Located south of the Fraser River and north of the Canada–United States border, Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Part of the Metro Vancouver Regional District, Surrey is the province's second-largest city by population after Vancouver and the third-largest by area after Abbotsford and Prince George. Having experienced unprecedented growth in the 1980s and ‘90s, Surrey, in 2015, was projected to surpass the city of Vancouver as the most populous city in British Columbia by 2030. 

What is the community of Surrey like? 

Incorporated in 1879, Surrey is a place where history conflates with the most modern and contemporary amenities out there. Today, the vibrant city of Surrey is one of the fastest-growing communities in the region and is home to seven unique neighborhoods, or as they are known, town centers, namely Cloverdale, Fleetwood, Guildford, Newton, South Surrey, and City Centre encompassed by Whalley.  
Each of Surrey’s neighborhoods is home to unique attractions and outdoor recreational opportunities. Visit the City Center in Whalley – a place that has become the main downtown district of Surrey, being the focus of significant residential and commercial development and transforming into a walkable, transit-oriented downtown core for business, culture, and entertainment. 
Playing the city’s central business district, the City Center is home to the Surrey City Hall, the main branch of Surrey Libraries, Central City, SFU Surrey, and the site of Kwantlen Polytechnic University's (KPU) Civic Plaza campus. Besides, the City Centre is also home to City Hall, Civic Plaza, the flagship City Centre Library, SFU Surrey, major shopping and recreational facilities, Surrey Memorial Hospital, and Holland Park. 
Named as the “Central Park” of Surrey City Center, the 25-acre Holland Park offers a variety of park amenities, including large sports fields, basketball courts, a playground (renovated in 2020), and lots of picnicking areas. The Park is also home to the Holland Gardens, which include a large central amphitheater and water fountain.  
In addition, Holland Park annually hosts large community and city events including Fusion Festival, Movies under the Stars, and FVDED in the Park. In 2008, Holland Park was selected as a site for one of British Columbia’s Spirit Squares to celebrate the province’s 150th anniversary. Holland Park also played host to Surrey’s celebration site during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. 
Cloverdale, another of Surrey’s town centers, is the historic center of the city, reflected in its unique western and railroad character, and boasts one of Surrey's most recognizable main streets. Every year, Cloverdale is home to the largest Canada Day celebration in Western Canada, welcoming families for free music, activities, and food. Besides, Cloverdale is home to the Surrey Museum and many other heritage sites and unique heritage buildings. 
At the same time, Surrey has also been known to host several PGA tournaments at its golf courses, which makes it a prime attraction for enthusiastic golfers all around the world.  If you are big on shopping, head to Metrotown, which is said to be one of the biggest shopping malls in the country.  

What is Real Estate like in Surrey?     

Real estate in Surrey has shown incredible growth over the recent years. The home prices in Surrey have grown by more than a staggering 114.8% between 2012 and 2021. Also, the city has experienced strong growth during the last 12 months. Between June 2020 and May 2021, the home prices in Surrey saw a growth of more than 22.6%.  
Home prices in Surrey have shown decent growth over the last year. The sale prices of homes in Surrey have experienced a growth of more than 17.6% between May 2020 and May 2021.  
The median home price in Surrey is around $940,000. Currently, there are 2,373 active homes for sale in Surrey, and at present, it typically takes just 42 days for a listed home to sell. Moreover, the average cost to rent a house in Surrey is around $2,300 per month.  

How is the economic landscape of Surrey?     

Surrey is one of the largest industrial centers within British Columbia, with a burgeoning high technology, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, health, education, agriculture, and arts sector. 
Surrey’s economic strength is fueled by four different industries: Academia, Technology, Healthcare, and Agriculture. The universities in Surrey are responsible for conducting applied research that is then used across other sectors within the city. In the past 10 years, Surrey has become a hotbed for emerging start-ups and entrepreneurs to turn their innovative ideas into viable businesses. The companies to look out for are in the clean energy, software, and healthcare sectors. 
The median household income in Surrey is around $77,500. A person working in Surrey typically earns around 118,000 CAD per year. Salaries range from $29,800 to $527,000. 

How are the schools in Surrey?     

School District 36 Surrey oversees 100 public elementary and 21 public secondary schools, making it the largest public school district in British Columbia.  
When it comes to higher education, Surrey is home to the third campus of Simon Fraser University. Established in 1965, the Simon Fraser University is a public research university with three campuses: Burnaby (main campus), Surrey, and Vancouver. The 170-hectare (420-acre) main Burnaby campus on Burnaby Mountain, located 20 kilometers from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and comprises more than 30,000 students and 160,000 alumni. 
Consistently ranked as Canada's top comprehensive university and named to the Times Higher Education list of 100 world universities under 50, SFU is also the first Canadian member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the world's largest college sports association. In the 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities rankings, the university ranked 301–400 in the world and 13–18 in Canada. Besides, the 2022 QS World University Rankings ranked the university 298th in the world and thirteenth in Canada. 

Surrey in a nutshell        

To sum up, Surrey is a bustling metropolis that offers the highest quality of life and all the modern urban amenities. One of the fastest-growing cities in British Columbia, Surrey offers a world of recreational opportunities including top-notch parks, immersive restaurants, rich museums, prolific galleries, large shopping centers, and much more. Besides, being one of the largest cities in the Great Vancouver region, Surrey offers unparalleled professional and business landscapes. If you are mulling over moving to British Columbia, Surrey would be an ideal place to call home.