Top 10 Reasons Why Youth Should Choose Perth County
#HomeGrownInPerthCounty followers,
As you may know by now, I love Perth County and want to encourage youth to consider making a life here because this is such an amazing area. With this in mind, let me share with you the top 10 reasons youth (or anyone for that matter!) should choose to make Perth County home...
1. Become a First Time Homeowner
As a young person, a goal that is on the mind of many is becoming a first time homeowner! In 2016, the median housing prices in Perth County for a single detached home was $286,478. This is far more attainable for youth when compared to a house with the same square footage in the Greater Toronto Region which costs on average $1,015,067.
"We chose to build a home and a life here because Perth County offers us opportunities not possible anywhere else. Being 22 and owning your own home typically isn’t possible in large cities, but the affordable housing and low cost of living in small town Listowel made this achievable for us." -Ashley, Perth County Resident
2. The Field is Bigger Than You Think: Land Your Dream Job in Perth County
As youth, we are often told that in order to be successful, we need to leave our small town – this could not be further from the truth! Whatever your interest is, there is a job in Perth County for you! In 2019, 91% of Perth County employers said they planned to hire – this is extremely good news for new grads or other young people looking to settle into a career. Coinciding well with the current hiring climate, Perth County has an unemployment rate of 4.0% which is significantly less than the provincial average – we have a very active workforce here! Check out these career cards to see some of the jobs available within Perth County’s most popular sectors or see the chart below showing the region’s labour force by occupation.
Aside from good job prospects, why choose Perth County to work? Being a rural area, there is less competition both within a company and externally – you are more likely to be promoted faster than you would at companies located in urban centres. Building a book of business and a loyal clientele is also easier in a rural area like Perth County, the community here is amazing and people want to support local more than ever. The average commute time in Perth County is ten minutes; this is substantially less than that which an individual in the GTA would have to drive every day. Who wants to lose two hours each day driving back and forth to work? Choose Perth County and your ten minute commute can include seeing the sunrise and sunset on the picturesque rural landscape we are surrounded by.
“You can see the stars when the sun goes down. There aren’t oversized flashy billboards everywhere you look, and you don’t spend hours commuting to and from work, surrounded by thousands of other people.” – Monica, Community Outreach Worker
“[In cities,] there is a ton of competition, so many people fighting for jobs. In a town like Listowel, you can and will work your way up at a professional firm. You will feel appreciated and valued as a young professional in a small town.” – Becca, Accountant
3. Have Everything You Need and Lots to Do
There is a common perception that in rural areas there is nothing to do. Ask anyone in our rural communities and they will tell you this is false - we do indeed have a wide variety of services, amenities, and things to do! Perth County has 26 elementary schools and 3 secondary schools. As an individual looking to start a family, you can feel a sense of relief knowing that we have plenty of educational options for your children – each of which that will cultivate humble, successful and happy students.
Geographically within Perth County, there are three hospitals and a handful of clinics all staffed with highly skilled doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel. When necessary, we also have access to large healthcare centres that can serve us to meet any specialized needs.
Beyond education and healthcare, our communities seek to foster a sense of community and social opportunity for its citizens. There are countless parks, community centres, pools, trails and other amenities that allow us to enjoy the outdoors, partake in sports teams or other activities.
While we don’t have all of the luxuries of urban centres, we have so much to offer including restaurants, breweries, shops and other activities. Check out Perth County’s Discover More brochure to check out all this region has to offer for your social life – plan to enjoy your next ‘date night’ or ‘family day’ right here in Perth County!
4. Live a Low Stress Life
Studies are consistently showing that stress is significantly higher amongst those living within urban centres. In Perth County, enjoy a slower pace of life and take time to relish in the rural, picturesque area we live and work within. While we at Perth County cannot endorse a guaranteed stress-free life, we can promise that you will feel safe, valued, and relaxed within our rural communities. From short commute times, to authentic and quaint rural experiences, you will have a low-stress lifestyle.
5. Farm to Table: A Core Belief
More than ever, people care about where their food comes from – especially young people. Although this is an increasingly popular trend among urban areas, this has been a consistent and core belief in rural communities for decades. Living in rural Perth County, which is one of the most productive agriculture regions in Ontario, we are positioned perfectly to support our local producers, but also advocate for and teach others about the agriculture industry. Check out Perth County’s Farm Gate Map to see where you can pick up your local produce, meat or other delicious eats – when you purchase your goods locally, you really are supporting the ‘farm to table’ movement.
“It’s perfect for Perth County because there’s no shortage of suppliers for my food. The roads are nice and quiet for my deliveries. I appreciate all of the infrastructure and road work. And it’s so scenic. The response from customers has been amazing – the people here are extremely supportive and fiercely loyal. I’m living out my dream and I love it here.” – Jeannine, Entrepreneur
6. Be Community-Minded
One of the most important aspects to me when I think of life in Perth County is the sense of community – as is true for others. Not only does everyone know one another and say hello as
you walk down the street, people are supportive. This sense of community is why people sincerely enjoy the rural lifestyle, along with all the ‘quirks’ that come with it. There is something to be said about going to your favourite breakfast spot where you are welcomed by name, or the local hospital where you are greeted with familiar faces that will go above and beyond to help. In Perth County you know your neighbours and the community you live in, which is one of the most unique aspects of this lifestyle and makes the rural experience so positive.
7. Be Perfectly Situated
Perth County is geographically located close to major urban centres in Southwestern Ontario – within a one hour drive you can be to London, Kitchener, and Waterloo. In just over an hour and a half, you can be to our province’s capital, Toronto. We are perfectly situated to the conveniences of urban centres, yet can still enjoy the rural lifestyle.
8. Be Part of a Safe and Family Friendly Community
As young people looking to start a family or simply finding a place to create a life, Perth County is the perfect place to do this. You can feel safe and secure here, while knowing that we have a low crime rate and the community members support one another. For example, a seemingly simple part of our small-town lifestyle, letting children walk to school, is a sought after luxury for some in urban centres. While we may take these things for granted, they’re all aspects that uniquely make this authentic and rural lifestyle what it is.
“80% of my childhood was spent just running around outside. It was amazing. I want my kids to have a similar carefree and fun childhood – and it’s a lot harder and certainly much more dangerous for kids to have that in bigger urban centres. I am happy with my life in Mitchell.” – Christina, Graphic Designer.
“All of Perth County feels like home. It’s simply a great place to be. It was such a great place to grow up and it will be a great place to raise my own family one day.” – Joe, Carpenter
9. Live a Picturesque Life
Again, something we simply take for granted – our picturesque landscape. Here, you aren’t surrounded by billboards or lights, but rather an endless view of green pastures and farmland that is perfectly accented with Perth County sunrises and sunsets. This is something that urban dwellers yearn for and only experience on weekend cottage adventures – in Perth County, this is our day-to-day reality.
10. Think Global, While Supporting Local
While we are self-admittedly rural and small-town, the innovation happening in Perth County extends far beyond our borders. We have award-winning businesses, one-of-a-kind products that are shipped globally, and agriculture producers who feed cities within Canada and beyond. The idea of being both locally minded, but globally present perfectly sums up the lifestyle within Perth County; we are intentionally simple and small-town, but are innovative and leaders in many sectors.
“I fully believe that people are more likely to seek out a product or service that they can get from a local person or company. I’m convinced that no consumer is more loyal than small towns supporting their local businesses.” – Kahley, Entrepreneur
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