Quick answer: For a family, St. Albert means Riverside Villas, a townhome community on Redspur Drive, with schools in the city and the Sturgeon River trails. Edmonton means a shorter commute and more walkable neighbourhoods, including Old Strathcona, Rossdale and Chappelle. GSK rents in both. Pick the one whose weekday you have actually driven.
What does a family give up by choosing St. Albert?
A short hop to downtown, to the University of Alberta, or to Whyte Avenue. St. Albert is a separate city on the northwest edge. The road in is St. Albert Trail, and the bus is St. Albert Transit. Families who are in Edmonton five days a week feel that. Families who work in St. Albert, or in northwest Edmonton, often do not.
The gain is the reason people move there on purpose: a quieter street, townhome layouts instead of a stacked apartment, and schools in the community. It is a comfort choice. It is not a nightlife choice.
What does Edmonton offer a family instead?
More than one kind of neighbourhood. Old Strathcona puts you near Whyte Avenue and campus. Rossdale is the walkable, lower-priced option beside downtown and the river valley. Chappelle, in the southwest, is newer construction with Chappelle Garden Apartments and Chappelle Gardens Villas on Chappelle Boulevard. North Edmonton is Nova Villa on 152 Avenue. West Edmonton is Guardian Apartments and Guardian Villas on Guardian Road in Glastonbury.
Those are different family lives. A townhome in Chappelle is not a walk-up in Old Strathcona. Compare the listing in front of you with Riverside Villas on space, utilities included, and the commute you timed, not on a city average.
What should the comparison include besides rent?
Utilities. A suite that includes heat, water and internet costs less in January than a lower rent that bills those separately. The deposit, which Alberta caps at one month's rent. Pets, which are set per building. And maintenance: GSK's team is in-house, with a 24-hour response, in both cities.
Do not use a median-income statistic as a reason to sign. A higher citywide income does not tell you whether this townhome fits your budget.
FAQ
Which GSK building is in St. Albert?
Riverside Villas, on Redspur Drive.
Is St. Albert better for kids?
It is the quieter townhome option, with schools in the community. Edmonton has more neighbourhood types, including newer southwest townhomes in Chappelle. Visit the school designated for the exact address. Boundaries are set by the school board.
Is the commute the deciding factor?
For most families, yes. Time it from Redspur Drive, and from the Edmonton building you are also considering, at the hour you would leave.
Where are the current rents?
On each property page. The St. Albert and Edmonton rental pages list what is available now.
