Quick Answer
What is it like to buy a home in Markham?
Why Markham
Living in Markham
Markham doesn't feel like a suburb — it feels like its own city, because it is one. With over 338,000 residents and a tech corridor that rivals anything in the 905, Markham draws young professionals, established families, and entrepreneurs who want space without sacrificing career opportunities. The cultural fabric here is genuinely international: you'll hear Cantonese at Pacific Mall, Urdu along Steeles, and Tamil near Middlefield and McNicoll. That diversity isn't just demographic — it shapes the restaurants, the festivals, and the way neighbourhoods evolve.
Buyers looking at Markham real estate should understand that not all pockets are created equal. Unionville is the prestige play — heritage homes along Main Street, tree-lined crescents near Bill Crothers Secondary, and price tags that reflect the cachet. Berczy Village and Cornell are newer master-planned communities with excellent walkability and younger families. Cathedraltown near Highway 7 and Warden offers mid-rise living with a European feel. For value, look at the Milliken and Armadale corridors east of McCowan — still Markham schools, still solid transit, but meaningfully less per square foot.
Homes for sale in Markham range from $700K townhomes in the older Bullock Drive area to $3M+ estates in Angus Glen and Cachet. The average detached home sits around $1.5M, which undercuts comparable properties in North York by 15-20%. First-time buyers are finding opportunity in stacked towns near Markham and 407, while move-up buyers target the 16th Avenue corridor between Woodbine and Warden for four-bedroom detached homes with real backyards.
The Yonge North Subway Extension will eventually bring rapid transit deeper into the region, but Markham already has the Stouffville GO line and Viva rapidway along Highway 7. With IBM, AMD, Huawei, and Qualcomm all headquartered here, buying a home in Markham is as much a career decision as a lifestyle one.
Canada's High-Tech Capital — IBM, AMD, Qualcomm, Huawei HQs
Unionville Main Street — one of Ontario's most picturesque heritage villages
Top-ranked schools (Bur Oak Secondary, Markham District, Pierre Elliott Trudeau)
Pacific Mall, Markville, CF Markham — world-class shopping
Population
338,000+
Avg. Household Income
$105,000
Transit
Markham GO (Stouffville line), Viva rapidway, future Yonge North subway extension
Notable Schools
Bur Oak Secondary, Pierre Elliott Trudeau HS, Markham District HS, Markville SS
Known For
Tech industry · Cultural diversity · Unionville village · Top schools
The Full Picture
Everything You Need to Know About Markham
Schools, commute times, property taxes and what's being built — real, sourced data to help you decide, not marketing fluff.
Schools
Markham School Ratings
| School | Board | Area | Fraser rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Augustine Secondary School | Catholic | — | 10.0/10 |
| Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School | Public | Markham / Berczy area | 9.5/10 |
| Markville Secondary School | Public | Unionville / town-centre area | 9.0/10 |
| Bur Oak Secondary School | Public | Cornell / Wismer area | 8.9/10 |
| Bill Hogarth Secondary School | Public | Cathedraltown / north Markham | 8.3/10 |
| City-wide public secondary average | 8.3/10 | ||
Fraser Institute 2025 Report Card (based on 2023–24 EQAO results). Markham’s public secondary schools average 8.3/10 city-wide — among the strongest in Ontario. Catchments are assigned by the York Region District School Board and can change; confirm the current boundary for any specific address at yrdsb.ca before relying on it.
Commute
Getting Downtown
- GO station
- Markham GO (also Unionville, Milliken & Centennial GO)
- Rail line
- Stouffville line
- To Union Station
- ~50 min
- Highways
- Highways 404 and 407 run through Markham with multiple interchanges; Highway 401 is a short drive south.
Rail times are approximate — check GO Transit schedules for current departures.
Property Tax
What You'll Pay
A home assessed at $1,000,000 pays roughly $7,003/year in property tax.
Calculated on MPAC assessed value (2016 base year — the province-wide reassessment is postponed), not current market price, so the tax on a home selling at $1M today is typically lower. Source: City of Markham 2025 final residential rate (0.700278%), cross-referenced with wowa.ca.
What's Being Built
Markham Development Pipeline
York University Markham Campus
Opened 2024 in Markham Centre — York’s first campus outside Keele, anchoring the downtown Markham knowledge economy.
Downtown Markham (Markham Centre)
Ongoing high-density build-out at Enterprise Blvd — thousands of approved condo units, offices and civic space forming a genuine downtown core.
Highway 7 East Bus Rapid Transit
Metrolinx/YRRTC rapidway expansion along Highway 7 — dedicated transit lanes projected to carry 10,000+ daily trips by the mid-2030s.
