Living in Prince Edward County, Ontario

Who it suits

Buyers who want space, water and a slower pace: retirees, remote workers, families who want village schools and a big backyard, and people starting a business in food, wine or hospitality. Sandbanks and North Beach provincial parks bring hundreds of thousands of visitors every summer, so expect a busy season and a quiet winter.

Villages at a glance

• Picton: the County's largest town, with the hospital (a new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital is being built), schools, groceries and Main Street shops.
• Wellington: a lakeside village on the south shore, close to Sandbanks, known for restaurants and newer homes.
• Bloomfield: a small village between Picton and Wellington with galleries and cafés.
• Consecon & Carrying Place: at the north end of the County, the closest to Trenton and the 401.
• Ameliasburgh & Milford: rural hamlets with farmland and waterfront.

What to know before you buy

Many County properties are on private wells and septic systems, so build water testing and a septic inspection into your offer. If you're thinking about renting the home short-term, check the County's short-term accommodation licensing rules first. Waterfront, heritage and agricultural properties each come with their own checks. This is where local advice pays for itself.

Getting around

Picton is about 30 minutes from Belleville and roughly 45 minutes from Trenton. Highway 62 and Highway 33 (the Loyalist Parkway) connect the County to the mainland, and the Glenora ferry links it to the Kingston side.