Community guide · Calgary, Alberta
Living in Calgary, Alberta: Every Community on One Map
Calgary is a city of more than 1.5 million people at the meeting of the Bow and Elbow rivers, with the Rockies about an hour west. From inner-city character homes to brand-new communities on the edges of town, there are more than 200 residential communities to choose from. Use the map below to explore every one: when it was built, the mix of homes, and how many people live there.
1875Fort Calgary built where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet
1,558,700Residents (April 2025 City estimate)
$577,492Average benchmark price, 2025 (CREB)
223Residential communities on this map
History & growth
From fort to big city
Calgary began in 1875 as Fort Calgary, a North-West Mounted Police post where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet, named after Calgary on Scotland's Isle of Mull. The Canadian Pacific Railway arrived in 1883, Calgary became a town in 1884 and a city in 1894. Ranching, then oil and gas, fuelled its growth, and today it is one of Canada's fastest-growing big cities, adding about 3.2% to its population in the year to April 2025.
Services & amenities
What the city offers
Health care: major hospitals in every quadrant, including Foothills Medical Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre, Rockyview General, South Health Campus and the Alberta Children's Hospital.
Schools: public, Catholic, francophone, charter and private schools across the city, plus the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, SAIT and Bow Valley College.
Things to do: the Calgary Stampede, an extensive river pathway system, Nose Hill and Fish Creek parks, the Calgary Zoo, Studio Bell, pro sports and a busy downtown. CTrain and buses connect the city, and YYC is in the northeast.
Getting around
Distances & drive times
| Airdrie | about 20 min |
| Cochrane | about 30 min |
| Canmore | about 1 hr 10 min |
| Banff | about 1 hr 30 min |
| Edmonton | about 3 hr |
Approximate drive times from central Calgary in good conditions.
Market trend
Calgary home prices
Average annual benchmark price, all home types (CREB). The 2023 figure is worked back from CREB's reported 9.7% rise to 2024. In December 2025 the benchmark was $554,700, and detached homes were $726,900. Community details come from the City of Calgary's community map and 2019 civic census.
All communities
Calgary communities by area
Northwest
North
Northeast
East
Centre city & inner city
West
South
Southeast
Thinking about Calgary?
Let's find your Calgary community
With more than 200 communities, choosing where to live is the hardest part. Tell me what matters most to you, whether that's schools, commute, a yard or walkability, and I'll help you narrow it down. Reach out any time. I'm happy to answer questions, no pressure.
1612 - 17 Avenue S.W.
Calgary, AB, T2T 0E3