If you’re looking to live a small-town Ontario lifestyle while still within commuting distance of Toronto, Clarington is the place for you. Clarington, ON offers its residents a wide variety of property types and landscapes to choose from. You can live in a small, urban community, in a private secluded farmhouse, a family friendly suburb, or a luxury home on the shores of Lake Ontario. Clarington has some of the most diverse homes for sale in Ontario, and with market values on the rise, you’ll want to jump on board quickly and get to living a lifestyle of your own choosing. Read more.
More About Clarington, ON
Clarington is not one town but several, similar to how Hawaii is not just one island but many. A few communities revolve around one central point, that being Clarington, and you can find plenty of homes scattered all through the fields of the Clarington region that don’t belong to any community at all. With a population of 105,000, the largest Clarington communities provide all the big city amenities you need, but there’s still plenty of space for people who want to live a bit farther away from the action of city life.
Clarington is about an hour’s drive from Toronto’s city centre (without traffic). It makes up the easternmost ‘province’ of the Greater Toronto Area. You truly can’t get further from the city centre while still being in the city. Clarington is like a time capsule in many ways, a glimpse into what much of the Greater Toronto Area was like sixty or so years ago. But don’t think of Clarington as backwards, it’s still kept pace with the modern world, it just doesn’t look like the rest of the GTA.
Clarington, ON Real Estate
As a municipality, Clarington is massive, covering as much area as the Toronto city proper. Overall Clarington has an affluent population and this is reflected in its home values. Most Clarington homes for sale were built from the 1990’s onwards, but you can find plenty of homes of all ages and styles. The vast majority of Clarington houses are three-bedroom single-family detached. These make up close to 75% of Clarinton’s housing inventory. As you might have guessed by now, the vast majority of Clarington residents own their homes rather than rent them.
In the beginning of 2022 the average sold price for a Clarington home for sale was $1.1 million, a 35% increase over the last year. Most homes for sale range between 1.1 million and 1.4 million, especially four bedroom two story homes. You can find some condos for sale in Clarington too. They range between $700,000 and $800,000, though they are few and far between. If you’re looking for flexibility in where you want to live, a single family home in Clarington is your best bet to make that happen.
Clarington, ON Communities
Bowmanville – Bowmanville is the largest and most urban of the Clarington communities. Located about 15 kilometres from Oshawa, Bowmanville offers its residents a town-centred lifestyle. The majority of your schools, shops, and community events can be found here. Bowmnaville also has the widest variety of Clarington’s housing, with duplexes, townhomes, and condos for sale throughout the community.
Newcastle – Newcastle is like a miniature version of Bowmanville. It has its own quaint little main strip that will satisfy your “small-town” cravings, and plenty of traditional suburban housing that spreads out equally around Newcastle. Newcastle sits right alongside the 401, making it a great community for anyone commuting into Toronto.
Bond Head – Bond Head has all the charm of a seaside town without the hurricanes. A small little village just south of Newcastle, Bond Head has access to a marina, so if you’re an Ontario sailor this is the right community for you. You can find large, two-storey homes for sale here with large property plots and a quiet, waterborne pace of life.
FAQ about Clarington, ON
What are the Best Communities in Clarington, ON?
Best urban community: Bowmanville
Best suburban community: Newcastle
Best communities for schools: Bowmanville and Newcastle
What is the postal code for Clarington, ON?
The top postal codes are L1C – Bowmanville, L1B Newcastle, L0B Clarington
Where is the nearest commercial airport in Clarington, ON?
Toronto Pearson International Airport, about 90 km away.
What county is Clarington, Ontario in?
Durham Regional Municipality
Schools in Clarington, ON
Schools in Clarington form part of the much larger Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. For most kids growing up in the GTA, they only get to interact with students living within a mile of their home, but out in Clarington students will come across peers from a huge swath of southern Ontario. Most schools in Clarington are actually located in Bowmanville, which hosts eight public elementary schools and two public secondary schools. In addition to traditional public education, Clarington has its fair share of catholic primary and secondary schools, as well as its very own Montessori school in Bowmanville. Here are some of the best schools in Clarington:
- Bowmanville High School
- Clarington Central Secondary School
- The Clarington Centre for Individual Studies
- Blaisdale Montessori School
- MJ Hobbs Senior Public School
Jobs in Clarington, ON
Clarington, ON’s economy is unique in that it is mostly propped up by small businesses of one to ten employees. Healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and mining make up the largest sectors of Clarington’s workforce, reinforcing the area’s reputation as an example of Old Ontario and New Ontario brought together. Some of the most prominent businesses in Clarington include Bowmanville Foundry Co Ltd, General Motors Canada, and the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.
Transportation in Clarington, ON
To get around comfortably and efficiently in Clarington, you need a car. The grand majority of residents use an automobile to get just about anywhere they need to go. The 401 runs right through the centre of the area and is the main thoroughfare to take to Toronto whenever you want to visit the big city. Clarington is connected to Toronto by GO transit and Via Rail, so even if you don’t have your own car you’ll still be able to commute into the city for work if need be.
Distances to Major Cities
- 29 km to Oshawa, ON
- 57 km to Peterborough, ON
- 83 km to Toronto, ON
- 104 km to Mississauga, ON
- 149 km to Hamilton, ON
Things to Do in Clarington, ON
- Clarington Tire Motorsport Park – what’s more fun than a day at the races? From stockcars, motorbikes, and so much more, this race track will keep speedseekers satisfied with races all throughout the summer.
- Visual Arts Centre of Clarington- Located in the south of Bowmanville in one of the oldest buildings in Clarington, the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington is a must-see for all area art lovers. Their current exhibition is a fascinating piece on map making, you’d be surprised just how deep that artform goes.
- Bowmanville Santa Claus Parade – Bowmanville goes all-out for Santa. As soon as the season rolls around at the end of November, Bowmanville kicks off the holidays with a community event that all residents can enjoy.
- Support the Clarington Knights – The Clarington Knights are Clarington’s own Minor Football Association team. Offering the area’s youths a chance to play their favourite game at a more organized level, the Knights are a regional favourite, and going to one of their games is a perfect way to get to know the community.
- Newcastle Outback Paintball – Get over your initial fear of being hit by a paintball, and you’ll soon find that it’s one of the most exciting sports you can play. With five fields featuring dense woods, bunkers, trenches, and interesting terrain, you’ll find paintball games at Newcastle Outback to be a blast.
- Ayren Links Golf Club – Bowmanville’s very own golf course, Ayren Links is a great place for local golfers to relax and work on their game on the weekends. Play nine holes or 18, you’ll find Ayren Links to always offer up plenty of challenges.
- Archibald Orchards & Estate Winery – Featuring wines, ciders, and a picturesque apple orchard, Archibald offers some of the classiest wine experiences that Bowmanville sommeliers can hope for. Located just 14 kilometres from town, you’ll want to make Archibald a regular part of your Clarington social life.
- Bowmanville Harbour Conservation Area – One of the nicest things about living in Clarington is how close you are to the water. Lake Ontario is never more than a ten-minute drive away, offering both sailors, boaters, and hikers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of the lakeshore.
- Stephen’s Gulch Conservation Area – Open Spring through Autumn, you can explore the deciduous environs around Soper Creek throughout its most beautiful stages. There’s a three kilometre walking trail perfect for getting your steps in for the day.
- Long Sault Conservation Area – Long Sault is no joke. At 400 hectares, it is a massive stretch of nature with nearly 20 kilometres of prime walking trails. For those days when you really just need to get lost in nature, this is the place to escape to.
