Le Vieux-Longueuil — quartier historique de la ville.
1. Longueuil at a glance
Longueuil is one of Quebec's largest cities, with about 250,000 residents. Located on the South Shore of Montreal, directly across from downtown, it's connected to Montreal by the Jacques-Cartier bridge and the yellow metro line.
Longueuil includes several historic boroughs: Vieux-Longueuil, Saint-Hubert, and Greenfield Park, each with its own character.
2. Errands at City Hall
Longueuil City Hall handles municipal services: permits, parking stickers, water, taxes.
Many errands can be done online via the Mon dossier portal at longueuil.quebec. For newcomers, the city runs a welcome program and cultural pairing through the organization Vision Inter-Cultures.
3. Choosing your borough
Each borough has its own personality:
- Vieux-Longueuil — historic centre, dense, walking distance or a few bus minutes from Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke metro. Ideal for Montreal commuters.
- Saint-Hubert — more suburban, large family neighbourhoods, home to the regional airport.
- Greenfield Park — quieter, predominantly English-speaking, with its own English public schools under Riverside School Board.
Choice depends on your workplace, your family composition, and your home language.
4. The three boroughs at a glance
Here are the three boroughs compared on their vibe, metro access, typical profile and indicative rent for a 4½.
Indicative rents spring 2026 for a standard 4½. Always check whether electricity, heating and hot water are included.
For English public school, an eligibility certificate is required — issued by the Ministry of Education only if one parent attended primary school in Canada in English. Without it, your kids attend French school regardless of sector.
| Borough | Vibe | Longueuil metro | Typical profile | 4½ rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vieux-Longueuil | Urban, historic | On foot or 5 min bus | Montreal commuters | 1,250 to 1,450 $ |
| Saint-Hubert | Suburban, single-family | 15 to 25 min by bus | Families, tight budget | 1,050 to 1,250 $ |
| Greenfield Park | Quiet, anglophone | 15 to 20 min by bus | English-speaking families | 1,100 to 1,300 $ |
5. Library and citizen services
Longueuil's library network has several branches — Georges-Dor, Raymond-Lévesque, Claude-Henri-Grignon. Membership is free for residents.
You'll find books in French and English, French-language workshops, computer classes, and workspaces. 311 is the number to call for any municipal-services question.
6. Garbage and recycling collection
Longueuil has weekly collection of garbage, recycling, and compost. Each home gets three bins: black for trash, blue for recycling, brown for organics.
Collection happens early morning — put bins out the night before. For furniture or large items, book a pickup via the city's website.
7. Your landmarks
A few places to know:
- Vieux-Longueuil — the historic centre with Saint-Charles Street lined with restaurants
- Place Charles-Le Moyne — the large public space facing the metro
- Parc Michel-Chartrand — the large urban park downtown
- Waterfront promenade — along the Saint-Laurent with a view of Montreal
8. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions from newcomers in Longueuil: can you live in Longueuil without a car, do you need English in Greenfield Park, which borough is best for families, and how much to budget for settling in.
Can you really live in Longueuil without a car?
Yes, especially in Vieux-Longueuil or near the metro. The yellow line ends at Longueuil-Université-de-Sherbrooke and reaches Berri-UQAM downtown in about 4 minutes — faster than driving across the Jacques-Cartier at rush hour.
The RTL bus network covers the rest of the city with over 80 routes converging on the metro terminal. In Saint-Hubert and outer Greenfield Park, the bus network thins out and a car becomes more useful. Rule of thumb: pick the neighbourhood first, then decide on the car.
Do you need English to live in Greenfield Park?
No, French is enough for all municipal services and most stores. But Greenfield Park is the most anglophone part of Longueuil: English public schools (Riverside School Board), several English-speaking churches and community organizations, and shops where staff often greet you in English.
If you're an English-first family looking for an anglophone community while still living in Quebec, it's one of the best choices on the South Shore. French still helps for paperwork, healthcare and provincial services.
Which borough is best for a family with kids?
It depends on language and budget:
- Saint-Hubert — best price-to-space ratio for francophone families. Single-family homes, large yards, parks.
- Greenfield Park — natural choice for families eligible for English public school.
- Vieux-Longueuil — for families who value walkability and the metro over yard size.
All three have a network of CPEs but waiting lists are long — register on La Place 0-5 as soon as you arrive.
How much should you budget to settle in Longueuil?
For a couple in a 4½:
- First month's rent: 1,100 to 1,400 $
- Furniture and household items (second-hand): 200 to 400 $
- Winter wardrobe: 200 to 400 $ per adult
- Hydro-Québec deposit if you have no credit history
- Monthly transit: ~100 $ ALL MODES AB (Montreal commute), less in Zone B alone
- Groceries: 300 to 500 $/month per adult
Plan a 2-to-3-month cushion — roughly 4,500 to 7,500 $ — to absorb any surprise.
9. See also
To go further once you're settled in Longueuil:
- Read finding housing in Longueuil to compare Vieux-Longueuil, Saint-Hubert and Greenfield Park before signing.
- Check public transit in Longueuil (RTL and metro) to combine the yellow line and RTL buses.
- Discover Vieux-Longueuil, parks and leisure to enjoy Parc Michel-Chartrand and the waterfront promenade.
- Prepare back-to-school with registering your child at school in Longueuil to understand the school service centre and welcome class.
10. Official sources
Call 311 for any municipal-services question.
Author's Note: Vieux-Longueuil is the soul of the city — Saint-Charles Street, its terraces, its independent shops. Go there a Saturday morning during your first week, just to feel the local rhythm.
