By Zoocasa on April 21, 2023
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Where to Buy Real Estate in Canada 2023: Durham Region, Ont.

By Zoocasa on April 21, 2023
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Townhouses tend to be in greater supply throughout Durham Region, and many new developments are attracting buyers in 2023.

A field in Pickering, Ont. Photo by Magnolia677 from Wikimedia Commons

Bordering Lake Ontario, Durham Region is an excellent place for prospective buyers looking for a home close to green space and the waterfront. The region consists of eight municipalities, including Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa and Pickering. But with a total population of around 700,000, it is one of the smaller regions in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

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Methodology

Best places to buy real estate in Oshawa, Pickering, Whitby and other Durham municipalities

In the table below, you’ll find the top neighbourhoods for real estate purchases in areas like Oshawa, Pickering and Whitby—the Ontario region known as Durham. To view all the data, slide the columns right or left using your fingers or mouse. You can download the data to your device in Excel, CSV and PDF formats.

wdt_ID	Rank	Neighbourhood	Neighbourhood	City	Benchmark price 2022	1-year growth	3-year	5-year	Value	Economics	Accessibility	Children
1	1	Town Centre	Town Centre	Pickering	$608,016	-1%	24%	43%	4.6	3.6	3.8	55%
2	2	Duffin Heights	Duffin Heights	Pickering	$806,781	-1%	33%	27%	3.7	4.1	1.6	62%
3	3	Sunderland	Sunderland	Brock	$789,219	-3%	40%	65%	4.5	3.2	0.0	45%
4	4	Village East	Village East	Pickering	$704,469	-8%	29%	49%	3.9	3.6	3.8	55%
5	5	Newcastle	Newcastle	Clarington	$729,121	-6%	43%	34%	4.1	3.3	2.3	39%
6	6	Pinecrest	Pinecrest	Oshawa	$805,849	-7%	48%	40%	3.9	3.5	0.8	59%
7	7	Brooklin	Brooklin	Whitby	$987,455	-9%	33%	26%	2.4	5.0	1.7	66%
8	8	Pringle Creek	Pringle Creek	Whitby	$805,675	-11%	35%	30%	3.1	4.1	3.4	63%
9	9	Windfields	Windfields	Oshawa	$859,101	-6%	42%	28%	3.4	3.8	2.4	57%
10	10	Courtice	Courtice	Clarington	$789,193	-12%	36%	37%	3.2	3.9	0.4	57%
11	11	Cannington	Cannington	Brock	$687,524	-3%	29%	70%	4.7	2.3	1.7	39%
12	12	Central East	Central East	Ajax	$866,093	-11%	34%	35%	2.9	4.1	3.1	68%
13	13	Taunton North	Taunton North	Whitby	$960,584	-7%	35%	36%	2.8	4.1	3.4	63%
14	14	Beaverton	Beaverton	Brock	$701,750	-8%	54%	46%	4.6	2.3	0.3	33%
15	15	Central West	Central West	Ajax	$945,020	-6%	36%	42%	3.0	3.8	3.7	65%
16	16	Rolling Acres	Rolling Acres	Whitby	$933,445	-13%	43%	37%	2.7	4.1	3.4	63%
17	17	Port Perry	Port Perry	Scugog	$922,318	0%	39%	41%	3.7	3.0	0.1	40%
18	18	Brock Ridge	Brock Ridge	Pickering	$929,728	-16%	44%	35%	2.5	4.1	1.6	62%
19	19	Blackstock	Blackstock	Scugog	$967,844	-1%	33%	41%	3.3	3.3	0.1	43%
20	20	Northwest Ajax	Northwest Ajax	Ajax	$1,027,661	-5%	39%	35%	2.7	3.8	3.7	65%
21	21	Rouge Park	Rouge Park	Pickering	$925,353	-12%	46%	31%	2.8	3.6	3.8	55%
