Clairlea-Birchmount is a quiet, family-oriented neighbourhood with lots of green space on the western side of the Scarborough area, east of Downtown Toronto. This peaceful community is a top favourite among first-time homebuyers due to its affordability and convenient access to recreational venues, parks, schools, and amenities needed to live comfortably near the city centre. The area has many housing options to choose from – including single-family homes, townhouses, and condo buildings. Whether you’re looking for a great place to raise your kids or just want to invest in Toronto real estate, Clairlea-Birchmount is worth checking out! Read more.
More About Clairlea-Birchmount Real Estate
Clairlea-Birchmount comprises part of the adjoining neighbourhoods of Clairlea and Birchmount Park, and it’s one of Scarborough’s largest neighbourhoods. Its boundaries are roughly defined as the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks to the south, Birchmount Road to the east, Eglinton Avenue East to the north and Victoria Park Avenue to the west.
Clairlea-Birchmount is an ever-evolving place that continues to grow with its residents. Back in the day, the area was part of a pioneer crossroads village known as Moffat’s Corner. Today’s neighbourhood began to take shape in the 50s and 60s when farm grounds slowly ceded space to residential developments. This was one of the first areas to develop as a suburb in Scarborough. Today, Clairlea-Birchmount is a diverse, middle-income neighbourhood increasingly popular among young families.
Closest Neighbourhoods
- Oakridge
- Scarborough Junction
- Victoria Village (Sloane)
- Wexford
Clairlea-Birchmount Toronto Real Estate Market
This neighbourhood’s housing market is relatively affordable compared to most of Toronto’s suburbs. Homes for sale in Clairlea-Birchmount can be found listed, on average, at around $955,000, which is 33% below the average home price in Toronto. Most of the houses sit on the market for approximately 10 days.
Clairlea-Birchmount offers homebuyers a wide array of properties, from single-family homes to townhouses and condos. The dwelling stock comprises a mixture of bungalows, detached, and two-storey houses. Most of Clairlea-Birchmount’s homes were built in the 40s and are located on quiet streets with a curved pattern and tree-lined streetscapes. The majority of the homes are pretty similar in design, and many have well-manicured and spacious front lawns.
There are also new construction homes. One example is the Warden Woods Ravine community, located south of St. Clair Avenue. This private residential enclave provides a wide variety of housing, including newly built, modern single-family houses, both semi-detached and detached, and beautiful townhouses. The price of a townhouse in this neighbourhood ranges between $725,000 and $995,000.
Property buyers interested in high-rise living will find condos for sale almost equally divided into low-rise and over five-story buildings. The average condo in the Clairlea-Birchmount neighbourhood can be purchased for an average price of $715,000.
Clairlea-Birchmount Schools
The neighbourhood offers residents looking for educational services plenty of options for children in grades Kindergarten through 12th. Clairlea-Birchmount schools invest heavily in the curriculum and teacher development to provide students with a wide range of opportunities for advancement. Therefore, they have an excellent reputation. Some of the best schools in Clairlea-Birchmount are:
- Clairlea Public School JK-8 (Elementary and Middle)
- Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute (High School)
- SATEC @ W. A. Porter Collegiate Institute (High School)
Living In Clairlea-Birchmount
Clairlea-Birchmount is an up-and-coming neighbourhood that is a great place for multi-generational families to live. There are plenty of outdoor spaces for those who value an active lifestyle, along with recreational facilities for all ages, accessible public transit options, and job opportunities. If you are looking to become a homeowner in the area, keep reading to find out what it is like to live in Clairlea-Birchmount:
One of the neighbourhood’s major landmarks is Warden Woods and the Taylor-Massey Creek. Both geographical features form a deep ravine valley that stretches along the southeastern perimeter of the community.
The community is overall very well-kept. There are no garbage or vandalism problems, and the parks are frequently mowed and well taken care of.
This area of Scarborough is known to be very safe. Families with young children, seniors, and young people feel free to enjoy outdoor spaces by going to local parks and practicing sports mainly because crime is nearly non-existent around here.
Many properties in the area show great ownership pride due to their evident high levels of care.
Scarborough is a Toronto area well-known for its high ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, and this neighbourhood is not an exception. Here you’ll find long-time Canadian residents and new immigrants from everywhere in the world.
Clairlea-Birchmount has two cemeteries: The Dawes Road Cemeteries on Herron Avenue and Pines Hills Cemetery and Funeral Centre on Birchmount Road, which the Taylor Massey Creek traverses.
Parks
Clairlea-Birchmount has no shortage of green spaces. Most parks, parkettes, gardens, and overall wooded areas are located south of the neighbourhood. There are also many walkable trails. Most of the parks are well-equipped with seating and play areas, while others are adjacent to community centres with additional facilities and amenities for parkgoers, such as sports courts and washrooms. Some of the best parks around Clairlea-Birchmount are:
- Clairlea Park
- Jim McPherson Park
- Edge Park
- St. Clair Ravine Park
- Byng Park
Recreation
The Warden Woods ravine parkland has the paved, waterfront Gus Harris Trail for residents to enjoy hiking, jogging, roller skating, and biking among nature. Byng Park and the West Scarborough Neighborhood Community Centre are to the south, which provide swimming lessons, horseshoe pits, and a bocce club. On Victoria Park Avenue, heading east, is Dentonia Park, home to an 18-hole public golf course perfect for players of any level.
Additional recreational opportunities are available on Warden Avenue. To the north, the Eglinton Town Centre has a multiplex cinema that screens the latest films and plenty of dining options for a family outing or a romantic date night. Heading south, the Warden Hilltop Community Centre offers a double gym, a weight room, and a teaching kitchen. At Clairlea Park, west of Warden Avenue, the Scarborough Soccer Centre features two indoor soccer fields.
Amenities
Clairlea-Birchmount is a laid-back suburban community but doesn’t lack entertainment opportunities or amenities. The northern portion of the neighbourhood concentrates on a high volume of shopping centres, including the Eglinton Square indoor shopping centre and Eglinton Town Centre, with retailers such as Walmart, HomeSense, and Marshalls. There are also pharmacies, markets, a variety of services, and delicious eats. South of the neighbourhood is The Danforth, the trendy commercial street, with additional alternatives for running errands, going for a drink, or having weekend family fun.
Jobs
A major employer in Clairlea-Birchmount is Providence Healthcare. Located on St. Clair Avenue, the complex encompasses a hospital specializing in rehabilitation and continuing care and a long-term care home called the Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence. The Providence Community Centre also provides residents with various clinics and support programs for the elderly and the local caregiver community.
Commutes
Clairlea-Birchmount’s residents can efficiently carry out everyday business by walking. Still, the area is also well-served by public transit, with convenient access to the subway, GO train, and buses. Buses serve Warden, Pharmacy, Victoria Park and St. Clair Avenues, and for residents that prefer the subway, the Warden Station is nearby, giving access to the Bloor-Danforth Line. For car owners, the Don Valley Parkway is within proximity, making it easy to reach other parts of Toronto at ease.
Distance To Clairlea-Birchmount Amenities
- 10 minutes to the closest shopping mall
- 20 minutes to the nearest hospital
- 15 minutes to TTC Station
- 15 minutes to GO Bus or Train Station
- 10 minutes to the closest highway
- 50 minutes to Toronto Pearson Int. Airport
