Up 13 spots from its 2017 ranking (in the overall Winnipeg list) is the No. 1 inner neighbourhood of St. Vital. One of the biggest reasons for this climb to the top spot is the neighbourhood’s value. The average single-family home cost just over $257,600 in St. Vital in 2017, well below the inner neighbourhood average of $327,475.
“St. Vital is a large area with a bit of everything,” explains Re/Max realtor, Catherine Schellenberg. Walk down one street in this southeast neighbourhood and you’ll find wartime bungalows. Walk a few blocks in either direction and you’ll find high-end, newer build homes. “This is a very large neighbourhood that offers starter, move-up and luxury homes,” says Schellenberg. “It’s very popular with families who want access to schools, special education, recreation centres, and parks plus, there’s an abundance of shopping and it’s within 10 minutes of the University of Manitoba.”
The big draw for this community is how easy it is for commuters to get in and out of downtown from St. Vital. The community is cut through by one of the biggest roads in the city, which also means great access to stores and services for neighbourhood residents, including one of the largest malls in the city and several big box stores in the communities more southern perimeter.
2. Transcona
The No. 2 spot in this year’s inner neighbourhood rankings is Transcona. This neighbourhood edged into our lists for the first time last year (in the No. 24 spot) before catapulting to a near-the-top spot in this year’s ranking. This meteoric rise is due, in part, to its sustained momentum over the last five years and, in part, to its very friendly average housing price. Buyers could get a home in Transcona for almost $100,000 less than the city’s inner neighbourhood average in 2017. The neighbourhood offers close proximity to the city’s Bioreserve and it’s only 10 kilometres east of the city’s downtown core.
3. River Heights
Do you dream of a home with a wrap-around porch and gabled roof lines? Then you’re probably already looking in our No. 3 spot of River Heights. Up six spots from last year’s overall ranking, this neighbourhood is one of the most sought-after communities in Winnipeg.
“Clients who want to live in River Heights end up unwilling to buy in any other Winnipeg community,” explains Mary Pidlaski, a realtor with Re/Max Executives Realty. As a result, there are plenty of bidding wars in this neighbourhood, despite the communities higher average house price. Buyers should expect to pay $50,000 or more than the inner neighbourhood average if they want to buy into River Heights — and expect to compete against other buyers and even investors. Developers and buyers alike are willing to pay top dollar even for a home that needs renovating, explains Pidlaski.
This community also boasts some of the city’s largest and most expensive homes. “On Sundays, the city closes off the road that leads up to these large, beautiful homes to allow people to walk or bike through the neighbourhood,” says Pidlaski. “People will then walk or cycle the street and filter right through to Assiniboine Park, which locals call City Park.”
Top 25 neighbourhoods
Rank
Neighbourhood
Area
Average home price (2017)
Value
Momentum
Realtor Grade
Average price vs. area
Avg. price vs. metro district
Avg. price vs. outer region
1-year price change
3-year price change
5-year price change
1
St. Vital
Southeast
$257,606
83.14
77.03
★★★★
N/A
71.67%
78.66%
3.39%
8.75%
14.14%
2
Transcona
Northeast
$232,143
79.07
68.60
★★★½
N/A
83.83%
70.89%
1.35%
8.50%
13.85%
3
River Heights
Southwest
$374,516
47.09
76.16
★★★★½
N/A
89.03%
114.36%
6.93%
6.48%
13.64%
4
River Heights South
Southwest
$374,516
47.09
76.16
★★★★½
N/A
89.03%
114.36%
6.93%
6.48%
13.64%
5
Polo Park
Northwest
$214,595
81.98
64.83
★★★½
N/A
86.89%
65.53%
3.56%
6.02%
13.02%
6
West Fort Garry
Southwest
$282,583
81.98
65.41
★★★½
N/A
67.17%
86.29%
10.72%
6.93%
11.33%
7
Shaughnessy Heights
North
$177,379
91.86
85.76
★★
N/A
71.11%
54.17%
5.15%
11.24%
16.07%
8
River Park South
Southeast
$321,189
59.88
74.71
★★★★
N/A
89.35%
98.08%
5.82%
11.41%
11.77%
9
River Heights North
Southwest
$428,226
30.23
88.95
★★★★½
N/A
101.80%
130.77%
4.68%
15.80%
18.29%
10
St. Vital
Southeast
$321,189
59.88
74.71
★★★★
N/A
89.35%
98.08%
5.82%
11.41%
11.77%
11
River Heights
Southwest
$428,226
30.23
88.95
★★★★½
N/A
101.80%
130.77%
4.68%
15.80%
18.29%
12
Weston
Northwest
$175,106
95.35
85.76
★★
N/A
70.90%
53.47%
10.36%
6.59%
22.12%
13
Brooklands
Northwest
$175,106
95.35
85.76
★★
N/A
70.90%
53.47%
10.36%
6.59%
22.12%
14
Waverley Heights
Southwest
$357,571
50.58
79.94
★★★★
N/A
85.00%
109.19%
7.79%
7.90%
13.48%
15
Deer lodge
Northwest
$231,212
75.00
35.47
★★★★½
N/A
93.62%
70.60%
2.14%
3.44%
10.39%
16
Meadowood
Southeast
$321,189
59.88
74.71
★★★½
N/A
89.35%
98.08%
5.82%
11.41%
11.77%
17
East Kildonan
Northeast
$218,478
87.21
68.31
★★★
N/A
78.90%
66.72%
3.94%
6.75%
13.01%
18
Elmwood
Northeast
$218,478
87.21
68.31
★★★
N/A
78.90%
66.72%
3.94%
6.75%
13.01%
19
Scotia Heights
North
$231,216
74.42
49.71
★★★★
N/A
92.69%
70.61%
3.46%
5.93%
10.86%
20
Bruce Park
Northwest
$231,212
75.00
35.47
★★★★
N/A
93.62%
70.60%
2.14%
3.44%
10.39%
21
Windsor Park
Southeast
$290,122
73.26
48.55
★★★★
N/A
80.71%
88.59%
2.69%
6.12%
11.28%
22
The Oaks
Northwest
$757,450
2.91
100.00
★★★★
N/A
306.70%
231.30%
66.76%
35.73%
63.30%
23
University Heights
Southwest
$369,479
48.26
71.22
★★★½
N/A
87.83%
112.83%
6.70%
8.01%
12.23%
24
Fraser's Grove
Northeast
$275,967
65.70
22.97
★★★★★
N/A
99.66%
84.27%
0.88%
-1.27%
9.11%
25
Tuxedo
Southwest
$853,378
2.33
95.93
★★★★½
N/A
202.86%
260.59%
16.80%
26.65%
22.05%
These are our picks for the best neighbourhoods to buy real estate in Winnipeg’s inner suburbs, but if you’d rather live closer to downtown or even farther into the countryside, we have more suggestions. We ranked the best neighbourhoods in three regions — core, inner suburbs and outer. The core is the city’s urban centre, with accessible transit and easy access to amenities. The inner suburbs are for people who don’t mind trading a longer commute for better parking and a bigger lot size. And the outer region is for buyers who either don’t need to commute downtown at all, or are willing to log some serious travel time in exchange for affordable prices and wide open spaces. Check out the map below to see how the regions break down.