Airdrie Homes for Sale

Airdrie: a separate city next door

On paper, Airdrie is not a Calgary suburb but a city in its own right, with its own council, taxes, transit and recreation. It was a village from 1909, a town from 1974, and it became a city on January 1, 1985. Rocky View County surrounds it, and Calgary begins just to the south. Many people who browse Airdrie homes for sale are drawn by how close Calgary is, while still living in a different municipality.

Growth has been quick. Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census put the population at 74,100, compared with 61,581 in 2016 — a 20.3% increase. In 2012 the City annexed about 12,640 acres from Rocky View County to make room, which is why planning for new neighbourhoods keeps moving outward along the city’s edges.

Commuting into Calgary

The Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Highway 2) runs through Airdrie, heading south to Calgary and north to Edmonton. Highway 567 leads east to Irricana and west to Cochrane. By the City of Airdrie’s figures, Calgary’s city centre is about 32 km away, roughly 30 minutes by car; Calgary International Airport is about 15 minutes away, and Stoney Trail, Calgary’s ring road, is about 10 km off.

Inside the city, Airdrie Transit operates local bus routes, and its Intercity Express (ICE) buses head to Calgary. On weekdays, ICE trips between Airdrie and downtown Calgary run in the morning and afternoon peaks, and a weekend route to Calgary’s Rundle CTrain station has also operated. Because timetables change, compare the current Airdrie Transit schedule with your working hours before counting on it. Drivers should try the trip at rush hour, since the QEII and Deerfoot Trail corridor gets busy.

Weighing Airdrie against Calgary itself? Our North Calgary page covers commuting from the north end, and nearby communities like Evanston and Sage Hill are worth comparing.

Airdrie schools

Families in Airdrie are served by three school systems:

• Rocky View Schools — the public system, with schools such as George McDougall High School and W.H. Croxford High School.
• Calgary Catholic School District — Catholic schools in the city, St. Martin de Porres High School among them.
• Conseil scolaire FrancoSud — École des Hautes-Plaines, a francophone school covering kindergarten to Grade 12.

Each address has a designated school, and while schools are still being planned, students from new neighbourhoods are sometimes bused. Check with the school board for the designated school of any home you are considering. Kelly’s schools page explains how designation works around Calgary.

Parks, pathways and Genesis Place

The main recreation centre is Genesis Place, home to lane and leisure pools, a dive tank and waterslide, NHL-sized arenas, gymnasiums, indoor field houses, an indoor running track and a fitness centre. An outdoor athletic park sits next door.

The City reports about 137 km of asphalt pathways, and a 13 km stretch of the Trans Canada Trail passes through as well. Near the city centre, Nose Creek Regional Park is largely natural prairie and wetland, with pathways following the creek; the City lists several more regional parks around Airdrie. Dog owners can also look at our off-leash dog parks page.

Before buying in Airdrie

• Test the real commute. Make the drive at the hours you would really travel, or look at the ICE schedule if transit is the plan.
• Ask about nearby land. Where construction is still underway, find out what is planned for vacant lots close by.
• Confirm the designated school. The nearest school is not always the designated one, so check with Rocky View Schools or the Calgary Catholic School District.
• Look at the actual tax bill. Airdrie sets its own tax rates and fees, so go by the property’s own bill instead of Calgary numbers.
• Check permits. If there is a finished basement, deck or garage, ask whether City permits were taken out and closed.

The housing mix in Airdrie includes townhomes, condos and detached homes, plus newer construction. To compare Airdrie with other towns near the city, read our surrounding areas overview and the buyers’ guide. First-time buyers deciding between Airdrie homes for sale and options in Calgary can start with our first-time buyer page. Ask Kelly for current Airdrie listings.

Want to compare areas? Browse all 219 Calgary communities, or read about choosing a Calgary realtor.