Moving to Fort Mac
Got a job offer in Fort McMurray? Here is the town by the numbers.
Big paycheques, a young crowd, and homes that cost less than the big cities. Every number below links to where it came from, so you can check it yourself.
The quick picture
Getting to site
Every big site is north of town up Highway 63. Here is the drive from two spots in town.
| Site | Distance | From Timberlea | From downtown | How most people get there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suncor Base Plant | 33 to 35 km | about 35 min | about 35 min | Drive, or take a town to site bus. |
| Syncrude Mildred Lake | 43 to 44 km | about 40 min | about 40 min | Town to site buses pick up across town. |
| Syncrude Aurora North | about 80 km | about 65 min | about 65 min | Long drive. Town to site buses run here too. |
| Suncor Fort Hills | about 87 km | about 75 min | about 75 min | Ask your crew: bus, camp or flight. |
| CNRL Horizon | about 81 km | about 80 min | about 80 min | Flights land at the Horizon airstrip. |
| Suncor Firebag | about 120 km | about 105 min | about 105 min | Flights land at the Firebag airstrip. |
Drive times are a routing estimate in good conditions from OpenStreetMap routing, run October 29, 2026, rounded to 5 minutes. Winter roads and shift change traffic add time. Drive it yourself before you buy.
Town to site buses
Suncor's SunLink posts town to site bus routes. The Syncrude Mildred Lake buses pick up in Timberlea, Thickwood, Wood Buffalo, Parsons Creek, Dickinsfield, downtown, Waterways, Abasand, Beacon Hill and Gregoire.
Flights to site
Suncor flies crews from Calgary and Edmonton to its Firebag airstrip. Canadian Natural runs crew flights to its Horizon airstrip. Your employer books your seat.
Camp or town
Lots of site workers live in camp on their days on. The 2021 municipal census counted 27,313 people in work camps across the region.
Living here on rotation
Shop on your days off
Still in camp or still back home? We do first looks by video, then book the in person showings for your days off.
Set dates around your shift
Possession day, the inspection and the lawyer meeting can all line up with your schedule. Tell me your rotation and I plan around it.
Think about who is home
If your family is home while you are at site, look at the drive to their school and work too, not only yours.
Neighbourhoods
The north end is closest to site. The south side costs less to get into and adds drive time. Open any one for homes for sale and notes on the area.
Timberlea
North end and the biggest neighbourhood in the region. Lots of schools, Birchwood Trails on the edge.
Thickwood
Central, established, Thickwood Boulevard straight to Highway 63.
Eagle Ridge
Newer homes in the north end. Fewer come up for sale.
Stonecreek
Newer streets and trails in Timberlea. Ask the build year, some was rebuilt after 2016.
Parsons Creek
Farthest north, with its own Highway 63 interchange. Two schools on Callen Drive.
Dickinsfield
Where Thickwood and Timberlea meet, with Birchwood Trails access.
Wood Buffalo
West end of Thickwood, beside the Conn Creek ravine. Ask about lot size.
Abasand
South side. Rebuilt after the 2016 fire, so ask the build year on every home.
Beacon Hill
South side by Highway 63. Ask if the home is manufactured or site built.
Gregoire
South side and a lower price to get in. Mostly modular or mobile homes.
Downtown
Close to the hospital and Franklin Avenue, where Keyano College has its main campus.
Saprae Creek
Rural spot near the airport, about 29 km by road to downtown.
Not sure where you fit? Take the 2 minute neighbourhood quiz.
Family income is way above the big cities
Half of all families here earn more than $185,400 a year. That is about $70,000 more than the Alberta middle.
Median family income, 2023. Source: Alberta Regional Dashboard (Wood Buffalo, Calgary, and Edmonton pages; tax filer data).
Where the work is
Oil sands sites
The big operators run mines and plants north of town. Many roles are on rotation, with camps on site and flights or buses in.
Trades and contractors
Shutdowns and maintenance keep welders, millwrights, electricians, and pipefitters busy. 797 new apprentices signed up here in 2025.
Health, schools, and the city
The hospital, two school boards, Keyano College, and the municipality all hire. So do shops, restaurants, and trucking.
Apprentice count: Alberta Regional Dashboard, New Apprentices, 2025.
Median hourly wage in this region
Median wage per hour, Wood Buffalo and Cold Lake region. Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada, updated November 19, 2025 (reference years 2023 and 2024).
A young town that is growing again
Wood Buffalo grew from 75,282 people in 2021 to 81,577 in 2025. The biggest age group in the last city census was 35 to 39.
Your money goes further here
Rent runs less than Edmonton or Calgary. And the average detached house sold for $457,077 in September 2026. See the full Fort McMurray market report.
Average two bedroom rent, 2025. Source: Alberta Regional Dashboard. House price: Alberta Real Estate Association, September 2026, data from Pillar 9.
Prices and rents today
| Item | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average detached house sold | $457,077 | AREA, Sept 2026 |
| Average half duplex sold | $401,100 | AREA, Sept 2026 |
| Average townhouse sold | $243,959 | AREA, Sept 2026 |
| Average condo apartment sold | $137,652 | AREA, Sept 2026 |
| Average rent, 1 bedroom | $1,163 | RentFaster, Oct 29 2026 |
| Average rent, 2 bedroom | $1,442 | RentFaster, Oct 29 2026 |
| Average rent, 3 bedroom | $2,260 | RentFaster, Oct 29 2026 |
| Apartment vacancy | 13.2% | CMHC, Oct 2025 |
| Property tax rate in town, 2026 | 5.1257 per $1,000 assessed | RMWB Bylaw 26/010 |
A 13.2% vacancy rate means renters have choices here. If you want to compare a rent with a mortgage payment, run the rent vs own calculator. For closing costs, see what it costs to buy.
