If you are okay with living 1 hour southwest of Ottawa, you will love living in Perth! This quaint town has so much to offer including a great location just off of Highway 7, a charming downtown area with beautiful historic buildings, affordable housing and awesome dining options. Perth also has some very friendly people in the neighbourhood and everyone goes out of their way to say hello. It is also situated just outside of cottage country, so if you enjoy being near the water, you are going to love living here! Only a short drive south and you are at Big Rideau Lake and the rest of the Rideau system. If you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, check out more reasons why you should move to Perth!
Just looking to visit this beautiful town instead? Check out this comprehensive guide by Project Local Love for some ideas on what to do!
*Based on 2020 MLS yearly average sale price statistics in Perth
As you can from the average prices above, living in this small town is much more affordable than in many other towns and neighbourhoods in the Ottawa area. With prices starting in the high 200s, this small town is so much more attainable for many people. The homes are also larger and sit on bigger lots so you get more for your money as well. Not to mention the stunning homes that Perth has to offer! Some of the beautiful historic homes date all the way back to the 1800s!
The beautiful downtown features a ton of dining options! From fine cuisine to pubs to food trucks, pizza joints and cafes, Perth has you covered! A few notable restaurants include Michael’s Table Restaurant Perth, The Stone Cellar, Mex & Co., O’Reilly’s Ale House, Crossroads Tea Room, The Fieldhouse, The Twisted Fork Cafe, Bistro 54, Rocky River Cafe, The Locks Perth, and Fiddleheads Bar and Grill. Many of these restaurants feature outdoor patio dining options as well as a cozy indoor atmosphere. Lots of them also serve up the local Perth Brewery beers that were made just down the street!
Deemed the prettiest town in Ontario in 2000, the town of Perth has some truly beautiful surroundings. The township does a really great job of making this suburb look wonderful from the roadside planters to the perfectly landscaped parks. The town is nestled along the Tay River and features gorgeous water views all the way through. In addition to a gorgeous waterway, there are also a few attractive parks as well. Last Duel Park along the Tay River offers lots of green space as well as large mature trees for much-needed shade. Stewart Park is located on a large island and features inviting gardens and park benches to sit and enjoy the views of the Tay River.
The Tay River is actually connected to the Rideau System by way of 2 locks. This means that you can easily get to and from cottage country by boat or car! There are lots of lakes near the town and tons of cottages are nearby. When you live in Perth, you can enjoy a fantastic waterfront only a short drive away. You can enjoy a kayak or stand-up paddle along the Tay River, or bring your yacht out onto the Big Rideau. If you like to be near water and cottages, Perth is definitely the place for you!
Perth really does have everything you need! With both an Independent Grocery and a Metro, you will have your choice of groercy stores. There is also both a Rexall and a Shoppers Drug Mart. There is also Canadian Tire and Home Hardware. Lots of fast food restaurants such as McDonalds, Tim Hortons, KFC, A&W, Subway, Wendy’s and Dairy Queen. There is an exceptionally large hospital that serves more than 60,000 surrounding residents. There are 7 schools in Perth including 3 elementary, 2 high schools as well as a Montessori School and the Algonquin College Perth Campus. It also offers an LCBO & Beer Store as well as many boutique shops downtown.
Downtown Perth offers lots of great shops and boutiques. If you are looking for a great place to do a day of shopping, you are going to love it here! A few notable shops include Hay Design Furnishings + Decor, Red Brick Emporium, River Guild Fine Crafts, Perth Chocolate Works, Flint and Honey, Likkuid Sole, Fall River Fashion, Dragon Moon, Fashion Envy, Ground Waves, The Rideau Candy Shoppe, and Unraveled. There are also dollar stores, convenience stores and car dealerships as well.
Though COVID-19 has put a damper on the festivals and events in 2020/2021, we hope that the town of Perth can get their many events underway again next year! From music to ribs to garlic, their event calendar is filled with a wide range of festivals and events! A few noteworthy events that the town puts on are: Frost & Fire Winter Festival, Fire & Ice, Festival of the Maples, KidFish, Rotary Strawberry Social , Stewart Park Festival, Canada Day, Rotary Ribfest, Lions Garlic Festival, Perth Fair , Autumn Studio Tour, Perth Antiques Show, Christmas Festival of Good Cheer, and the Festival of Lights!
In conclusion, we think that Perth is a great place to live! To summarize, this beautiful small town has tons of character, friendly people, affordable housing, a wonderful downtown area with shops and restaurants, fun festivals and basically everything else you need! And it is conveniently located along Highway 7 making travelling a breeze!
If you are looking for a home here in Perth, be sure to contact us. We would certainly love to help you find your dream home!