In 2006, Moneysense listed Collingwood as the 11th best place to live in Canada. The other ten above us on that list were all major cities. We were the number one town. Mayor Geddes beamed.
Today we’re a lot further down the list. Numero 54 to be exact, out of 200.
I wrote about that list back in 2011. We plummeted from the giddy heights of 11th place to 61st by 2008. The fall didn’t stop until we hit 94th place in 2012, in the bottom half of the 180 places listed.
Now we’re back at 54th place. I suppose that’s come consolation – a rise of 40 places up the ladder, and in the top half.
You have to take the recently released 2013 list with a rather large grain of salt. Click on the town’s name in the overall ranking list and see what comes up.
That’s right: the photo is NOT Collingwood. It’s Blue Mountain Village. Now read the amounts for average house price and average household income. Wow. We’re rich!
Or maybe not – StatsCan reported the average family income here is roughly $60,000 (or $67,000 as shown here). Our treasurer reports the average family home is about $250,000 (it’s calculated as $274,000 here).
Moneysense shows our average income as $81,499 and average house price as $331,594. Way above the figures usually accepted for this town.
You think maybe Moneysense got it – and maybe the rest of their data for Collingwood – wrong? You think maybe they’re ranking the Village under Collingwood’s name?
I look at some of those stats and wonder. rain days: 110 – almost one out of three days per year? A 7% increase in population since 2011? Where did they get those figures? Maybe they can’t tell us apart from the Village.
I think we should ask for a recount. And maybe supply some correct data and a proper photo to the magazine.
(PS. We can always take heart we’re not among the ten worst places to live – seven of which are in Quebec).
