre, Strathmore Gymnastics and Recreation Centre, and Strathmore Curling Rink. The Strathmore Family Centre is also a popular destination for indoor skating, hockey, figure skating, indoor lacrosse, and other sports. 

Finally, Eh Farms is located just outside of town and offers tours and events. This was the first farm in Alberta to import Red Mangalitsa pigs to the province. Many other farms in the area also offer tours and fresh you-pick produce. 

Restaurants & Nightlife

The Trans-Canada Highway runs east-to-west through the southern part of Strathmore. Thanks to all the visitors passing through the town, there is enough support for far more eateries and restaurants than one might find in similar small towns. Here are some local favourites:

• PJ's Diner: Down-home, Canadian comfort food for breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Roy Bunza: Baked meat and veggie pies wrapped in whole wheat breading
• Strathmore Palace: Chinese dine-in or takeout
• Back to Good Market & Café: Local and organic dine-in meals or groceries to take home
• Strathmore Pizzeria: Pizzas, combo meals, and a range of sides
• Roadhouse Restaurant & Saloon: Steaks, pasta, a kids' menu, and an all-day breakfast
• Strathmore Station Restaurant & Pub: Steakhouse with a separate cocktail bar

Strathmore Climate

While Strathmore weather has four seasons, spring and fall tend to be fairly short. Snow can start falling as early as October in the fall, and it's not unusual to have it snow as late as May. Fortunately, Strathmore has lots of opportunities for outdoor winter activities like skating, cross-country skiing, or sledding on the Dinosaur Sledding Hill. Late November until early March is the coldest time of year, with daytime highs below 2 degrees.

Strathmore often sees snowfall between October and May, with March boasting the most on average. Meanwhile, the warm season in Strathmore lasts from late May until mid-September. Temperatures at this time average above 19 degrees. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 24 degrees. On rare occasions, it can get as warm as 30 degrees in the summer. 

Traffic in Strathmore

There's no such thing as rush hour traffic in Strathmore. On the other hand, many residents commute to Calgary for work, so they experience the city's rush hour in all its glory on the way to and from work. Many of these residents, however, say that the much higher quality of life in Strathmore makes it worth the commute. The Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) runs east-to-west through Strathmore, and this is the most viable way to commute to Chestermere and Calgary to the west. 

To drive to Downtown Calgary, take the Trans-Canada Highway west and follow the road into the city. Turn south on Deerfoot Trail (Hwy 2) and then east on Memorial Drive. This is around a 40-minute commute during light traffic, but during rush hour, it can take a little over an hour. 

Alberta Highway 817 is the main north-south route through Strathmore. This highway leads north to the Cattleland Feedyards at Highway 564 and south to where it intersects with Highway 24 just east of Carseland.  

Alternative Routes

Two Alberta highway routes can be used to commute to Calgary if someone does not need to get to the downtown area. Take Alberta Highway 817 north or south from Strathmore. To the north, turn west on Highway 564 and follow it into the northern part of Calgary. To the south, turn west on Glenmore Trail and follow it the rest of the way into southern Calgary.

Strathmore Public Transportation

Public transportation in Strathmore is limited, but there are some options for getting around. Strathmore Taxi is one of two taxi services in town. They offer trips within Strathmore and are also authorized to deliver alcohol and cigarettes. Wheatland Taxi also provides cab services in town and shuttle buses to Calgary for shopping excursions, special events, or trips to the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino.

J&L Shuttle Service runs between Medicine Hat and Calgary. These small shuttle buses also pass through Strathmore. Various other drop-off and pick-up points in Calgary can be arranged with J&L.

Finally, the Strathmore Handi-Bus is for qualifying persons in Strathmore and Wheatland County. It's a subsidized non-profit service that allows seniors and disabled people to receive rides for shopping, medical appointments, and other errands at a discounted rate. It operates a fleet of several wheelchair-accessible vans.

Schools in Strathmore

Strathmore is small enough geographically that you can live anywhere in the town and be just 10 minutes away from a school. 

The Golden Hills School Division operates all the public schools in the region, including the schools in Strathmore. There are also three alternative schools in Strathmore and two Catholic schools.

Public Schools in Strathmore:

• École Brentwood Elementary (PK-6)
• Westmount School (K-6)
• Wheatland Elementary School (PK-6)
• Trinity Christian Academy (PK-9)
• George Freeman School (K-9)
• Crowther Memorial Junior High (7-9)
• Strathmore High School (10-12)

Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools:

• Sacred Heart Academy (PK-6)
• Holy Cross Collegiate (7-12)

Alternative Schools:

• Golden Hills International School (K-12)
• Golden Hills Learning Academy (K-12)
• Strathmore Storefront School (7-12)

Discover Your New Home in Strathmore

Choosing Strathmore, AB, as your new home means embracing a life filled with community, convenience, and comfort. The town's blend of educational opportunities, recreational facilities, and a strong sense of community makes it an excellent choice for those seeking a harmonious balance between rural tranquillity and urban accessibility. Strathmore's regular community events and beautiful natural surroundings contribute to a high quality of life. If you're looking for a place that offers both a welcoming community and the opportunity for personal growth, Strathmore stands out as an ideal choice for a fulfilling living experience.