Oshawa, Ontario · Durham Region
Moving to Oshawa? Start with a real city guide.
Everything you need to know before you move: neighbourhoods, schools, housing prices, jobs, transit, history, and what it actually costs to live here. Written in Oshawa, by a team that sells homes here every week.
175,383
Residents (2021 census)
+10.0%
Population growth 2016-2021
~60 min
GO train to downtown Toronto
$680K
Avg home price, Sep 2026
About this guide
What is it really like to live in Oshawa?
Oshawa is an affordable, growing city on the shore of Lake Ontario, about 60 kilometres east of Toronto. It has a historic downtown, a thriving university district, lakefront parks, and some of the fastest population growth in Ontario, at roughly double the provincial average between 2016 and 2021.
That combination is rare: big-city access on the GO train, a genuinely walkable core, family suburbs with room to grow, and homes priced well below Toronto. This guide covers every side of the move, from school catchments to basement suites, and the real estate market page updates every month.
The complete guide
Every topic you need before the truck arrives
Start with these
Three sides of the city, three very different moves
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This week's community spotlight
Aves Coffee Co.: Downtown Oshawa's Bird-Friendly Roastery
Aves Coffee Co. is downtown Oshawa's specialty coffee roastery at 9 William Street West, rated 4.8 stars on Google. Here is why locals love it.
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This month's numbers
The Oshawa market, in plain numbers
Detached homes dominate Oshawa's sales, and prices remain the most approachable of any GTA-adjacent market. We publish sourced averages and medians every month, so you are never comparing against last year's story.
Read the full market report Read the October 2026 market updateLocal favourites
Where the city actually hangs out
Real, open-right-now spots in and around downtown Oshawa, linked straight to their own sites. Ask us for the full list on a call.
Aves Coffee Co.: Downtown Oshawa's Bird-Friendly Roastery
Aves Coffee Co. is downtown Oshawa's specialty coffee roastery at 9 William Street West, rated 4.8 stars on Google. Here is why locals love it.
Keith Williams & Lisa C. Follows
Brokers & Co-Founders, Willows Realty Group
Who writes this
A guide written by the people selling Oshawa homes
Keith Williams and Lisa C. Follows have served Durham Region real estate for decades, with advanced designations in negotiation, luxury marketing, seniors, and buyer representation. They built this guide because every transplant deserves the same honest, street-level briefing they give their own clients.
- Phone
- 905-447-5842
- team@willowsgroup.ca
- Licensed
- Brokers, Ontario
- Office
- 268 Queen St., Port Perry, ON L9L 1B9
- Service areas
- Durham Region, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County
- Hours
- Monday-Saturday 9:30am-9:30pm, Sunday 11am-5pm
Keith notes that facts, figures and statistics are rampant on the web, but the interpretation of all that data is what a true professional brings to the table.
Keith Williams
Broker, Willows Realty Group
Quick facts
30+
Years in real estate
100's
Homes sold
$500M+
In sales
Top 2%
In the GTA
36
Five-star reviews on Google
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we hear most from people moving to Oshawa, answered straight.
Is Oshawa a good place to live?
Yes, for most buyers. Oshawa offers more affordable homes than most of the GTA, a mix of historic downtown and family-friendly subdivisions, strong schools, two post-secondary campuses, and lakefront parks. It has real challenges too, concentrated in parts of the downtown core, which the city and police are actively addressing. The best way to decide is to visit the neighbourhoods that fit your lifestyle.
How long does it take to commute from Oshawa to Toronto?
GO Transit runs frequent service from Oshawa GO to Union Station, about 60 to 75 minutes in peak periods, and express trains are faster. Driving to downtown Toronto typically takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on traffic on the 401.
What do homes cost in Oshawa?
In September 2026, the average home price in Oshawa was $680,252 and the median was $652,750, with 118 sales, according to the Central Lakes Association of REALTORS. Prices vary a lot by neighbourhood, from condos in the downtown core to larger family homes in the north. See the Oshawa market snapshot for the full picture.
Which Oshawa neighbourhoods are best for families?
North Oshawa, Taunton, Windfields, and Lakeview are popular with families for their schools, parks, and larger lots, while Central Downtown suits buyers who want walkability and condos. Every family is different, so compare neighbourhoods side by side and talk to us about what matters most to you.
Your move starts with one conversation
Free, no-pressure, entirely local. Tell us your budget and timeline, and we will tell you which parts of Oshawa deserve a Sunday drive.