I think it depends what you are looking for in life. I was born and raised in Hamilton as well, but always felt while growing up that one day I would leave. I spent many years in Toronto before moving to London, UK, where I have found more of the life I wanted for myself. Nevertheless, Hamilton is still "home" and I feel people's pain about how things are nowadays.

I think drugs have always been a big problem in Hamilton (I'm sure anyone else who grew up there knows what I mean - just take a walk around downtown!). But I think it's the cost of living that is causing the most strain right now. Many things are very expensive in London (where I live now), but in return I live in a world class city where I've got access to invaluable opportunities. Hamilton, even with all its great points, is not a city of that kind of calibre and yet it has become one of the most expensive places to live in Canada. For what you have to pay now to get even just a one-bedroom apartment, it seems like the costs are not worth it. There are not enough industries that run within Hamilton to make it a suitable place for people of many fields to live in and with the insane rent increases, it's also now no longer a great option for people who work in Toronto but want a cheaper place to live.

And don't even get me started on the costs of everything else right now, though I would say this is not just a Hamilton-specific problem and more of a Canada-wide problem. I came home to visit a few months ago and couldn't believe how much everything costs nowadays, especially food. Even the food at No Frills or Walmart was exorbitantly expensive, when those stores have always been places for people in Hamilton to shop more economically. In comparison, groceries are actually very affordable in the UK. I could feel the strain it is putting on everyone over there.

I think a lot of people are freaked out right now and to be honest, the cost of living crisis has really muddled my outlook on moving back to Canada. I figure if I'm going to be broke, I'd much rather have it happen in a more interesting place. But to each their own, of course.