The Best of Both Worlds: What Canadians Love About Living Near the U.S. Border
There are plenty of reasons why Canadians are a lucky bunch. Canada boasts a high quality of life for its citizens, which includes plenty of jobs, public healthcare, and a high safety rating. But those living close to the border of the US have the potential to experience the best of both worlds. The proximity to the United States means that residents can experience a blend of Canadian and United States cultures, including food, entertainment, sports, and even holidays. The question is, do they feel that way?
Based on a survey of 1,000 Canadians living within 150 kilometers of the U.S. border, there are several parts of U.S. culture Canadians love to have access to… but equally, there are a few drawbacks to living amongst a high percentage of U.S. tourists.
Key Takeaways:
- Over half of Canadians living within 150 kilometers of the border visit the U.S. more than once per year.
- One in three Canadians say the best part of living close to the border is easy travel to the U.S.
- Little Debbie Snack Cakes are the most common American product that Canadians bring back to Canada.
How Often Canadians Visit The U.S.
One of the main benefits of living close to the U.S. is fast travel. The drive is easy, and you can enjoy a great gambling experience at any of the top mobile casino sites in Canada even when you are on the go. According to the results of our survey, over 20% of Canadians travel to the U.S. four or more times per year if they live near the border. In fact, nearly 50% travel there at least once or twice yearly. There are a variety of reasons to visit the U.S. as a Canadian but the results of this survey point to two main draws toward the states for Canucks: shopping and food.
The Best of the Border
The most common perk Canadians mentioned about living close to the U.S. border was the ease of travel. But a close second was the less expensive products they could get in the U.S.One in four Canadians mentioned that they loved having access to American products. Despite their consistent enjoyment of good deals and U.S. snacks, an unsurprising 92% of respondents said that without a doubt, it was much better to live just north of the border in Canada. Gotta love that Canadian patriotism!
Of course, 3% of people said there was nothing good about living near the border, which seems a bit harsh, and to them, we might recommend trying some of the snacks we found to be most popular amongst Canadians… maybe it would cheer them up?
Canada’s Favorite American Products
One in five Canadians admits to bringing American products back over the border at least once per year. What might these products be, you ask? Well, the most common culprit in terms of food was Little Debbie Snack Cakes. Apparently, they are quite a hot commodity in Canada (and who can blame them?!).
American Girl Scout Cookies were the second most common, solidifying that humans collectively have a soft spot for Thin Mints. Among the other winners were Bugles and Cape Cod Potato Chips, as well as a variety of Trader Joe’s products. And we must say, we too would bend the rules if the alternative were living without Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter or Everything But The Bagel dip.
What Canadians Like About America
American shopping dominated the question of what Canadians like most about American culture near the border, mostly due to the many deals and discounts they can find in the U.S. But following closely behind was a love of American cuisine. Not only do Canadians love U.S. snacks, but they also seem to love the portion sizes you get at an American restaurant. Movies, sports, and music made up another 13% of the vote for the best part of American culture at the border, and in a shocking twist, 3% of people said they enjoy the personality of Americans. Go figure!
In proper Canadian form, there was a remarkable tolerance for US tourists. Only 20% of people say that U.S. tourists annoy them, of which we assume the 3% who said there was nothing good about living near the US border must be counted.
Canadians have plenty of national pride, but a surprising number of them admit to having a soft spot for some aspects of American culture. And it sounds like they’re living in the right place: close enough to the US to take a quick trip but still within the border of the country they love. And honestly, who can resist a Little Debbie Snack Cake? The heart wants what it wants, even if occasionally what it wants is not poutine.
Methodology
We surveyed 1,000 Canadians in June 2023 living within 150 kilometers of the US border. The average age of respondents was 35 years old. Of the respondents, 40% were men, 58% were female, and 2% identify as non-binary or other.
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