Moving to Halifax NS in 2026: Neighbourhoods, Costs and Checklist

A growing city

Halifax County had an estimated 517,115 people on July 1, 2025, about 47% of everyone in Nova Scotia. It grew 1.54% in a single year, mostly through immigration, with more people moving in from other provinces than leaving.

Work

Halifax's key sectors include IT and digital media, financial services, the ocean economy, cleantech, life sciences, and transportation and logistics. CFB Halifax is the largest Canadian Forces base by posted personnel and home port of the Atlantic fleet, and the Halifax Shipyard began building Canada's new River-class destroyers in 2026.

Getting around

Halifax Stanfield International Airport served over 4.1 million passengers in 2025, with 57 non-stop services on its 2026 route map.
The Alderney ferry crosses between downtown Halifax and downtown Dartmouth in about 12 minutes. A Bedford to Halifax ferry from Mill Cove is expected around 2030.
Most suburbs are a 20 to 40 minute drive from downtown outside rush hour.

Weather

Expect a January average high of about 1 C and low of about -7 C, and a July average high of about 23 C. Winters bring snow and freeze-thaw cycles; summers are mild.

Your moving checklist

Health card: if you move from another province, Nova Scotia MSI coverage starts on the first day of the third month after you become a resident. Ask your old province about covering the gap.
Driver's licence: you have 180 days to exchange an out-of-province licence, usually with no test.
Schools: HRCE has 136 schools. Use its School Finder to see the school for an address. Newcomer families register through the Newcomer Welcome Centre once they live here.
Deed transfer tax: HRM charges 1.5% of the purchase price when you buy. See closing costs in Halifax.
Buying from outside Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia charges a 10% non-resident deed transfer tax, but you don't pay it at closing if you say you're moving here and prove residency within 12 months.

Choosing where to live

Halifax neighbourhoods: walkable peninsula living to mainland suburbs like Clayton Park and Kingswood.
Bedford: the waterfront, established streets and newer Bedford South and Bedford West.
Dartmouth: the City of Lakes, with a downtown on the ferry.
Sackville: more house for the money, lakes and trails.
Fall River, Hammonds Plains and Timberlea and Tantallon: bigger lots and lake country.
Cole Harbour: settled family neighbourhoods east of Dartmouth.

I do a lot of video tours for buyers who can't be here yet. Book a call and tell me what you're looking for.

Common questions

Can I buy a home in Halifax before I move?

Yes. Many buyers buy from out of province with video showings and a local inspection. Chris can run showings by video and help line up inspectors and lawyers.

Do I pay the non-resident deed transfer tax if I am moving to Nova Scotia?

Not at closing if you declare you intend to move here and then prove Nova Scotia residency within 12 months, for transfers on or after August 6, 2026. Confirm the details with your lawyer.

When will my Nova Scotia health card start?

For people moving from another province, coverage starts the first day of the third month after you become a resident.

Sources

Written by Chris Crowell, REALTOR® with REMAX NOVA. Facts checked against public sources in November 2026.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and rates change; confirm the details for your situation with your lawyer.

Moving to Halifax: a local guide for 2026