Quebec's 9 Best Retirement Towns Ranked

As you enter into your golden years, one of the final big decisions to make is when to retire. The reason is that it's often followed up with where to retire to. While you could stay where you are, this moment in life creates an opportunity to experience something different and unique. From quaint communities to sprawling metro towns with a variety of services and amenities, experiencing something new is well worth it.

More specifically, retiring in Quebec could be a good decision. It's perfect for those with a love for nature who want some cooler weather and to soak up a European atmosphere without having to move to Europe to enjoy it. Aside from that, Quebec's Francophone culture and amazing food are coupled with a relatively low cost of living, thriving arts communities, and friendly people. Below is a ranked list of some of the best towns in Quebec to retire to.

9. Notre-Dame-du-Portage

Canada as a whole has a lot of nature to appreciate, but it really starts to come out in rural areas. Quebec in particular has this in spades when you consider Notre-Dame-du-Portage. The area has earned recognition from the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of Quebec, and it's easy to see why.

The village itself rests against a river's shore and has the backdrop of lush forests and rolling hills, making it difficult to argue against the natural beauty of this place. In those forests rests Les Sentiers du Portage, a series of trails that weave and turn through the beautiful landscape that are perfect for mountain biking. All this natural beauty also makes it perfect for animal watching too. Specifically, Notre-Dame-du-Portage's natural beauty makes it the best place for bird watching. You've also got the Meeting room of the Auberge du Portage, which offers a variety of sports like tennis, cycling, and even sea kayaking. It also has a walking trail and heated outdoor saltwater pool.

Affordability is not an issue either, with the average house costing $327,000 CAD. For retirement home options, Notre-Dame-du-Portage doesn't have retirement homes in town, but there are several in the surrounding area that provide care and services for independent and assisted living.

8. Bromont

Another town recognized for its natural beauty is Bromont, as residents use its closeness to nature to offer residents trails, parks, and year-round recreational activities. Choosing to live here means having a love for skiing, mountain biking, golfing, and hiking. And even if you're not that active, the scenery is enough to make you want to explore the area.

The average home costs roughly $607,000 CAD, reflecting its appeal as a retirement spot, but if you can afford it, there is a lot this town has to offer. The retirement homes are also ideal, with places like Les Résidence Soleil Manoir Bromont providing a full range of services for independent and assisted living needs.

As for things to see and places to go, Bromont has a mixture of landscapes in peaks, lakes, and hills. This landscape alone is why Bromont is also called the "Golf capital of Quebec," as there are several courses, one of which is Le Royal Bromont. Alternatively, Bromont has other options to explore, like strolling through its heritage village, Vieux-Bromont, or you can go through a Zen experience and spa at Balnéa. You can also explore local wines at Domaine Les Brome vineyard.

7. Baie-Saint-Paul

Known as the birthplace of Cirque du Soleil, the town is steeped in cultural history and a thriving arts community. Best of all, living here is cheap, with the average house value being approximately $279,600 CAD. The town also has ample healthcare services in a hospital and several pharmacies to ensure quick and easy access to medical care.

Retirees also have a great number of activities to do in this vibrant and calming town. To start, its contemporary art museum, Musée d'art contemporain de Baie-St-Paul, features a vast scope of year-round national and international exhibits. Its existence, alongside several art galleries, is why Baie-Saint-Paul is one of the cultural capitals of Canada. You can also walk along the Charlevoix Flavour Trail and discover the land that brings high-quality wines, spirits, wild honeyberries, meats, charcuterie, and Charlevoix cheeses. Alternatively, you can explore Parc des Grands-Jardins, about thirty minutes away, or take walks along the Rivière du Gouffre in town.

6. Rimouski

Celebrated for its maritime heritage and hub for oceanic sciences, Rimouski is a unique balance of urban feeling and tranquil villages. It's a nice town for those looking to experience maritime experiences for the first time without having to go deep into the East Coast. You get a sense of this through the Site Historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père, where you can explore the Onondaga submarine. Rimouski also contains the second-tallest lighthouse in Canada.

Rimouski is also surrounded by lush forests and beautiful rivers, where several of its trails weave through. The Parc national du Bic captures a lot of this, but for a more unique experience, you can walk through Canyon des Portes de l'Enfer.

Housing is also quite affordable, with the average home cost being roughly $298,000 CAD. The Manoir Les Générations is a good retirement home choice with a variety of on-site activities and facilities like an indoor pool, billiard room, library, and a residential chef. They also offer services ideal for assisted living as well.

