Sitting in southern Ontario, Whitby is west of Oshawa and located on the north shore of Lake Ontario. The southern part of Whitby is mostly urban, while the northern part is rural and home to a few city parks. The vast majority of Whitby residents own vehicles and commute to work via car, truck, or van, whereas only about 12% of commuters utilize public transit. Regardless of how they are getting there, many residents have a 15 to 29 minute commute and are commuting either within the community or region. This is not surprising considering Whitby is the home to a steel mill, pharmaceutical manufacturer, and other major corporations.

While Whitby has four railways that pass through it, as well as local transit through the Durham Region Transit, living here will most likely require you to own a car. As such, you will also need to factor in the cost of car insurance and gas.

While Whitby gives off a small town vibe, there is still plenty to do throughout. For those that enjoy the water, the Whitby Yacht Club offers racing and social boating programs on Lake Ontario. But if staying on land is more your forte, Whitby is home to the one of the largest minor sports centers in North America, the Iroquois Park Sports Centre. Here you can utilize one of the six arenas, six tennis courts, four baseball diamonds, a swimming and wading pool, and soccer field or playground. The Sports Centre also offers a restaurant so you can grab a bite to eat after playing all day.

In addition to sporting activities, Whitby offers the following other attractions:

• Station Art Gallery
• Reptilia Zoo and Education Centre
• Whitby Courthouse Theatre
• Sky Zone Trampoline Park
• Playdium
• iFly Toronto
• Lynde Shores Conservation Area
• Intrepid Park
• Rotary Sunrise Lake Park
• Lynde House Museum
• Nature’s Photo Adventures

Whitby has three main highways that run through it: the 401, 407 and 412. Highway 401 is located on the south end of Whitby and interchanges at two of its most popular roads, Brock St and Thickson Rd. Highway 407 is north of Whitby and runs through the Brooklin neighborhood, while highway 412 connects highways 401 and 407. Some of the other major roads one can find in Whitby are Dundas Street West, Rossland Road, Cochrane Street, and Columbus Road. There are also some notable neighborhoods in Whitby, including the following:

Taunton North

The Taunton North neighborhood in Whitby is currently in the process of transitioning from rural to urban with new homes being built throughout. Crime rates are roughly 10% lower than the average in Whitby, making it a great neighborhood to live in. The roads that make up Taunton North are Baldwin Street, Garden Street, Anderson Street, Thickson Road, and Garrard Road. There are not many transit options however. So it would be best for residents in this neighborhood to own a car, and fortunately, there is easy access to the freeway and a decent amount of parking.

Port Whitby

The neighborhood of Port Whitby is located on the south end of Whitby and runs from Lake Ontario up through the highway 401. Due to its proximity to Lake Ontario, Port Whitby is home to many nature trails and parks but also close enough to Royal Oak Plaza off Broke Road where there are many retail stores and shops. Only about 26% of the homes here consist of rentals, so there are not many options available to those not ready to buy a property. But for the remaining 74%, Port Whitby would be a great place to call home.

Brooklin

Brooklin is located north of Whitby at the southern junction of highways 12 and 7. It is separated from the remainder of Whitby by highway 407, and as such, has a more close-knit community feel than other neighborhoods mentioned. The downtown area of Brooklin is centered along Baldwin Street and Winchester Street and is the site for many events during the year such as farmer’s markets and fairs. This neighborhood is geared more towards families with 95% of the homes being owner occupied and many residents who commute within the Greater Toronto Area.

Williamsburg

Many individuals who move to Whitby will ultimately move to Williamsburg, located on the North West side of Whitby and bordered by Coronation Road, Brock Street, Taunton Road, and Rossland Road. It is a perfect neighborhood to raise a family given the many higher rated schools in the area. With easy access to highways 401 and 412, Williamsburg is also attractive to those who commute to work.

If your car is older and you do not have a loan on it, you might consider dropping the collision coverage. Just be aware that you may not have coverage for damage to your car depending on the circumstances of an accident.

Finally, shop around for auto insurance on occasion. Auto insurers are always looking for ways to lower their premiums. You might find that another insurance company offers a better rate than the one you are currently getting.