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I believe the majority of people in both the US and in Canada would not give up living in their current situation to gain the benefits, whatever they are, of the other country. Sure, it would be nice if the US had universal healthcare, but would I leave my home in Southern California to live in Canada in order to get "free" healthcare? Not a chance.
That means, by definition, that most people are satisfied with their lives, or at least believe that they would not be significantly bettered by going through the hassle of emigrating. People can pull out all sorts of statistics about "social progress" or "quality of life" to prove that this or that country (state, city, etc.) is superior, but as far as I can see, the only statistic that really matters is the number of people who put their money where their mouth is and either STAY where they are or MOVE to another location. And the fact of the matter does seem to be that a larger percentage of Canadians move to the US than vice versa, by a factor of about ten.
To take an example, my brother is in Metro Detroit and his fiancee is in Metro Toronto. They're gonna live in Detroit after getting married in Toronto next Spring. Can you explain to me why they would go with Canada? They're both professionals, and plan to have kids.
In Detroit, they can get a beautiful suburban house for maybe 1/3 the cost of Toronto, with top-tier schools. They have private healthcare, from world-class hospitals. They can send their kids to University of Michigan, which is (probably) more prestigious than any Canadian school. Their professional salaries will be much higher. Traffic is better, consumer prices are better, even cell phone coverage is better. They have opportunities available in a country with 10x the population of Canada, and generally lower taxes and better weather.
Toronto is a booming and desirable city, thousands come to this city every year, hence the properties will be more expensive.
It is usually among the top ranked cities in the world when it comes to Livability. One of the top 3 in all of the American continent, with the first two being also Canadian cities.
If the houses cost triple there is because the city is attractive and the demand is high.
Source "... and the majority can afford expensive houses, health care, international travel, and a good quality of life?"
If a garage in Toronto costs $600k, and all the houses near and far are occupied, then the houses are expensive by USA standards. Personal taxes cover affordable health care, no one is left behind. International travel is a given since there is a thriving international community. Quality of life is a given with the latest stats on 2019 top cities and countries in the world. Canada is on the top city map, the states is not. Canada ranks 3 in the country chart. The states is barely in the top 10.
Toronto is a booming and desirable city, thousands come to this city every year, hence the properties will be more expensive.
It is usually among the top ranked cities in the world when it comes to Livability. One of the top 3 in all of the American continent, with the first two being also Canadian cities.
If the houses cost triple there is because the city is attractive and the demand is high.
Detroit? Well...
Not sure of your point here.
Yes, we all know Toronto has vastly more expensive housing, largely because Canada is the most pro-immigration country on earth, and 1/3 of newcomers go to Toronto. Why would a professional household prefer Toronto because of higher housing prices?
Detroit doesn't have the same immigration laws so isn't gonna have a bajillion immigrants pushing up housing prices. If Michigan (or any U.S. state) had the same immigration laws as Canada it would likely have similar affordability issues.
All of Canada has higher housing prices. Has nothing to do with desirability. Rust belt towns like Windsor and Hamilton have high housing prices. Vancouver has 3x the housing prices of much richer Seattle. High housing prices and low salaries are not exactly an attraction for most folks.
And Metro Detroit, generally speaking, is probably "nicer" than Metro Toronto. The homes, generally speaking, are larger, and yards are more spacious. Toronto has a vastly better core, but typical American suburbia is nicer than typical Canadian suburbia.
If a garage in Toronto costs $600k, and all the houses near and far are occupied, then the houses are expensive by USA standards. Personal taxes cover affordable health care, no one is left behind. International travel is a given since there is a thriving international community. Quality of life is a given with the latest stats on 2019 top cities and countries in the world. Canada is on the top city map, the states is not. Canada ranks 3 in the country chart. The states is barely in the top 10.
And Metro Detroit, generally speaking, is probably "nicer" than Metro Toronto. The homes, generally speaking, are larger, and yards are more spacious. Toronto has a vastly better core, but typical American suburbia is nicer than typical Canadian suburbia.
Detroit is Detroit but there are nice suburbs, for sure.
Bloomfield Hills is supposedly the Beverly Hills of the midwest, I want to say it's about 20 miles away.
Not sure but you say your spouse/fiancee' is going to be a doctor?
I believe the majority of people in both the US and in Canada would not give up living in their current situation to gain the benefits, whatever they are, of the other country. Sure, it would be nice if the US had universal healthcare, but would I leave in Southern California to live in Canada in order to get "free" healthcare? Not a chance.
That means, by definition, that most people are satisfied with their lives, or at least believe that they would not be significantly bettered by going through the hassle of emigrating. People can pull out all sorts of statistics about "social progress" or "quality of life" to prove that this or that country (state, city, etc.) is superior, but as far as I can see, the only statistic that really matters is the number of people who put their money where their mouth is and either STAY where they are or MOVE to another location. And the fact of the matter does seem to be that a larger percentage of Canadians move to the US than vice versa, by a factor of about ten.
Canadians don't really move to the states, in the sense of living there, more like they have a summer house down south. That doesn't mean that Canadians want to be citizens of the country where they have a summer house, just that they like the weather better in the winter.
Yes, we all know Toronto has vastly more expensive housing, largely because Canada is the most pro-immigration country on earth, and 1/3 of newcomers go to Toronto. Why would a professional household prefer Toronto because of higher housing prices?
My point is that Toronto is an attractive place for people, Detroit is not, hence the properties in Detroit will be cheaper. Simple supply and demand.
Coming from Ontario into Detroit feels like entering a war zone.
Lol NBC hates the United States, what do you expect?
The publication is from US News.
There are hundreds of studies showing the same results, in all of them Canada is consistently ahead of the US in livability and Social Progress.
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