A great city to live, work, and play
Sherbrooke is characterized by the perfect balance between urban vitality and nature’s tranquility. As the cultural, administrative, and institutional hub of the Estrie region, Sherbrooke is an active and vibrant city year-round, with access to high-quality services. Located at the junction of two rivers, it also offers a unique natural setting, with two lakes and a mountain in the midst of the city.
Location
- South-east of the province of Québec
- 30 minutes from the U.S. border
- Close to Montréal, Québec City, Boston, and New York
Demography
- 6th largest city in Québec with more than 181,000 inhabitants (2024)
- Bilingualism rate among the population is more than 43% (2016)
- More than 130 cultural communities
- Major student city in Québec
Cost of living
- Average rental and purchasing price lower than most major Québec and Canadian cities
- Access to free healthcare based on Québec’s healthcare and social services system
- Free education from elementary school to college inclusively
- University tuition fees among the lowest in North America
- Affordable daycare costs
Education
- Full education curriculum in French and English, elementary school to university
- Free public education system at the elementary, high school, and college levels
- University tuition fees among the lowest in North America
- 2 universities and 4 colleges—a unique characteristic for a city of its size
- Subsidized early childhood daycare centres
Health
- Major health care and research centre
- University health centre
- Nearly 100% of healthcare and social services are offered: from birth to end of life; from prevention to specialized and highly specialized care
- Free hospital and medical services under Québec’s healthcare and social services system
Cultural life
- A host of music, gourmet, and family festivals
- A number of performance venues and cinemas
- Most extensive trompe-l’oeil mural tour in North America
- Variety of restaurants, bars, pubs, and microbreweries
- Art galleries and museums
- Symphony orchestra
Sports, recreation, and outdoor venues
- A number of parks, green spaces, and bike paths
- Hundreds of km of mountain trails less than 30 minutes away
- Ski centre and beaches
- Nautical sports (kayaking, rowing, paddleboarding, etc.)
- Sports fields and courts (tennis, football, soccer, golf, baseball, rock climbing, etc.)
- Indoor and outdoor pools and ice rinks
- Elite sport teams
Transportation
- Accessible transit network
- Sustainable mobility centre
- Urban cycling network