Stouffville GO line expansion
Metrolinx program to sharply increase Stouffville-line service frequency, with Unionville GO upgrades already delivered.
Walkability
Getting Around
City-wide Walk Score is 35 (car-dependent), but Downtown Markham and Unionville Main Street score in the mid-80s (“very walkable”). Walkability in Markham is intensely neighbourhood-specific.
Which Markham neighbourhood is right for you?
Unionville is the prestige address — heritage homes along Main Street, tree-lined crescents near Markville and Bill Crothers, and pricing that reflects the cachet. If top-tier schools and walkable village character top your list, this is the pocket buyers compete hardest for.
Berczy Village and Cornell are newer master-planned communities built for families: wide sidewalks, parks within a short walk, and access to Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Bur Oak. Cathedraltown near Highway 7 and Warden offers newer mid-rise and townhome living with a distinctive European streetscape.
For value, look east of McCowan along the Milliken and Armadale corridors — still Markham schools, still strong transit, but meaningfully less per square foot than Unionville or Angus Glen. Angus Glen and Cachet remain the top of the detached market, with estate lots pushing well past $3M.
Active Listings
Homes for Sale in Markham
Compare
Markham vs Nearby York Region Cities
| Markham | Richmond Hill | Vaughan | Newmarket | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 338,000+ | 202,000+ | 323,000+ | 87,000+ |
| Avg. household income | $105,000 | $98,000 | $110,000 | $92,000 |
| Known for | Tech industry, Cultural diversity | Family neighbourhoods, Yonge Street corridor | VMC urban core, Kleinburg luxury | Historic downtown, Fairy Lake |
| Transit | Markham GO (Stouffville line), Viva rapidway, future Yonge North subway extension | Richmond Hill GO, Viva Blue/Purple, future Yonge North subway | Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (TTC Line 1), Highway 407 station, Rutherford GO | Newmarket GO (Barrie line), Viva Green/Orange |
| Notable schools | Bur Oak Secondary, Pierre Elliott Trudeau HS, Markham District HS, Markville SS | Richmond Hill HS, Bayview SS, Alexander Mackenzie HS, Richmond Green SS | Vaughan SS, Woodbridge College, Emily Carr SS, Maple HS | Newmarket HS, Huron Heights SS, Sacred Heart CHS |
Profile figures are estimates. Live prices, listing counts and days-on-market are shown per city on each neighbourhood page (MLS® data updated every 15 minutes).
FAQ
Markham Real Estate — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a home cost in Markham?
The average price of a home for sale in Markham, Ontario is currently about $623K, based on live TRREB MLS® data. Prices vary by property type and pocket — condos and townhomes sit below the average, while detached homes run above it.
Is Markham a good place to live?
Markham is a well-regarded York Region community of roughly 338,000+ residents, known for tech industry, cultural diversity, unionville village. The average household income is around $105,000. It suits families and professionals who want space and strong amenities within commuting distance of Toronto.
What are the best schools in Markham?
Notable schools serving Markham include Bur Oak Secondary, Pierre Elliott Trudeau HS, Markham District HS, Markville SS. Catchment matters for resale value, so confirm the boundary for any specific address before you buy — I can help you check the zone for a home you're considering.
How is the commute from Markham to Toronto?
Markham is served by Markham GO (Stouffville line), Viva rapidway, future Yonge North subway extension. GO Transit is the fastest car-free option into downtown Toronto for most York Region commuters, and the surrounding 400-series highways handle drivers to the city and across the region.
How many homes are for sale in Markham right now?
There are currently 4,343 active listings in Markham on the MLS®, updated every 15 minutes. Browse them directly on this page, filtered by price, property type, and beds.
Is Markham a good place for first-time buyers?
First-time buyers in Markham typically start with condos, stacked towns, or townhomes, which price below detached homes. Ontario first-time buyers may also qualify for a Land Transfer Tax rebate. Use the affordability and land-transfer-tax calculators on this site to see what you can carry before you shop.
Who is the best real estate agent in Markham?
Abram Girgis, REALTOR® & Private Advisor with Century 21 — Leading Edge Realty Inc., Brokerage, helps buyers and sellers across York Region including Markham. You get live MLS® data, sold-price insight, and hands-on local guidance on pricing, schools, and the right pocket for your budget. Reach out through the contact page to get started.
Local Expertise
Thinking About Markham?
I know Markhaminside and out — the streets, the schools, the hidden gems. Whether you're buying or selling, let's talk strategy.
Abram Girgis, REALTOR® & Private Advisor · (289) 536-9449
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The listing data is provided under copyright by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB). The listing data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by TRREB. The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA.