If you’re looking at homes in the GTA, and unfamiliar with the area, you may be wondering what are the best Toronto neighbourhoods to buy real estate in 2022. We’ve gathered information we hope you’ll find helpful in giving you a clear understanding of the best places to purchase homes for sale in Toronto.
Top 9 Best Toronto Neighbourhoods to Buy Real Estate in 2022
Since the market in Toronto is competitive, these neighbourhoods are truly the most desirable places in the entire Greater Toronto Area! We looked at a map of the GTA and found the hottest neighbourhoods from each area of Toronto (i.e. Midtown, Uptown, West End, etc.). This doesn’t mean they’re the most expensive, as there are many factors that make these neighbourhoods the best of the best, but they’re each desirable in their own right.
1. Thorncliffe
Located along the Don River Valley corridor in East York, Thorncliffe is a multicultural community that includes its own shopping mall and schools to serve residents’ needs. For newcomers to Canada, Thorncliffe Park is a great place to start. The neighbourhood includes an office that provides new citizens with social and recreational programs in their native languages as well as multilingual support from staff members who can help new residents get acquainted with the area.
There are 30 low-and high rise apartments, with close to six thousand units, and about thirteen thousand residents who call this area home. Though the majority of residents in Thorncliffe rent, there have been new condominium developments for those looking towards homeownership opportunities.
Fitness and outdoor enthusiasts will love the scenic Don Valley trail system and access it through the Ernest Thompson Seton Park. The Jenner Jean-Marie Community Centre on Thorncliffe Park Drive is beautiful for both residents and visitors to meet. There’s an indoor gymnasium with all sorts of amenities, meeting rooms perfect for hosting events, as well as a public library! Leaside Park is the perfect place to walk your dog or play some baseball with friends on either of its two diamonds. You’ll find an outdoor heated pool and six tennis courts here too!
Residents of Thorncliffe can connect to the Pape station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line via the bus service on Overlea Boulevard and Thorncliffe Park Drive. The commute by car is easy with the Don Valley Parkway and Highway 404 and by being in close proximity to downtown Toronto!
2. Birchcliffe-Cliffside
The Birch Cliff-Cliffside area is an established family-oriented neighbourhood that looks over the Scarborough Bluffs and Lake Ontario. Birchcliffe-Cliffside homes for sale are a unique blend of architectural styles that date back to the 1920s and ‘30s. These homes include Tudor, Cape Cod, Edwardian, and Bungalow styles as well as newer contemporary buildings.
This scenic Scarborough Bluffs Park offers many excellent picnic spots with panoramic views of Lake Ontario. This park includes four tennis courts and a children’s playground. The Rosetta McCain Gardens is another picturesque spot in this neighbourhood that includes a rose, a perennial, and herb gardens.
If travelling by public transportation, residents can use the Toronto Transit that services along St.Clair Avenue and Kennedy Road. If travelling by vehicle, residents can easily hop on Kingston Road or the Gardiner Expressway and be in Downtown Toronto in twenty minutes!
3. Banbury-Don Mills
One of Toronto’s most popular and well-known family-friendly neighbourhoods, Don Mills is located in North York and is home to many landmarks and businesses. The picturesque Donalda Golf Course and Country Club and Edwards Gardens can be found here, as well as businesses like IBM Canada Ltd. and the Global Television Stations.
Banbury-Don Mills real estate is primarily a mixture of modern condos and stately single-family homes. Residents here don’t need to go far to shop with the convenience of the Shops at Don Mills close by. This shopping centre is located on the southwest corner of Don Mills Road and is an outdoor shopping centre with events happening year-round! There are many parks in Banbury-Don Mills that residents here enjoy. Bond Park is one of the largest parks in Don Mills. This expansive green space includes organized leagues for baseball and tennis, including the North York Winter Tennis Club.
There are public transportation services that connect to the Yonge-University-Spadina and Bloor-Danforth subway lines, while motorists can take the Don Valley Parkway for a quick commute to Downtown Toronto.
4. The Annex
The Annex is an eclectic community in Midtown that draws its energy from the diverse mixture of residents. Successful business people, prominent artists, and university students call this vibrant neighbourhood home. Along Bloor Street, you’ll find many restaurants, boutiques, and other businesses that residents enjoy dining and shopping at. Just south of there is Mirvish Village on Markham Street. It is a quaint shopping district with a collection of bookstores, art galleries, and antique stores.
The Annex is one of the most historic neighbourhoods in Toronto, and it’s recently seen a lot more multifamily buildings converted back to single-family homes. Homes in The Annex are of Victorian, Queen Anne, and Richardsonian Romanesque architectural styles. The colourful Credit River sandstone is complemented by rich red brick or terracotta clay tiles on the exterior of many buildings. Some houses feature turrets and other ornate details that can be seen as examples of what was considered “proper” architecture at this time period (around 1880-1910). A second wave of homes was constructed from 1910 to 1930 though less elaborate than the previous homes, but still beautiful styles such as English Cottage, Georgian, and Tudor.
The commute to Downtown Toronto is only minutes from The Annex by vehicle. There is easy access to public transportation here too via the TTC with subway stops at Spadina and Bathurst.
5. Mimico
Mimico is a picturesque community that features excellent recreational facilities and scenic lakefront parks. It’s located just outside downtown Toronto in the Etobicoke area, making it easy for residents to enjoy all the amenities this metropolis has to offer without having their commute take too long!
Mimico has areas of charming older houses with Arts and Crafts or Tudor architectural styles. These are perfect for first-time buyers too! Some older homes have been torn down with newer custom homes built in their place. In recent years, townhomes and condos have become more prevalent here too.
Mimico residents enjoy shopping near Royal York Road and Lake Shore Boulevard, which include boutique shops and family-owned restaurants. The town’s sports clubs and facilities provide an excellent opportunity for residents, with activities like hockey or lacrosse playing on open spaces near Royal York Road at Drummond Street.
Two separate subway lines service Mimico. The Lake Shore Boulevard bus connects to the Yonge-University-Spadina line and Union Station. The Royal York bus links to the Bloor-Danforth subway line. Residents who drive can reach Downtown Toronto within 10 minutes using the Gardiner Expressway or Lake Shore Boulevard.
6. The Beaches
The Beaches is a quaint resort town in the East End that looks and feels more like a lakeside village than a big city. In the summertime, thousands of Torontonians head out here to enjoy everything The Beaches has to offer; like exploring the outdoors on The Boardwalk or Martin Goodman Trail. There are also many vibrant stores with all sorts of goodies located right around Queen Street too.
The Beaches homes for sale are original vacation cottages built as early as the late 1800s through the 1930s, with mature trees lining the streets. If you’re wanting a newer home that keeps to the traditional style, there is a newer development on Woodbine Avenue that includes detached houses, townhomes, as well low-rise condos.
There are many things to do in The Beaches. From family picnics and windsurfing to beach volleyball at Ashbridges Bay Park or nature trails through Glen Stewart park with its picturesque ravine and swimming at Donald Summerville Pool that overlooks the lake.
As far as transportation goes, it’s easy to get around by vehicle via the Don Valley Expressway, Gardiner Expressway, or Lakeshore Boulevard. Public transportation is also available by buses or streetcars. There are routes along Woodbine Ave., Victoria Park Ave., Queen St., Main St., Kingston Rd., and Gerrard St.
7. Bedford Park-Nortown
The Bedford Park neighbourhood in Uptown is ideal for families with young children. Not only does this area offer an excellent selection of public, private and Catholic schools, but there are also many parks and playgrounds as well! Wanless Park is the biggest recreational area with five tennis courts, an indoor basketball court, baseball diamond, waterslides and a wading pool! There is also a community centre and a library.
There is a mix of detached and semi-detached homes for sale in Bedford Park-Nortown. The original housing stock was built between 1890 and 1940, but in recent years, bungalows have been replaced with new custom homes with modern conveniences.
The incredible location of this subway station on Yonge Street makes it easy to get around town. Many buses go along Yonge Street Avenue Road and Mount Pleasant Road.
8. Runnymede-Bloor West Village
These two neighbourhoods hug the border of the York-Crosstown and West End areas of Toronto. Runnymede is a quiet, family-oriented neighbourhood with homes that have easy access to shopping and transportation. Bloor West Village provides the perfect balance of city life amenities alongside nature’s beauty in High Park – Toronto’s biggest park!
Runnymede is a town where you can find everything from grand Victorian mansions to pre-war bungalows. The streets are lined with trees and homes that range in style, giving the area an eclectic mix of architecture and includes detached and semi-detached houses as well as duplex and triplex homes.
The homes for sale in Bloor West Village are all fairly similar and were built between 1912 and 1923. These homes feature fireplaces, hardwood floors, decorative oak accents, and deep front porches well-shaded by the mature maple and oak trees lining the streets.
Runnymede residents are within walking distance of two scenic parks, Étienne BržlŽ and Home Smith. Another park is Runnymede Park, which houses the George Bell hockey arena. There are many family-oriented festivals and events throughout the year at BWV. High Park, a nearly 400-acre park, is close by and offers many features, including gardens, a restaurant, an amphitheatre, and more!
The Bloor-Danforth Subway line services throughout this area. If driving, motorists will want to take Black Creek Drive, Gardiner Expressway, or Lake Shore Boulevard to get to Downtown Toronto.
9. Palmerston-Little Italy
Palmerston-Little Italy is a neighbourhood in Downtown Toronto. With a large Portuguese population, it now has become one of Toronto’s most multicultural neighbourhoods and still holds on to its roots as an Italian community. College Street is a mecca for all things Italian. The Little Italy Shopping District between Shaw and Euclid provides visitors with authentic cuisine from every region of the country as well as stores selling European goods and fashions. The Portugal Village shopping district on Dundas Street is a mecca for all your culinary needs. It includes markets with fresh fruit and vegetables, bakeries, restaurants, and cafés.
Little Italy is primarily made up of attached Victorian homes and row-houses built between 1880 to 1910. The streets here are narrow and lined with trees. There is also a YMCA, library, and The First Portuguese Canadian Culture Centre.
Little Italy is just ten minutes from downtown Toronto and has regular streetcar routes on Dundas Street, College Street, and Bathurst Street. There’s also a bus service along Ossington Avenue, and if travelling by car, the Gardiner Expressway or Lake Shore Boulevard is easily accessible here too.
The Best Toronto Neighbourhoods in 2022
Which of these neighbourhoods do you think would be the best place for you? There are so many great options it can feel like a daunting task to narrow down your search. We hope you found this list of neighbourhoods in Toronto helpful in narrowing down your search of homes for sale in Toronto.
