Compare Durham Region Cities

Price range

$550,000-$900,000+ (condos to detached)

Commute to Toronto

GO: Oshawa GO Station, with Lakeshore East trains to Union in about 60 to 64 minutes. Driving: Highway 401 and 407 access.

Best for

Property types

Condos, Townhouses, Detached homes, Semis

Lifestyle highlights

• Lake Ontario waterfront at Lakeview Park and the Oshawa Museum
• Ontario Tech University and Durham College share a campus at 2000 Simcoe Street North
• Historic downtown Four Corners and the Canadian Automotive Museum
• The Oshawa Centre, Durham Region's largest shopping mall

School overview

Served by the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board. High schools include O'Neill, R.S. McLaughlin, Maxwell Heights, Eastdale, and G.L. Roberts Collegiate, with Monsignor John Pereyma and Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic secondary schools. Ontario Tech University and Durham College are based in the city.

Price range

$750,000-$1,400,000+

Commute to Toronto

GO: Whitby GO Station, with Lakeshore East trains to Union in about 55 to 59 minutes. Driving: Highway 401 access.

Best for

Property types

Detached homes, Townhouses, Condos

Lifestyle highlights

• Brooklin's heritage village core and Lynde Shores Conservation Area
• Whitby Harbour on Lake Ontario and the waterfront trail
• Some of Durham Region's top-ranked high schools
• Quiet, established family neighbourhoods along the 401 corridor

School overview

Served by the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board. High schools include Donald A. Wilson, Henry Street, Sinclair, Anderson, and Brooklin, with All Saints and Father Leo J. Austin Catholic secondary schools. Donald A. Wilson and Henry Street consistently rank among Durham Region's best.

Price range

$750,000-$1,300,000+

Commute to Toronto

GO: Ajax GO Station, with Lakeshore East trains to Union in about 50 to 51 minutes. Driving: Highway 401 access.

Best for

Property types

Detached homes, Townhouses, Condos

Lifestyle highlights

• Ajax Waterfront Park and Rotary Park along Lake Ontario
• Family-friendly planned suburbs with parks and trails
• Quick Highway 401 access toward Toronto or Oshawa
• Growing retail and dining along the Kingston Road corridor

School overview

Served by the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board. High schools include Ajax High School, J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate, and Pickering High School, with Notre Dame and Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic secondary schools.

Price range

$750,000-$1,300,000+

Commute to Toronto

GO: Pickering GO Station, with Lakeshore East trains to Union in about 45 to 46 minutes, the shortest GO ride of any Durham city. Driving: Highway 401 access.

Best for

Property types

Detached homes, Townhouses, Condos

Lifestyle highlights

• The closest Durham Region city to Toronto
• Frenchman's Bay waterfront and Pickering's lakeshore parks
• A major GO Transit hub with rail and bus connections
• The growing Seaton community in the north end

School overview

Served by the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board. High schools include Dunbarton and Pine Ridge Secondary, with St. Mary Catholic Secondary School.

Price range

$650,000-$1,200,000+

Commute to Toronto

GO: no current GO train service, as the Lakeshore East line ends at Oshawa GO; Clarington residents use GO bus or drive to Oshawa GO. Driving: Highway 401 access. The planned Bowmanville extension will add future stations.

Best for

Property types

Detached homes, Townhouses, Acreage, Rural homes

Lifestyle highlights

• Courtice, Bowmanville, and Newcastle family communities
• Newcastle's lakefront and the Ganaraska Forest trail network
• A mix of new subdivisions and rural country living
• More home for the money than the western Durham cities

School overview

Served by the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board. High schools include Bowmanville, Clarington Central, Courtice, and Clarke, with Holy Trinity in Courtice and St. Stephen in Bowmanville Catholic secondary schools.

Price range

$800,000-$1,600,000+

Commute to Toronto

GO: no GO train station in town; residents drive to Whitby or Oshawa GO or take GO bus connections. Driving: about 60 to 70 minutes to Toronto via Highway 401 or 407.

Best for

Property types

Detached homes, Waterfront homes, Acreage, Cottages

Lifestyle highlights

• Lake Scugog waterfront and the family-friendly Palmer Park
• A historic downtown with shops, cafés, and a farmers market
• Cottage-country charm within commuting distance of the GTA
• The heart of the Township of Scugog

School overview

Served by the Durham District School Board. Port Perry High School is the town's public secondary school.

Price range

$900,000-$1,800,000+

Commute to Toronto

GO: no GO train station in town; residents use GO bus connections or drive to a nearby station. Driving: about 60 minutes to Toronto via Highway 407.

Best for

Property types

Detached homes, Acreage, Estate homes, Rural properties

Lifestyle highlights

• Known as the Trail Capital of Canada, on the Oak Ridges Moraine
• A heritage downtown with independent shops and cafés
• A strong equestrian and country-living community
• Some of the highest home prices in Durham Region

School overview

Served by the Durham District School Board. Uxbridge Secondary School is the township's public secondary school.

Price range

$500,000-$1,000,000+

Commute to Toronto

GO: no GO train service; residents drive to a Durham GO station. Driving: the longest commute to Toronto of the Durham municipalities.

Best for

Property types

Detached homes, Farmhouses, Acreage, Waterfront (Lake Simcoe)

Lifestyle highlights

• Beaverton's waterfront on Lake Simcoe
• The most affordable home prices in Durham Region
• Spacious rural lots and farmland
• Quiet, private country living in the northern township

School overview

Served by the Durham District School Board. Brock High School in Cannington is the township's public secondary school.