Anyone who’s spent time in Alberta knows the province marches to the beat of its own drum.

Thinking about making the move to Wild Rose Country? You’re in the right place. From the jaw-dropping Rocky Mountains to the endless boreal forests, and even the pancake-flat prairies (don’t knock it till you’ve caught one of those sunsets), Alberta’s got a little something for everyone.

Sure, you’ve probably heard of the Calgary Stampede, or maybe you’ve already gotten lost in West Edmonton Mall once or twice. But here’s the thing: Alberta is way more than just its two biggest cities.

In this article, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best small towns to call home.

Whether you’re planning a big move or just hunting for a cozy retirement spot, Alberta’s small towns deliver on charm, personality and all those community vibes you can’t put a price on.

Our methodology for choosing the best towns to live in Alberta

You might automatically think that this is just another listicle featuring ten random Alberta towns. Well, there is a method to our madness. We aren’t just drawing names of towns out of a hat, we have a strict methodology that we stick to.

Let us explain.

For every Alberta town that we considered for this list, we used the following criteria to determine if it is worthy for our list of best towns to live in Alberta:

At the end of the day, the decision on where to live is one you’ll have to make that is best for you and your family. As for the best towns to live in Alberta, we’ve provided our top 10 list below  and an explanation of exactly why they’re on this list.

So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get to it.

10 best towns to live in Alberta

Canmore

Canmore, Alberta
Nick Fox | Shutterstock

Population: 17,800

Average home price: $1.2 million

The bottom line: Canmore is a bit pricier than other Alberta towns and has a focus on tourism. But the breathtaking scenery and friendly community more than make up for it!

Cochrane

Cochrane, Alberta
LisaBourgeault | Shutterstock

Population: 37,000

Average home price: $593,900

The Bottom Line: Cochrane is one of the fastest-growing towns in Canada for a reason. Small-town charm and affordability make Cochrane an ideal place to settle down.

Strathmore

Strathmore, Alberta
C_shortt | Shutterstock

Population: 16,200

Average home price: $503,000

The bottom line: Strathmore is a long-standing community, offering a slower pace of life compared to the busier vibes of Canmore or Cochrane.

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake, Alberta
AdeJ Artventure | Shutterstock

Population: 17,500

Average home price: $480,000

The bottom line: Small-town meets lake country in this beautiful Alberta town. If you can put up with busy summers, Sylvan Lake is a wonderful part of Alberta to call home.

Lacombe

Lacombe, Alberta
PracticalTM | Shutterstock

Population: 13,700

Average home price: $436,200

The bottom line: A quiet, more historic and cultural side of Alberta, Lacombe is an amazing place to visit or settle down. It’s perfect for young families or those looking for a more peaceful community than bigger cities like Red Deer.

High River

High River, Alberta
Jeff Whyte | Shutterstock

Population: 15,000

Average home price: $419,000

The bottom line: A low crime rate, plenty of highly-rated schools and charming neighbourhoods are the perfect recipe to call High River your new home.

Drumheller

Drumheller, Alberta
mbegna | Shutterstock

Population: 8,400

Average home price: $270,000

The bottom line:

When it comes to great places to live in Alberta, it doesn’t get much more affordable than this, with average houses costing less than $300,000. Drumheller is smaller than the other towns on this list, so a limited employment market is the only red flag.

Slave Lake

Slave Lake, Alberta
Bob Hilscher | Shutterstock

Population: 7,100

Average home price: $443,000

The bottom line: Affordable homes with plenty of lake and beach life to be had. Slave Lake is about 2.5 hours from Edmonton, but offers enough amenities to have a big city feel in a small town package.

Morinville

Morinville, Alberta
Shawn.ccf | Shutterstock

Population: 10,750

Average home price: $445,000

The bottom line: Morinville is fast becoming a popular place to settle down for people who like being close to Edmonton and St. Albert, but still want to live in a smaller town. The French influence and close-knit community events show why Morinville is a town on the rise in Central Alberta.

Lloydminster

Lloydminster, Alberta
Alex JW Robinson | Shutterstock

Population: 27,000

Average home price: $425,800

The bottom line: Another Alberta town that is growing fast with affordable housing and plenty of jobs. Plus, it’s pretty cool to be sharing a town with the residents of another province.

Best towns to live in Alberta: FAQs

What is the nicest place to live in Alberta?

It is difficult to choose just one place to call the nicest in Alberta. When you go by affordability, low crime rate and a growing community, High River, Alberta, has to be at the top of the list.

Where is the best place to retire in Alberta?

There are plenty of great towns to retire in Alberta. One of the best towns on our list is Canmore, Alberta. Houses are a bit pricier, but the scenery is beautiful, and you get the perfect balance of nature and a close-knit community.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.