22	22	Taunton	Taunton	Oshawa	$996,066	-8%	45%	38%	2.9	3.5	0.8	59%
23	23	Orono	Orono	Clarington	$720,829	-20%	32%	40%	2.9	3.3	0.1	43%
24	24	Northeast Ajax	Northeast Ajax	Ajax	$952,009	-14%	34%	27%	2.2	4.1	3.1	68%
25	25	Williamsburg	Williamsburg	Whitby	$993,733	-7%	45%	38%	3.0	3.2	1.7	64%
26	26	South West	South West	Ajax	$764,727	-4%	38%	38%	4.0	2.2	3.0	48%
27	27	Bay Ridges	Bay Ridges	Pickering	$699,271	-14%	34%	25%	3.3	2.9	3.2	45%
28	28	Bowmanville	Bowmanville	Clarington	$742,333	-14%	37%	42%	3.4	2.8	1.9	52%
29	29	Port Whitby	Port Whitby	Whitby	$749,264	-7%	37%	34%	3.7	2.3	3.8	43%
30	30	Uxbridge	Uxbridge	Uxbridge	$931,785	-12%	36%	36%	2.6	3.4	0.7	47%
31	31	Liverpool	Liverpool	Pickering	$919,668	-11%	34%	24%	2.5	3.6	3.8	55%
32	32	Rural Scugog	Rural Scugog	Scugog	$878,995	-14%	48%	32%	3.0	3.0	0.1	40%
33	33	Downtown Whitby	Downtown Whitby	Whitby	$725,380	-13%	44%	31%	3.6	2.3	3.8	43%
34	34	Highbush	Highbush	Pickering	$1,038,439	-11%	36%	42%	2.3	3.6	3.8	55%
35	35	Woodlands	Woodlands	Pickering	$965,618	-10%	32%	22%	2.3	3.6	3.8	55%
36	36	Rural Clarington	Rural Clarington	Clarington	$1,206,204	-5%	43%	42%	2.2	3.5	1.1	44%
37	37	Rural Pickering	Rural Pickering	Pickering	$1,186,226	-6%	33%	13%	1.5	4.1	1.6	62%
38	38	West Shore	West Shore	Pickering	$901,476	-13%	45%	22%	2.7	2.9	3.2	45%
39	39	Kedron	Kedron	Oshawa	$951,090	-17%	36%	15%	1.8	3.8	2.4	57%
40	40	Lynde Creek	Lynde Creek	Whitby	$890,128	-8%	39%	39%	3.2	2.3	3.8	43%
41	41	Rural Brock	Rural Brock	Brock	$926,903	-10%	35%	60%	3.1	2.3	1.7	39%
42	42	Central	Central	Ajax	$796,633	-11%	33%	32%	3.1	2.2	3.0	48%
43	43	Rougemount	Rougemount	Pickering	$1,096,892	-20%	61%	22%	1.8	3.6	3.8	55%
44	44	Farewell	Farewell	Oshawa	$520,333	-16%	64%	45%	5.0	0.2	0.9	36%
45	45	South East	South East	Ajax	$823,384	-11%	29%	33%	2.9	2.2	3.0	48%
46	46	Lakeview	Lakeview	Oshawa	$580,824	-11%	50%	56%	4.9	0.0	1.8	42%
47	47	Rural Whitby	Rural Whitby	Whitby	$1,267,632	7%	13%	25%	1.7	3.2	1.7	64%
48	48	Amberlea	Amberlea	Pickering	$852,471	-23%	14%	11%	1.1	3.6	3.8	55%
49	49	Dunbarton	Dunbarton	Pickering	$1,593,694	2%	48%	31%	1.0	3.6	3.8	55%
50	50	Vanier	Vanier	Oshawa	$573,568	-14%	44%	45%	4.4	0.0	1.8	42%
51	51	O'neill	O'neill	Oshawa	$609,558	-12%	36%	42%	4.1	0.2	4.7	36%
52	52	Samac	Samac	Oshawa	$644,294	-7%	40%	22%	4.1	0.2	4.7	36%
53	53	Mclaughlin	Mclaughlin	Oshawa	$723,924	-9%	41%	54%	4.1	0.0	1.8	42%
54	54	Donevan	Donevan	Oshawa	$690,769	-11%	40%	42%	3.9	0.2	0.9	36%
55	55	Eastdale	Eastdale	Oshawa	$725,926	-11%	42%	44%	3.9	0.2	4.7	36%
56	56	Rosebank	Rosebank	Pickering	$1,461,879	-5%	39%	51%	1.1	2.9	3.2	45%
57	57	Blue Grass Meadows	Blue Grass Meadows	Whitby	$757,533	-23%	17%	17%	1.7	2.3	3.8	43%
58	58	Centennial	Centennial	Oshawa	$662,575	-12%	34%	38%	3.7	0.2	4.7	36%
59	59	Northglen	Northglen	Oshawa	$892,841	-5%	45%	39%	3.6	0.0	1.8	42%
60	60	Rural Uxbridge	Rural Uxbridge	Uxbridge	$1,339,810	-22%	43%	17%	0.0	3.4	0.7	47%
61	61	Central	Central	Oshawa	$796,633	-11%	33%	32%	3.1	0.2	0.9	36%
62	62	Rural Oshawa	Rural Oshawa	Oshawa	$1,531,834	8%	27%	21%	1.0	0.2	0.9	36%

