Living in Airdrie

[monkeyman]

Hey Guys/Girls, I’ve been considering selling my house here in calgary and buying in Airdrie. Can anyone offer advice or an opinion? I’d appreciate any info from anyone living there regarding the daily commute and any info you’d like to share.
Thanks.

[Jayems]

My girlfriends sister and her family lived out there for a few years before they cashed in on the market boom. I can't tell you about the commute, but I can tell you it was a nice quiet town and they loved it.

Just don't get into drugs.. you'll be put in a coma if you don't pay.

[photon]

Daily commute isn't that bad, though it's been 3-4 years or so since I did it.

[MaherFan]

Great city, though when a city doubles in population over a short period of time, there is bound to be traffic problems... a couple years ago it wasnt bad. Alot of infrastructure work is getting done though... other than that the only other issue I have is that we have to drive out to Didsbury for healthcare.

[droopydrew19]

My commute is about 30 mins from Airdrie to mission (just off the south edge of downtown Calgary)

I usually leave between 730 and 8 am.

The only real daily snarl is at the North end of Calgary around 64th Ave. Otherwise it is clear sailing.

Another thing I never knew when I bought in Airdrie is that your auto insurance premuims are lower out here. By lower I mean 30% lower.

[Resolute 14]

Airport Trail to 64th is a clusterpuck every morning between 7:15-9:00, but otherwise isnt too bad. I used to leave at 7:00 and got to my job off Glenmore and Elbow in about 40 minutes when I lived in Airdrie.

[Table 5]

Personally, I can't understand why anyone would live in Airdrie. It really has no small town charm as it's pretty much one big two-car garage house subdivision like most of Calgary. It's the worst of both worlds.....it has no real small town feel AND it's longer driver into work. Why bother?

As well that place just gives me the creeps....everytime ive been in that city, i feel like everyone is looking at me in a weird X-Files "we're up to something" sort of way.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Personally, I can't understand why anyone would live in Airdrie. It really has no small town charm as it's pretty much one big two-car garage house subdivision like most of Calgary. It's the worst of both worlds.....it has no real small town feel AND it's longer driver into work. Why bother?

As well that place just gives me the creeps....everytime ive been in that city, i feel like everyone is looking at me in a weird X-Files "we're up to something" sort of way.

Funny but that's always been my vibe about Airdrie as well. Plunked down in the middle of nothing -- Nothing attractive about it or small town.

Why not move to Cochrane -- scenery, the river and some charm.

[fredr123]

I hear they have a teen gang problem up their in Airdrie...

[The Goon]

Why not move East to Chestermere instead? They have that nice lake.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

A guy I worked with built there as he thought the housing would be cheaper. Turns out the lot is about 10-15% cheaper but the house itself is the same price as Calgary. Not a lot of savings. Ditto the above comments on small town feel, I'd pick Okotoks or Cochrane if you're after that.

[Jonrox]

You should really consider Okotoks:

- 11 minutes from Shawnessy
- the commute is much shorter than from Airdrie (distance-wise it may be a bit farther, but you save time due to greatly reduced traffic coming from and going to the south)
- it has retained it's small town feeling
- it has everything you need (a lot more than Airdrie)
- you get the same auto-insurance savings
- if you live in the Crystal Ridge area you have lake access
- a few years ago (and maybe it's still true), Okotoks had the highest per capita disposable income of any city/town in Alberta
- there isn't a major highway running straight through the middle of your "beautiful" city making it a royal pain to get around

[Flash Walken]

just say no to airdrie

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Jonrox

- the commute is much shorter than from Airdrie (distance-wise it may be a bit farther, but you save time due to greatly reduced traffic coming from and going to the south)

Personally, I dont think so. Morning rush, Deerfoot flat out dies between Southland and Paigan. Deerfoot doesn't bottleneck like that in the north.

- it has retained it's small town feeling

True. It is less than half the size of Airdrie though, so that is to be expected.

-it has everything you need (a lot more than Airdrie)

Bout the only thing I can think of that Okotoks has on Airdrie is a Jr A hockey team.

- there isn't a major highway running straight through the middle of your "beautiful" city making it a royal pain to get around

This is true, and thank the province for wasting time and money building a completely unecessary second interchange into Innisfail before twinning the bridges acrosse Hwy 2 in Airdrie, and building an interchange at Hwy 7 into Okotoks. That was completely backwards.

OTOH, you arent an hour away from the airport if you want to go on vacation if you live in Airdrie vs Okotoks. Getting downtown is easier and faster from Airdrie, as is getting to the Dome.

[Dion]

Why not High River?

It's 48 kms south of Calgary and you have the Deerfoot extension that makes it alot quicker. Hit the cruise buttom and relax with some tunes as you head to work.

Housing is cheaper here than in Okotoks or Calgary and we still have a small town attitude. House prices in Okotoks are about the same as Calgary and yes insurance premiums for cars are way cheaper here also.