5. Inverness

Established by Scottish immigrants in 1829, the town started with twelve families from the Isle of Arran who formed this thriving community. In particular, this community focuses on bronze sculpting, which you can get a feel for through their Open Air Gallery as well as Bronze Museum. Inverness also has a popular park in Lysander Falls Park, where you could enjoy a relaxing evening or find creative inspiration. The community also comes together through their various music and food festivals, with one of the biggest being the Beef Festival held near the end of August.

Affordability is also not an issue, with a lot of goods being local. In addition, the average home value is around $206,000 CAD, making homes here a great deal. A solid retirement home option is Résidence Provencher, which has an on-site medical clinic and wheelchair accessibility.

4. Magog

Situated near Lake Memphremagog, the town of Magog enjoys a burst of tourism as well as comfortable living. But with an average home value of $346,400 CAD, a comfortable life here doesn't come at an outrageous cost. A solid retirement home option here is Havre des Cantons. It offers services for all kinds of seniors and retirees alike, including seniors suffering from Alzheimer's and Cognitive loss. And if you've got a more active and independent lifestyle, Magog has even more to offer.

Magog is home to the famous Vieux Clocher, a cabaret-style performance hall that features artists, comedians, and live performances that are renowned throughout Quebec. For more natural beauty, the trails of the Marais de la Rivière aux Cerises give you access to unspoiled nature as well as two vineyards to explore.

Retiring in a tourist town also isn't so bad due to the various events pulling in large crowds and the community together. Of note, the Magog-Orford Harvest Festival and the Trimemphré are the most notable.

3. Sainte-Rose-Du-Nord

Despite its small size, the town of Sainte-Rose-du-Nord offers a great deal of amenities that retirees would need. All of that is combined with beautiful riversides, tranquility, and nature. You get a feel for that the most when you consider that this town is a fishing town. Near the riversides, it's not uncommon to spot numerous species of fish like salmon, frostfish, halibut, flounder, sturgeon, and trout.

There are several locations that let you take advantage of hunting as well as other recreational activities. The Lordship of the Olaf River offers canoe, rowboat, and rabaska services, as well as hunting and fishing. Meanwhile, Cap au Leste Inn has hiking and winter activities like dog sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.

You can also really soak up the marine life through the Sainte-Rose-du-Nord nautical stopover. The breathtaking views of the fjord mix very well with the opportunity to scuba dive. All in all, the natural exploration is well worth it when you consider the average house value is roughly $170,000 CAD.

2. Amqui

In the Mi'kmaq language, Amqui means "where people have fun" and that applies for retirees too. Amqui is a small relay village that is recognized for its diversity as well as quality health care services and hospitality. Amqui is also home to the Parc régional de la Seigneurie-du-Lac-Matapédia, a regional park made of seven loops of easy-to-intermediate hiking trails.

The Revermont Golf Club is another option, with the golfing area being a challenge for experienced golfers while being forgiving for beginners too. Alternatively, you can go bowling at Quilles Vallée d'Amqui or check out Amqui's own microbrewery in La Captive, an historic building that was once a police station, jail, and fire station.

Affordability in Amqui is good too with the average home valued at $193,200 CAD. Retirement homes are also in abundance with Château Bellevue d'Amqui being an excellent pick for independent and assisted living.

1. Sutton

Sutton is a true mountain village and ideal for people wanting to fully experience mountain living and exploration. There is no shortage of outdoor activities here either, as Sutton provides a wide range of activities regardless of the season. With the average cost of a home running $494,400 CAD, Sutton has a solid mix of affordability and charm.

For starters, Sutton has a great park in Parc d'environnement Naturel de Sutton, which is ideal for hiking. You can also take in the various local art of the town by checking out Galerie Art Libre. If you want to soak up more of that mountain view, the Vélo Volant is an aerial rope course that gives you some gorgeous views. Retirement living is also supported by facilities such as Les Villas des Monts de Sutton, which has access to various health care services, recreational activities, and meal plans for independent and assisted living.

In Conclusion

A lot of Canada is surrounded with beautiful nature, but Quebec really captures it and offers a unique mix that only a central Canadian province can offer. For those with an eagerness to embrace the Francophone culture or who are French themselves, Quebec offers a place for anyone, including English-only speakers.

When all of this is combined with nearby health services, a strong and caring community, and rich culture, you'll be able to retire and enjoy it to the fullest in your own unique way.