If you're looking at Fredericton's Southside and you've never been, here's the honest rundown I'd give you over coffee. I've lived in this area for more than 30 years, and the Southside is where a lot of people picture when they think of Fredericton, because it's the historic, walkable heart of the city.
The Southside is everything south of the Saint John River. It's home to downtown, the provincial government, both universities, the city's main shopping, and many of Fredericton's oldest and most established neighbourhoods.
This is the side with the history and the energy. Downtown holds the provincial Legislature, grand Victorian homes, Christ Church Cathedral, and the city's cultural anchors like the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, The Playhouse, and the Fredericton Region Museum. In the summer the riverfront and the Saturday market bring it all to life. South of downtown the land rises into "the Hill," where the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University sit side by side, and beyond that the city opens into established residential neighbourhoods and the main shopping district.
The Southside covers a lot of ground, and the neighbourhood you choose really shapes your day-to-day. Downtown and Forest Hill give you walkable, character-home living close to the core. College Hill puts you near the universities. Out from there you've got established family neighbourhoods like Skyline Acres, West Hills, Southwood Park, Garden Creek, and the Golf Club Road and Hanwell Road areas. Tell me how you want to live and I can point you to the pocket that fits.
The Southside tends to suit people who want to be close to downtown, the universities, or government work, and families who want established, tree-lined neighbourhoods with good schools nearby. It leans a little more historic and a little more upper-established than the Northside, though there are newer family subdivisions out toward Skyline Acres and West Hills too. If walkability and being near the action matter to you, this is usually the side.
Most of what you need is right here. The Regent Mall, the city's largest, anchors a big shopping district along Regent and Prospect Streets, and Odell Park gives you a huge stretch of trails and woods right in the city for hiking, running, and cross-country skiing. The bridges put the Northside just a few minutes away, and the Trans-Canada Highway makes the rest of the region easy to reach. If you're connected to CFB Gagetown, I'll be straight with you: from the Southside, you're looking at roughly 20 to 25 minutes to the base, which is very doable if you want city living over a base-adjacent community.
The Southside market runs the full range, from downtown character homes and Victorian-era properties to established middle and upper neighbourhoods on the Hill and newer family subdivisions further out. Because so much of it is established, knowing the difference between a beautifully kept older home and one that's going to cost you down the road really matters. That's where my background comes in. My husband Kyle and I own Mayflower Contracting Co., a custom home building company in the area, so I notice the things most agents miss, whether you're buying a century home downtown or a newer build out west.
What is the Fredericton Southside? It's the part of Fredericton south of the Saint John River, home to downtown, both universities, the provincial government, the main shopping, and many of the city's historic neighbourhoods.
What neighbourhoods are on the Southside? They include Downtown, Forest Hill, College Hill, Skyline Acres, West Hills, Southwood Park, Garden Creek, and the Golf Club Road and Hanwell Road areas.
Is the Southside a good place to live? Yes, especially if you want walkability, established neighbourhoods, and easy access to downtown, the universities, and shopping.
How far is the Southside from CFB Gagetown? About 20 to 25 minutes via the highway.
Is the Southside good for families? Yes. It has established family neighbourhoods, good schools, big green spaces like Odell Park, and the city's main shopping.
Whether you want to be downtown, near the universities, or settled into an established family neighbourhood, I'm happy to walk you through it. Reach out anytime and let's talk about what you're looking for.
Megan Gallant ICON REALTOR® with eXp Realty Serving Fredericton, Oromocto, and the surrounding area.
If you're looking at Fredericton's Northside and you've never been, here's the honest rundown I'd give you over coffee. I've lived in this area for more than 30 years, and the Northside is one of the first places I bring up for families who want a suburban feel, a newer home, and good value without leaving the city.
The Northside is everything north of the Saint John River. It's made up of a few former communities that are now city neighbourhoods, and it's actually where the largest share of Fredericton residents live.
The Northside is the suburban, family-oriented side of the city, and it's where most of Fredericton's new development is happening. As downtown filled in, growth pushed across the river, and the result is a side with some of the city's newest schools, shopping, and subdivisions. It runs from the Marysville Bypass in the east to Brookside Drive in the west, and it gives you the peace of the suburbs with downtown still just a few minutes over the bridge.
The Northside is a mix of established communities and newer growth. Nashwaaksis is the busy central hub, with a wide range of housing and plenty of shopping and services. Devon sits along the river with an older, settled feel. Marysville is a historic former mill community with a lot of character and community spirit. Barker's Point and the Brookside West area round things out with classic and newer family streets. Each has its own personality, and I can help you find the one that fits.
This is the most peaceful and family-oriented part of Fredericton overall. It tends to suit families, first-time buyers, and anyone who wants more home for their money, since the Northside has often been more budget-friendly than the downtown core. Prices have been rising as the area grows, but it's still where a lot of buyers find the best value in the city, with the bonus of being close to everything.
You get the best of both worlds here: suburban quiet at home and downtown amenities a short drive away. The Northside has its own shopping, grocery, and dining, strong recreation facilities including arenas, an indoor track, and a YMCA, and quick access to the Trans-Canada Highway for getting around the region. The river bridges connect you to downtown and the Southside in just a few minutes. For CFB Gagetown, you're looking at roughly 20 to 25 minutes via the highway, so it's a realistic option for military families who'd rather have city living than be right next to the base.
This is the side I get most excited about for new construction, and it happens to be my specialty. The Northside has the largest share of Fredericton's new housing developments, alongside plenty of established homes and a good supply of options at different price points. My husband Kyle and I own Mayflower Contracting Co., a custom home building company in the area, so when you're looking at a new build or a lot to build on out here, I can tell you what's solid, what matters, and what's going to hold up. Whether you're buying your first home, moving up into more space, or building new, the Northside is where a lot of my clients land.
What is the Fredericton Northside? It's the part of Fredericton north of the Saint John River, made up of Nashwaaksis, Devon, Marysville, and Barker's Point, along with newer growth out toward Brookside.
What neighbourhoods are on the Northside? The main ones are Nashwaaksis, Devon, Marysville, Barker's Point, and the Brookside West area.
Is the Northside a good place to live? Yes, especially for families who want a suburban feel, a newer home, and often better value, with downtown just a few minutes away.
Is there new construction on the Northside? Yes. The Northside has the largest share of the city's new housing developments, which makes it a strong choice for buyers who want a newer home or want to build.
How far is the Northside from downtown Fredericton? Just a few minutes across one of the river bridges.
Whether you're buying your first home, moving up, or building new, I'm happy to walk you through it. Reach out anytime, and let's talk about what you're looking for.
Megan Gallant ICON REALTOR® with eXp Realty Serving Fredericton, Oromocto, and the surrounding area.
