Nepean, Ottawa

Nepean, a former independent city, is now part of Ottawa in Ontario. It was first established as a township in 1792, which included the central region of Ottawa. However, in 1978, Nepean Township was recognised as a city. Nepean is geographically bordered by the Ottawa River in the north, Robertson Road to the south, the Rideau River in the east, and Herzberg to the north. Nepean had its own library organisation, police department, and fire service until its amalgamation in 2001. Before its inclusion in Ottawa, education here was governed by the Carleton Board of Education. Still, since its amalgamation, it has joined hands with the Ottawa Board of Education and become the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. The neighbourhood has a diversified community with couples, children, singles, and older people and comprises over 180,000 residents. Nepean has been home to big-ticket industries like Nortel Networks and JDS Uniphase.

With a livability score of 88 out of 100, Nepean trumps several neighbourhoods regarding the quality of life it provides residents. The neighbourhood is ideal for anyone looking to settle down as it offers multiple amenities like top-notch schools, parks, healthcare facilities, shopping malls, restaurants, and many recreational opportunities. This area is well connected with numerous bus routes, making transportation to other parts of the city a breeze. The residents of Nepean can easily commute to Kanata, a neighbouring region, and downtown Ottawa for work. The total crime rate is 36% lower than the national statistics, proving that Nepean is an excellent neighbourhood for people regarding safety and security. This little snapshot of the crime rate in Nepean depicts the safety culture of the area and shows that people in the neighbourhood are sweet and safe.

The median income of Nepean, Ottawa, is 22% higher than the national household income. The employment opportunities are also relatively better as the unemployment rate is 32% lower than the national dynamics. The prevalent language among the residents in Ottawa is English. A whopping 59.3% of the people speak solely in English, while a small number of people standing at 1.4%, speak only in French. According to the stats, the rest of the residents are a mixed bag speaking in multilingual tongues.

Ottawa is a dreamland for people to settle down given its lower crime rates (13% lower than Ontario), lower cost of living (17% lower than Ontario), and lower real estate rates (28% lesser than Ontario). The lifestyle in this region is superb, with the additional advantage of having a low cost of living. The superb amenities like recreational sectors, shopping establishments, eateries, excellent educational institutes, healthcare organisations, and a safe and family-friendly community are the cherry on the cake for its residents.

Schools

The Nepean community is ideal for families with children, as many top-notch schools are nearby. Ottawa has about 456 public schools, and the test scores are 8% higher than the national record. Thus, one not only gets multiple options to choose from regarding educational institutes but also gets better quality education for their children. A massive population of about 89.2% has completed high school education. In comparison, a good amount of people (about 39.7%) have a bachelor's degree in Ottawa, thus underlining the high educational standards in the region. Some of the best schools in the Nepean region are:

• Barrhaven Public School
• Barrhaven Public School
• Lakeview Public School
• Bell High School
• Merivale High School
• Sir Robert Borden High School
• Monsignor Paul Baxter School
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School
• Frank Ryan Intermediate School
• St. Mother Teresa High School
• Algonquin College

Restaurants

Ottawa ranks #147 among other cities in Ontario, and why not? It has some fantastic gems in the culinary sphere. Locals can enjoy scrumptious spreads at restaurants and eateries. Some of the most popular and best-reviewed dining establishments in Nepean and the surrounding neighbourhoods are:

• Wilf and Ada’s
• North and Navy
• JOEY Rideau
• Town
• Shanghai Wonton
• Les Grillades
• Bâton Rouge Grillhouse & Bar
• Rôtisserie Scores

Shopping Malls

The livability of a place is highly determined by the accessibility to markets and shopping malls in the region. One of the leading neighbourhoods. The popularity of Nepean among residents is the presence of multiple franchises, malls, and local markets in close vicinity. Let us look at some of the best stores in and around the neighbourhood.

• Bayshore Shopping Centre
• Carlingwood Shopping Centre
• Merivale Mall
• Village Square
• Bleeker Mall
•  Crossroads Centre
• Chapman Mills Marketplace

Hospitals

Having the best medical facilities at their disposal is always a perk and provides people with much-needed peace of mind. Nepean, Ottawa has some of the nation's best hospitals and healthcare facilities. Let us look at some of the best medical institutes in the area:

• College Square Medical Centre
• CMAP Health
• CBI Health
• Elysian Wellness Centre
• Bariatric Medical Institute
• Queensway Carleton Hospital

Nepean is the epicentre of all quirky and attractive destinations in Ottawa. From parks, museums, hiking trails, and historical sites, one can find several interesting locales around Nepean.

Andrew Haydon Park

Given its stunning Ottawa River location, it is a popular picnic spot among locals. Andrew Haydon Park is also an outdoor concert area in Ottawa. The Nepean Sailing Club is located close by. This beautiful park hosts migratory birds like Canadian geese, ducks, and shorebirds. The park, designed by Donald W. Graham, has walking trails and play structures for children.

