Westmount vs. the West Island: Which Lifestyle Fits You?
Both offer beautiful homes, established communities, and access to nature—but the experience of living in each can feel distinctly different.
Choosing where to live in Montreal often begins with a practical list: space, schools, commute, and budget. Yet the decision is also about rhythm. How do you want your mornings to feel? What should be within walking distance? How much room do you need, and how connected do you want to be to the centre of the city?
Westmount and the West Island are two of Greater Montreal’s most sought-after residential settings. Both offer strong community identities and a wide range of homes, but they support different ways of living.
Here is a closer look at what each has to offer.
Westmount: urban life with a residential character
Westmount feels closely connected to downtown while maintaining a world of its own. Its tree-lined streets, distinctive architecture, parks, schools, and local institutions give it the atmosphere of an established residential community within the urban core.
Daily life can be remarkably convenient. Depending on where you live, cafés, shops, schools, parks, public transit, and professional services may all be accessible on foot. Downtown offices, universities, hospitals, and cultural destinations are also relatively close.
This proximity makes Westmount especially appealing to buyers who value an urban lifestyle but want more calm, greenery, and residential character than the centre of the city typically provides.
The homes of Westmount
Westmount’s housing is rich in architectural character. Buyers will find stone residences, Victorian and Edwardian houses, elegant row homes, duplexes, condominiums, and larger detached properties.
The experience can vary considerably by location. Lower Westmount offers convenient access to shops and neighbouring districts, while streets higher on the mountain may provide more privacy, larger homes, and impressive views.
Older properties often reward buyers with craftsmanship, proportions, and details that are difficult to reproduce. They may also require careful consideration of maintenance, renovations, heritage rules, and building systems.
Westmount may suit you if you are drawn to:
Character-rich architecture
Proximity to downtown
Walkable daily routines
Established streets and mature greenery
A more urban, connected lifestyle
Public transit and shorter central-city travel
The West Island: space, nature, and a slower rhythm
The West Island is not a single neighbourhood. It is a collection of distinct communities, including Beaconsfield, Pointe-Claire, Kirkland, Baie-D’Urfé, Dorval, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Pierrefonds-Roxboro, and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.
Each has its own character, but the region is generally known for larger residential lots, abundant green space, waterfront settings, and a more relaxed pace.
Life here often feels more spacious. Parks, bicycle paths, marinas, sports facilities, and nature areas form part of the everyday landscape. Lac Saint-Louis, the Rivière des Prairies, and destinations such as Cap-Saint-Jacques give residents greater access to the water and outdoors.
For buyers who want room to grow, a garden, a pool, or simply more distance between neighbouring homes, the West Island can be especially attractive.
The homes of the West Island
Housing varies widely throughout the region. You will find mid-century bungalows, split-level homes, contemporary construction, townhouses, condominiums, waterfront properties, and substantial family residences.
Some communities have compact village centres and historic streets, while others are more suburban in layout. Pointe-Claire Village and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, for example, offer a different atmosphere from newer residential areas in Kirkland or larger properties farther west.
Compared with central neighbourhoods, buyers can often explore a broader range of lot sizes and home configurations. The tradeoff is that driving may remain an important part of daily life, depending on the specific address and routine.
The West Island may suit you if you prioritize:
More indoor and outdoor space
Waterfront access and nature
Quiet residential streets
Gardens, pools, or larger lots
Community recreation and outdoor activities
A more relaxed suburban rhythm
What about the commute?
Westmount’s central location can simplify travel to downtown and other core neighbourhoods. Several areas are served by buses, nearby métro stations, and commuter rail, while walking and cycling may be practical for some daily needs.
Travel from the West Island depends much more on the municipality, proximity to major roads, and access to transit. The arrival of REM service has expanded rapid-transit connections from several western communities, but the complete door-to-door journey still matters. Some homes are close to a station or connecting route; others remain more convenient by car.
Before choosing a property, test the commute at the time you would normally travel. A difference that appears small on a map can feel significant when repeated throughout the week.
Consider your everyday priorities
The most useful comparison is not simply home against home. It is lifestyle against lifestyle.
Ask yourself:
Do I want to walk to shops and cafés, or am I comfortable driving?
Is proximity to downtown essential to my routine?
Would I prefer architectural character or a more contemporary layout?
How important are a large garden, pool, or waterfront access?
Which schools and services fit my family’s needs?
How much maintenance am I prepared to take on?
Do I want urban energy nearby or greater separation from it?
Your answers will often reveal which area feels more natural.
Two different expressions of Montreal living
Westmount offers closeness: to downtown, to neighbouring districts, and to the energy of urban Montreal. The West Island offers room: to spread out, spend time outdoors, and settle into a quieter pace.
Neither is inherently better. The right choice depends on how you want to live now—and how you expect that life to evolve.
With offices in Westmount, Kirkland, and Beaconsfield, Mellor brings local insight to both sides of the decision.
Wherever home leads you, we can help you find the community that fits.