Source: Zoocasa

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How to read the table:

Benchmark price 2022: The composite benchmark price as of Dec. 31, 2022. It represents all property types, including attached and detached homes, townhouses/row units and apartment units.
1-year, 3-year and 5-year growth: The percentage increase or decrease in the composite benchmark price (all property types) over each time frame.
Value, economics and accessibility: These neighbourhood characteristics are each scored on a scale of 0 to 5, with five representing the most value for your money, high levels of income and education, and ease of travel by foot, bike and public transit.
Children: The neighbourhood’s percentage of households with kids.
Read the detailed methodology behind our rankings.

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What’s happened in the Durham Region real estate market?

Durham Region real estate started off strong in 2022. The average home price broke $1 million for the first time in December 2021, and it peaked at $1,228,990 in February 2022. However, interest rates began to rise in March 2022, causing the average home price to fall. By May, it had come back below the $1-million mark, and by December, it was $874,456. Demand for detached and single-family homes is typically high in Durham; however, as mortgage affordability tightened, townhouses became a more popular option.

“In 2022, buyers had their eye on detached, freehold properties, but as affordability was impacted by rising interest rates, some buyers began seeking out townhouses,” explains Andrea Lao, a local Zoocasa real estate agent. “Many buyers in Durham have either lived in the region long-term and are looking to upgrade their property type, or they are first-time buyers looking to move out of their family home, which is why the demand for detached homes, semis and townhouses is always strong.”

See the full report: Where to Buy Real Estate
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What’s next for real estate in Durham Region?

While many buyers may still be hesitant to get into the market because of the changing landscape, a slowdown in rate increases could lead sideline buyers back in. Trying to tempt those on the fence into making their move, many sellers are lowering asking prices to generate interest and even competition.

“It’s important for motivated buyers to remember that interest rates will fluctuate, but buying a home at the right price point will mean paying less towards the principal, which in the long run can make a difference in affordability,” says Lao.

High borrowing costs may keep buyers out of the more expensive detached and semi-detached markets, adding fuel to the surging popularity of townhouses. Townhouses already tend to be in greater supply throughout Durham, and many new developments are attracting buyers, according to Lao. At an average price of $871,737 in February 2023, they also offer buyers a more affordable entry point than other property types. “I suspect that buyers will continue to gravitate towards townhouses,” says Lao.

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Top neighbourhoods in other regions

Durham’s top three neighbourhoods

1. Town Centre, Pickering

The Town Centre neighbourhood in central east Pickering is home to many well-known establishments, including the Town Centre Shopping Mall. The average home price at the end of 2022 was $608,016—43% higher than five years earlier. Though the average home price fell 1% between December 2021 and December 2022, Town Centre still has a strong value score of 4.6. Fifty-five percent of homes in the area are occupied by families with children, and the neighbourhood has an accessibility score of 3.8 and an economics score of 3.6.

View Town Centre real estate listings on Zoocasa.

2. Duffin Heights, Pickering

The Duffin Heights neighbourhood is located in north Pickering. Its greatest attraction is the Pickering Golf Club on the east side. Duffin Heights’ average home price was $806,781 at the end of 2022, 27% above where it was five years earlier. However, it represents a drop of 1% over one year. The neighbourhood has a value score of 3.6 and a strong economics score of 4.1. Accessibility in the area is relatively poor, at just 1.6. Sixty-two percent of households in the neighbourhood have children.

View Duffin Heights real estate listings on Zoocasa.

3. Sunderland, Brock

Sunderland is a small Brock community of around 1,200 residents. It is home to a multitude of unique stores, restaurants and galleries. At the end of 2022, the average home price in Sunderland was $789,219. The neighbourhood has experienced strong home price growth, with the average price increasing 65% over the five-year period ending in December 2022; however, more recently, the average price dipped 3% below what it was at the end of 2021. Sunderland has a strong value score of 4.5 and an economics score of 3.2. Forty-five percent of households have children. However, it’s hard to get around Sunderland without a car, so its accessibility score is 0.

View Sunderland real estate listings on Zoocasa.

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