Anyone who tells you that Alberta is a nice place to live isn’t lying to you. The province has, over the years, been praised for its stunning mountains, strong economy, and beautiful parks, which is true.
But here is the thing, some places in this province face real struggles dealing with rising crime rates, unemployment, lack of amenities, unaffordable housing and so on.
If you want to move to Alberta, you should know these places (which I consider to be the worst places to live in Alberta) so you can avoid them.
Now, this isn’t to shame these places (I don’t have that intention), it’s to help you make an informed decision.
Because choosing where to live is an important decision, you need every piece of information that will help you make the right choice.
I have spent the last 5 years in this province (lived in different areas), and in some of these places, you will struggle to stay safe, get basic items, and cope with the living demands.
The places are:
Top 10 worst places to live in Alberta
Available data shows that the worst places to live in Alberta are Red Deer, Fort McMurray, Lloydminster, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Wetaskiwin, Cold Lake, Drayton Valley, High Level and Medicine Hat.
Red Deer
Red Deer is located between Calgary and Edmonton, and was once seen as a peaceful, mid-sized city that is ideal for families and commuters.
However, things have changed. In recent years, this part of Alberta has moved from peaceful to now high-crime area.
There has been a significant rise in crime and social challenges, all of which have seen Red Deer become one of the most concerning places to live in Alberta.
According to Statistics Canada’s Crime Severity Index (CSI), Red Deer scored 148.1, which places it as the third highest in Canada and, of course, above the national average of 78.1.
This also means that the city is among the top ten worst urban centres in Canada for crime severity.
Among the crimes prevalent in Red Deer is violent crime. It is particularly troubling. Assaults, domestic violence, and robberies have all been on the rise, with over 1,700 violent incidents reported last year alone.
That’s not all. Property crimes happen all the time. Last year saw Red Deer record over 4,000 incidents of theft under $5,000, break-and-enters, and vehicle thefts.
You would think that’s all, but no, drug-related offences are also not left out. Many of the drug issues are tied to fentanyl and methamphetamine abuse.
If you remember, the city declared a state of emergency years ago due to the opioid crisis. And this hasn’t stopped. Those involved just changed to a different drug.
Residents often report feeling unsafe at night, especially in public places. Over 62% of residents are reportedly concerned about personal safety when walking alone after dark.
Red Deer’s location looks good on a map, but that’s where it ends. The real-life experience of living there isn’t as great as the city looks on the map.
I wouldn’t live here unless I didn’t care about my safety and that of my family.
Lloydminster
This is one city with one foot in Alberta and the other in Saskatchewan. Lloydminster is unique on the map, but we can’t deny the obvious issue about this city.
It has some very deep-rooted problems and one of them is its dependence on oil.
Here is what the picture looks like in Lloydminster. The city thrives once oil prices soar, and when it doesn’t, the city suffers deeply.
Its economic health is tightly bound to the volatile oil industry, meaning downturns hit fast and hard.
The last dip, we saw mass layoffs, business closures, and wage stagnation.
In addition to this, the city also have its own share of riase in crime.
Crime Metrics in :
- CSI (Crime Severity Index): 82.19: You can say this is not the worst in Alberta, but its still not looking good because the numbers only tell part of the story.
- Property crimes like theft, vandalism, vehicle break-ins are common issue in Lloydminster.
- Drug-related offenses have increased, tied to broader issues with addiction and cross-border trafficking.
For the locals, they can’t leave their car unlocked anymore – even in your their driveway.”. “There’s nothing for the youth here. That’s why they get into trouble.”
The problem with the city is simple:
- Heavy dependence on oil (boom-or-bust economy)
- High unemployment during downturns
- Rising drug-related crime
- Limited healthcare and mental health resources
If you’re looking for where you wi stay for the long term or career growth. Lloydminster isn’t the best place unless you’re in oil and ready for the ups and downs.
Lethbridge
Lethbridge used to be that one place where people left their doors open and kids played in the streets without fear until sunset.
