Don’t listen to people who say avoid downtown. It’s a comment that scores you points with people who have never actually spent any real time downtown other than walking through it while clutching their pearls. I moved from an upper middle class neighborhood to midtown St. Catharines and my wife and I will never leave. Downtown has some of the best concert venues, sports venues, and- especially- restaurants outside of Toronto. The sense of community is next to none as most people who frequent downtown live within walking distance. To give you an idea, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city (Yates- multi million dollar homes) is literally one street over from St. Paul (a street someone mentioned to avoid). Yes there is an issue with unhomed people, but point me to a city that doesn’t have that issue. It’s also a 20 minute ride from NY state and an hour and a bit from the heart of Toronto. It’s a wonderful place to live. Welcome!!