Schools
Public schools
Fort McMurray Public School Division has about 8,150 students in 14 schools, plus 2 alternative programs. French immersion is one of the options.
Catholic schools
Fort McMurray Catholic Schools has about 7,000 students in 13 schools, with French immersion at École St. Paul and Holy Trinity.
French and college
École Boréale teaches in French from kindergarten to grade 12. Keyano College offers trades, health, business and university transfer.
School zones go by street. Check the exact address with the school board before you buy, and I will help you ask.
Life outside of work
MacDonald Island Park
Pools, rinks, a gym, a library, and the home of the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. It is the place families go all winter.
Trails and river
The Birchwood Trails run right through town. The Athabasca and Clearwater rivers meet here, so summer is for boats and fishing.
Health care
The Northern Lights Regional Health Centre is the local hospital, with walk in clinics around town.
Getting in and out
Fort McMurray International Airport has flights to Edmonton, Calgary, and Toronto.
Winters are real
Plan on cold snaps, a block heater, and good tires. Summers bring long, bright evenings.
Airport routes: Alberta Regional Dashboard, Wood Buffalo highlights.
Get the free Fort Mac move guide
The short version in a 3 page PDF you can save or print: the drive to each site, neighbourhoods, schools, costs and a moving checklist.
Here is your guide. Will may reach out once to see if you have questions.
That did not send. Please call or text 780 804 1665 instead.
Rather talk it through? Call or text 780 804 1665.
Moving here? Start with a text.
I have lived here, raised my family here, and helped a lot of people land here. Send me your site, your rotation and your start date. I will tell you which two areas fit your drive and what a month really costs there.
Will Clarke, RE/MAX Connect
Moving to Fort Mac questions
What is the average family income in Fort McMurray?
The median family income in Wood Buffalo was $185,400 in 2023. The Alberta median was $114,600. That is from the Alberta Regional Dashboard.
How many people live in Fort McMurray?
The Alberta Regional Dashboard puts Wood Buffalo at 81,577 people in 2025, up from 75,282 in 2021. The 2021 municipal census counted 76,006 people in the Fort McMurray urban area.
What jobs are in Fort McMurray?
The oil sands are the big employer, along with the trades and contractors that serve them. Health care, schools, the municipality, and local business hire too. Job Bank lists a median of $62 an hour for oil and gas process operators in this region.
Is it cheaper to live in Fort McMurray than Calgary or Edmonton?
Rent is lower. A two bedroom rented for about $1,452 a month on average in Wood Buffalo in 2025, compared to $1,581 in Edmonton and $1,896 in Calgary. The average detached house here sold for $457,077 in September 2026.
Can I rent first before I buy?
Yes, and lots of people do. Text Will at 780 804 1665 with your start date, and he will help you plan rent first or buy first.
How long is the drive from Fort McMurray to Suncor or Syncrude?
Suncor Base Plant is about 35 minutes and 33 to 35 km from Timberlea or downtown. Syncrude Mildred Lake is about 40 minutes and 43 to 44 km. That is a routing estimate in good conditions. Winter roads and shift change traffic on Highway 63 add time.
Do I have to drive to site?
Not always. Suncor's SunLink runs town to site buses, including routes for Syncrude Mildred Lake that pick up in Timberlea, Thickwood, Parsons Creek, downtown, Abasand, Beacon Hill and Gregoire. Ask your crew which bus covers your shift.
Do people fly to the oil sands sites?
Yes. Suncor runs flights from Calgary and Edmonton to its Firebag airstrip, and Canadian Natural runs flights to its Horizon airstrip. Your employer or travel coordinator books them.
Which neighbourhood is best for site work?
Every site is north of town, so most site workers start in Timberlea, Thickwood, Eagle Ridge, Stonecreek or Parsons Creek. The south side costs less to get in and adds drive time. Drive your route at shift change before you pick.
What does it cost to live in Fort McMurray?
The average detached house sold for $457,077 in September 2026. Average rent was $1,442 for a 2 bedroom and $2,260 for a 3 bedroom on RentFaster on October 29, 2026. The 2026 property tax rate in town adds up to 5.1257 per $1,000 of assessed value.
What schools are in Fort McMurray?
The public division has 14 schools and the Catholic division has 13. French immersion is offered, and École Boréale is a French first language school from kindergarten to grade 12. Keyano College offers trades, health, business and university transfer programs.
Sources
- Alberta Regional Dashboard, Wood Buffalo: family income (2023), population (2025), rent (2025), apprentices (2025), airport.
- Alberta Regional Dashboard, Calgary and Edmonton: family income (2023) and rent (2025).
- Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 9: participation rate, three month average ending August 2026.
- Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Municipal Census Report 2021: age profile, urban population and work camp population.
- Job Bank, Wages in the Wood Buffalo and Cold Lake Region: hourly wages.
- Alberta Real Estate Association, Fort McMurray Monthly Statistics, September 2026: home prices, data from Pillar 9.
- RentFaster rent report, Fort McMurray, read October 29, 2026. CMHC Rental Market Survey, Wood Buffalo, October 2025.
- RMWB 2026 Property Tax Rate Bylaw 26/010.
- Drive times: OpenStreetMap routing, October 29, 2026. Buses and flights: SunLink bus schedules, SunLink flights, CNRL Horizon flights.
- Schools: FMPSD, Fort McMurray Catholic Schools, Alberta Education francophone schools map 2025, Keyano College.
- Neighbourhood notes: Will's neighbourhood pages, each with its own sources.
Want a plan for your move?
Tell Will your start date, beds, and rent or buy. He will send back two areas to walk and the monthly cost that fits.
No pressure. Text or call 780 804 1665 and we pick the next step.