But all of that is in the past now. You can’t leave your door unlocked or allow your kid to play outside anymore.
Over the past few years, the city’s image has been shifting – and not in a good way.
Safety has become a growing concern. Lethbridge earned itself an unfortunate distinction in the past three years.
It recorded so much crime that lethbridgenewsnow.com confirmed it as the place with Canada’s highest Crime Severity Index.
Its number was far above the national benchmark. At the begining, everyone hoped it was just a spike that wil go down with time, but waht looked like a one in a life time issue has come to stay.
Recent police reports and community surveys have shown that it’s a persistent issue, not a fluke.
If you intend to live here, you should be worried about crime, unless you have means of protecting yourself in ways that the perpetrators won’t get to you.
Currently, Lethbridge is seriously battling a rise in drug use, petty theft, and violent altercations, especially in areas that are close to downtown and public shelters.
Quite often, you will hear locals complaining about the disturbing number of discarded needles in public parks and a spike in emergency responses to opioid overdoses.
There is also the economic angle of what is happening in Lethbridge. Reportedly, the city is more affordable than Calgary or Edmonton but rising housing costs, stagnant wages, and growing utility expenses is putting pressure on households as we speak.
I wouldn’t recommend Lethbridge easily. I spent 7 months here and my experience wasn’t good at all.
Lethbridge isn’t beyond hope. But right now, it’s in a difficult place – caught in the crossfire between economic stress and public safety breakdowns, and searching for a way to restore the peace it once proudly claimed.
Grande Prairie
Even though I have been to this city, I didn’t stay for long (I was there for just 1 month).
However, I met several people who lived in Grande Prairie while working in Fort McMurray, and the feedback was always mixed – mostly leaning negative.
It’s a city of about 65,000, but it feels a lot rougher than its size suggests. Drugs, property crime, and aggressive panhandling are the issues the residents are dealing with on daily basis.
Statistics Canada once ranked Grande Prairie as one of the most dangerous cities in Alberta by crime severity index.
And recent data hasn’t suggested otherwise. As a reident, you have to deal with the fear of being a victim of one crime or the other.
Downsides of living in Grande Prairie:
There is:
- High crime, especially vehicle break-ins and drug use
- Harsh winters with extreme windchill
- Expensive rent for what you get
- Not very walkable or pedestrian-friendly
While you will fnd high-paying oil jobs in this place, most people don’t stay here for lifestyle or community.
Fort McMurray
If you have not been on the inside, you will be moved by the thriving oil sands industry, which this part of Alberta is known for.
However, this industry heavily influences the local economy and the cost of living in Fort McMurray.
And while that looks like it’s a good thing, the reality is different. The cost of living here is off the roof.
For instance, the average monthly expenses on rent are around $1,871, which places Fort McMurray in the top 24% of the most expensive cities worldwide, according to Livingcost.
Aside from students, who, of course, find it hard to cope with this high cost of living, other residents also face the same challenge.
You need to earn high to survive here. Other necessities like groceries, utilities, and transportation are priced above the national average.
A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs about $25, and a monthly public transit pass is roughly $115, and that is if it is available at all, because public transportation in Fort McMurray is very limited and not always reliable.
If you are a student and you want to live here, then you should think twice. The city is in a remote location in Northern Alberta, which means it’s far from major educational hubs like Calgary or Edmonton.
Although there is Keyano College, options for university-level study or broader academic resources are very limited.
The weather is another factor. Winter in Fort McMurray is always long and harsh, with temperatures frequently going down below -30°C.
I stayed in this city for a while, and it wasn’t easy at all. Every day was a battle.
North Central Edmonton
I lived in Edmonton for two years, and while the city has its charm, North Central Edmonton gave me some of the most uneasy nights I’ve ever experienced.
If you stay here for a few days, you will notice that this part of the city, especially around Alberta Avenue, McCauley, and Central McDougall, has been plagued by high crime rates.