Canadian Museum of Nature

The Canadian Museum of Nature was initially established in Montreal and moved to Ottawa in 1881. This museum contains materials, artefacts, and information on natural history and hence the name. The museum's exhibitions and programmes are held in the Victoria Memorial Museum Building.

Mooney's Bay Park and Beach

This public park is on the Rideau River and comprises a picnic area, a children's playground, a beach, Sue Holloway Fitness Park, and the Terry Fox Stadium. Mooney's Bay Park and Beach is a place where one can relax and unwind, and it is also a hub of activities. One can swim in the Rideau River, bike along the trails, or even participate in cross-country skiing.

Whether planning a date night or looking for ways to unwind over the weekend, the options are endless for the people of Nepean. One has options for conventional avenues like watching movies or visiting cafes and game arcades, as well as non-conventional avenues like escape rooms and VR arcades. The following are some quirky yet super fun things to do in Nepean.

Smash Room

One of a kind, Smash Room allows the visitors to choose their preferred smashable items and their weapon and go about a smashing streak, breaking the things without any worry about the mess. One can do it alone or in groups as a unique way to unwind and destress.

VR Adventures Zone

Enjoy immersive and customised virtual reality adventures in the area because Nepean has Canada's largest virtual gaming park. The VR Adventures Zone is a virtual gaming centre sprawling over 13,000 sq. ft. Action VR arcades, VR escape rooms, birthday parties, school trips, and corporate events are some of the services offered here.

Valleyview Little Animal Farm

It is an innovative endeavour to bring the farm and its animals close to the people. This animal farm offers creative play areas and teaches about animals by bringing them into direct contact with visitors, like llamas and goats. This educational tour also shows the farm equipment of yesteryear, like steam engines and hand tools.

Connectivity is one of the USPs of Nepean, Ottawa. Thus, this family-friendly neighbourhood can be the perfect home for you, even if your workplace is far away. Let us see the distance and commute time to some important places around Nepean.

• The nearest intercity passenger rail station to Nepean is the Fallowfield station. It is located at a distance of about 6.5 km in Barrhaven.
• Another nearest railway station is Tunney's Pasture, at a distance of 8.5 km. It is the terminal for the western O-Train.
• Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) is the closest airport to Nepean at only 6.4 kilometres.
• Downtown Ottawa is only 20 minutes away.

Ottawa is a commercial hub and home to many retail shops, franchises, shopping malls, etc. Some of the famous shopping centres in Nepean are:

Bayshore Shopping Centre

It is a significant shopping mall in Nepean and is the second largest in the NCR. Some popular stores in this mall are Hudson's Bay, HomeSense, and Walmart.

Carlingwood Shopping Centre

This mall is one of the major shopping destinations in Ottawa. It has over 100 stores, and some of the popular ones include Dollarama, Rexall, Dairy Queen, Subway, Tim Hortons, CIBC, RBC, and Loblaws.

Merivale Mall

Established in 1976, the Merivale Mall is only a 20 minutes drive from downtown Ottawa. The anchor tenants of this mall include Farm Boy, CIBC, Shoppers Drug Mart, Planet Fitness, Sport Chek, etc. Thus, one can find all the daily essentials under one roof.

Ottawa is a densely populated city. About 1,058,126 people live in the city, with a population density of 365 people per square kilometre. The population density is 986% higher than in Ontario. This high population contributes to active city life and is a great place for socialising and networking.

The possibilities of entertainment and recreation are endless in Nepean. You will find something fun to do with your children and pets in the area. Some of the ways you can enjoy a day out are:

• Funhaven is an entertainment zone with programs meant for everyone across age groups. The events include bumper cars, jungle gym, bowling area, toddler play area, hundreds of games, etc. One can also host birthday parties for their children and small events in this premium entertainment destination.
• Recreation with your pets is also ample in the neighbourhood. For instance, the pet store Pet Valu allows one to take their dog in the store where the canines can tour and choose the things they like, from toys to treats.

The cost of living in Nepean, Ottawa is 8% lower than the living cost in overall Canada. The housing cost in the region is substantially less: it is approximately 35% lower than the rest of the nation. Thus, in Ottawa, you get diversified amenities supporting a wholesome, comfortable life and an affordable lifestyle. The following statistics will better illuminate the average cost of living in Ottawa.

The median real estate price in Nepean, Ottawa, is $699,000. The average cost is approximately $710.74 per sq. ft., and the listed property remains on the market for about 43 days. The affordability of property in the Nepean neighbourhood makes it a popular investment option among new families and first-time property investors. There are multiple housing options to choose from based on the buyer's needs, ranging from single-family houses and terraced houses to condominiums. Considering the affordability of the area, coupled with the varied amenities of the region, the real estate market in Nepean is only set to increase in the future.