Buying Property in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada 2023

Bordering Lake Ontario, Durham Region offers buyers a mix of waterfront access, green space and suburban communities. The region includes eight municipalities — such as Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa and Pickering — and, with a population near 700,000, it is one of the smaller regions in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

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

Below is a searchable table listing top neighbourhoods across Durham — including Oshawa, Pickering and Whitby — ranked for home-buying potential. You can scroll horizontally to view all columns on smaller screens, and export the data in Excel, CSV or PDF formats for offline use.

Source: Zoocasa

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

Durham’s housing market began 2022 with strong momentum. Average prices surpassed $1 million in December 2021 and peaked near $1.23 million in February 2022. After interest rates started rising in March, affordability weakened and prices declined. By May of that year, the average had slipped back under $1 million and finished December 2022 at $874,456. Demand remains strongest for detached and single-family homes, but as mortgage costs increased, many buyers shifted attention to more affordable townhouses.

“Early in 2022 buyers targeted detached, freehold properties,” says Andrea Lao, a local Zoocasa agent. “Once rates tightened affordability, some buyers moved toward townhouses. Many Durham buyers are either long-time residents seeking upgrades or first-time buyers leaving their family home, so demand for detached homes, semis and townhouses typically stays high.”

What’s next for real estate in Durham Region?

Many buyers remain cautious while interest rates are elevated. If rate increases slow or stabilize, some buyers on the sidelines could re-enter the market. To attract attention, some sellers are reducing asking prices to spark interest and competition.

Lao notes that motivated buyers should focus on pricing and long-term costs: “Rates will move up and down, but buying at the right price reduces principal and can improve long-term affordability.”

High borrowing costs are likely to keep some buyers out of the higher-priced detached and semi-detached segments. That dynamic, combined with a healthy supply of townhouses and new townhouse developments, is pushing more buyers toward that property type. In February 2023 the average townhouse price was $871,737, offering a relatively more affordable entry point. “I expect townhouses will continue to attract buyers,” Lao adds.

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Top neighbourhoods in other regions

Durham’s top three neighbourhoods

1. Town Centre, Pickering

Town Centre sits in central east Pickering and includes well-known destinations like the Town Centre Shopping Mall. The composite benchmark price was $608,016 at the end of 2022, a 43% gain over five years. Although the average price dipped 1% year over year, Town Centre scores highly on value (4.6). About 55% of households include children, and the area earns solid economics and accessibility scores (3.6 and 3.8).

View Town Centre listings on Zoocasa.

2. Duffin Heights, Pickering

Duffin Heights lies in north Pickering and is notable for its proximity to the Pickering Golf Club. Its benchmark price was $806,781 at the end of 2022 — about 27% higher than five years earlier — and down roughly 1% year over year. The neighbourhood has a good economics score (4.1) and a value score of 3.6, but accessibility is limited (1.6). Approximately 62% of households have children.

View Duffin Heights listings on Zoocasa.

3. Sunderland, Brock

Sunderland is a small community in Brock with about 1,200 residents. The neighbourhood offers local shops, restaurants and galleries. At the end of 2022 the average home price was $789,219, representing strong five-year growth (65%), though prices were down 3% year over year. Sunderland scores well for value (4.5) and records moderate economic indicators (3.2). With limited public transit, its accessibility score is 0, and about 45% of households include children.

View Sunderland listings on Zoocasa.

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Read more about buying a home:

• Mortgage affordability calculator
• The complete guide for first-time home buyers in Canada
• Video: Buying your first home? Learn about the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive
• What to know about the new First Home Savings Account
• Buying a second home: How it works in Canada