According to Edmonton Police reports on crime rate, these areas consistently rank among the worst for property crime, assaults, and drug-related incidents.
You will witness crimes, like theft, vandalism, and assault, happening so often that you start avoiding going outside the house.
There is also the issue of visible homelessness and addiction crisis among the youth in these areas.
If safety and peace of mind top your list, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
Brooks
On the outside, Brooks seem like a small-town escape, but its not like that for those who live there.
Many residents describe it as isolated, underdeveloped, and struggling.
If you are an immigrant, you will love to hear that Brooks has a large immigrant population and affordable housing, but don’t celebrate yet because, it also has limited career opportunities, especially for young professionals.
Brooks is facing issues like:
- Few job options outside meatpacking or agriculture
- Poor nightlife, shopping, and recreation
- High turnover in housing and jobs
- Overcrowded schools and limited medical facilities
Many people that I have met who moved heere at some point did so for cheaper housing but they left within a year due to the lack of services and quality of life.
Wetaskiwin
Population-wise, Wetaskiwin is small (this town of just 13,000), but when it comes to crime, it’s punching way above its weight – and not in a good way.
Wetaskiwin is only about an hour from Edmonton, yet consistently ranks poorly in safety indexes.
According to the Wetaskiwin Times, the Crime Severity Index (CSI) in Wetaskiwin is a staggering 367.2, which is nearly three times the the provincial average of 103.2.
I understand this is just number to the ear, but that’s not just a statistic; it’s a red flag.
For a city of fewer than 13,000 residents, this is a serious concern. It shows persistent issues with violence, property crime, and a growing drug crisis.
Just like Lloydminster, Wetaskiwin’s fate is often decided by the oil and gas sector. If that industry slowed down, so will the city’s job market.
For me, Wetaskiwin is a city in need of a reset. High crime, economic drag, and crumbling infrastructure form a tough trifecta.
There is no denying that it’s got potential – but right now, residents are paying the price for years of neglect and economic dependence on one industry.
Notable issues you will see here are:
- Break-ins and vehicle theft are frequent
- Very limited job market
- Low wages and high poverty rates
- Few amenities or cultural activities
It’s quiet, yes, but not in a safe or serene way. Many families move out after realizing that they can’t deal with the riasing crime rate here.
Other places that you should worry about are:
High Level
You will find High Level in the far north of Alberta. Ordinalrily this will be a good place to live but its remote nature means you will have access to litle or no reasouces and other basic needs.
In addition to the isolating nature of High Level, it has extreme winters, with temperatures often dropping below -40°C.
On the other side is Medicine Hat.
Medicine Hat
This city has a rich history but has now beeen plunged by high crime rate, particularly property crimes like theft and break-ins.
The city also struggles with a shortage of affordable housing and skilled labor, and this is affecting important sectors like healthcare and construction.
So, should you avoid these places completely?
Not necessarily. Many people do live and work in these towns successfully, especially those whose job or means of livily hood is there.
But if you’re relocating without a safety net, or looking to raise a family, these places are more risky and have less opportunities for long term purpose than other Alberta cities like Calgary, Lethbridge, or St. Albert.
What city in Alberta has the highest crime rate?
Currently, the city with the highest crime rate in Alberta is Red Deer. It has the highest Crime Severity Index (CSI) in the province with a CSI score of 146.9.
Red Deer is not only at the top in Alberta but also among the highest in Canada, occupying third position just behind Kamloops and Chilliwack in British Columbia. You can read more on this here: Most crime-ridden cities.
Lethbridge is another Alberta city with a high CSI. It has a CSI score of 129.1 and therefore, currently occupy second posititon, just behind Red Deer.
Alberta is full of opportunity, but it’s not evenly distributed. While some places are thriving with safe streets, strong schools, and economic growth, others are dealing with real challenges that make them less attractive.
If you are moving to the province, choose where you will leave carefully.