Halifax neighbourhoods

Halifax runs from the walkable, older peninsula to the newer mainland suburbs and the coastal edge along Spryfield and Purcell's Cove Road. Here's what each neighbourhood is like, who it suits and the questions buyers ask about it.

The peninsula

01Downtown HalifaxThe peninsulaPeople who want to walk to work, restaurants, the waterfront and events, and who prefer apartment or condo living with little or no yard upkeep.02South EndThe peninsulaPeople who want to walk to the universities, hospitals or downtown, live near Point Pleasant Park and the Northwest Arm, and choose between older homes and newer apartments or condos.03North EndThe peninsulaPeople who want a walkable, older urban neighbourhood close to downtown, with local shops and restaurants on Gottingen and Agricola, and a choice of row houses, older homes, flats and newer apartments.04West EndThe peninsulaPeople who want an established residential neighbourhood on the peninsula with a main street for shopping and dining, easy bus access, and a choice of older detached homes, post-war houses and apartments.

Mainland Halifax

01ArmdaleMainland HalifaxPeople who want an established older home or semi-detached house close to the peninsula, with a swimming lake, the Northwest Arm and Long Lake trails nearby and several bus routes through the roundabout.02FairviewMainland HalifaxPeople who want an older detached home or a two-unit property close to the peninsula, with quick access to Highway 102, the Bedford Highway and frequent bus routes.03Clayton ParkMainland HalifaxPeople who want a brick or mid-century home, or a condo apartment, close to a major bus terminal, the Canada Games Centre and Bayers Lake shopping.04Clayton Park WestMainland HalifaxPeople who want a newer condo or townhouse with quick Highway 102 access and Bayers Lake shopping close by, or an established detached home in Wedgewood on a quiet street without through traffic.05RockinghamMainland HalifaxPeople who want a central location with quick access to Highway 102 and the Bedford Highway, a choice of condos, townhouses and detached homes on city services, and old-growth trails at Hemlock Ravine close by.06KingswoodMainland HalifaxPeople who want a larger, wooded lot and a detached home with room for a garage or pool, near lakes and wilderness trails, while staying within a short drive of Bedford and Halifax.

Spryfield and Purcell's Cove

01SpryfieldSpryfield and Purcell's CovePeople who want established neighbourhoods on city services with a wide range of housing, from detached homes to townhouses and apartments, and easy access to lakes, swimming and trails like Long Lake Provincial Park.02Purcell's Cove Road (Jollimore and Williams Lake)Spryfield and Purcell's CovePeople who want a quieter, wooded setting near the Northwest Arm and harbour, with lakes, swimming and wilderness trails close to home, and who are comfortable with homes that may be on a well and septic.

Bedford, Dartmouth and beyond

01BedfordBedford BasinWaterfront boardwalk, family streets and the new homes of Bedford South and Bedford West, a short drive from downtown.02Fall RiverShubenacadie LakesLake living, larger lots and the Lockview schools, between Bedford and the airport.03DartmouthHalifax Harbour, east sideThe City of Lakes: a walkable downtown on the ferry, established neighbourhoods and new Port Wallace.04Hammonds PlainsHammonds Plains Road corridor, northwest of BedfordPlanned subdivisions on bigger lots near lakes, minutes from Bedford West.05Timberlea and TantallonSt. Margarets Bay Road and Highway 103 corridor, HRMSuburban streets in Timberlea out to lake country and the coves of St. Margarets Bay.06Cole HarbourDartmouth East, Halifax Regional MunicipalitySettled family neighbourhoods, Cole Harbour Place and the Salt Marsh Trail, east of Dartmouth.

Common questions about living in Halifax

What is the difference between Halifax and HRM?

The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) was created on April 1, 1996, when the City of Halifax, the City of Dartmouth, the Town of Bedford and Halifax County merged into one municipality. Locally, people still say Halifax for the former city, while places like Dartmouth, Bedford and Sackville keep their own community names. One council, one tax system and one set of city services cover all of it.

What is the difference between the Halifax peninsula and the mainland?

The peninsula is the historic core, with downtown, the waterfront boardwalk, Citadel Hill, the North End and Point Pleasant Park at the southern tip. Mainland Halifax covers the communities off the peninsula, such as Clayton Park and Spryfield, with Bedford at the head of the Bedford Basin. The peninsula has more older homes and walkable streets, while the mainland has more newer subdivisions and bigger lots. I can walk you through which side fits the way you live.

How do the Halifax buses and the Halifax-Dartmouth ferry work?

Halifax Transit runs both the buses and the harbour ferries. The Alderney Ferry crosses between downtown Halifax and downtown Dartmouth in about 12 minutes, every 15 minutes at weekday peak times and every 30 minutes otherwise, seven days a week. The Woodside Ferry runs weekdays only. You can pay with the HFXGO app, tickets or passes, or exact cash, and an HFXGO ticket is good for 150 minutes of transfers between buses and ferries, so check the current fares page before you ride.

Which hospitals are in Halifax?

The QEII Health Sciences Centre is the main adult hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with Dalhousie University, spread over two downtown sites: the Halifax Infirmary and the Victoria General. The emergency department is the Charles V. Keating Emergency and Trauma Centre at the Halifax Infirmary site. The IWK Health Centre on University Avenue provides care for children, youth, women and newborns across the Maritimes, and in an emergency you should always call 911.

See all Living in Halifax FAQs

Looking north of the city? See Chris's Living in Sackville guides.

Not sure which neighbourhood fits?

Tell Chris what matters to you, like schools, commute, lot size or budget, and he will narrow it down.

902-914-5455 Book a call