Markham real estate market at a glance

As of 2026, the average detached home in Markham trades in the $1.5M to $2.0M range. Executive builds in Cathedraltown, Angus Glen, and along the Bayview corridor skew highest — regularly clearing $2.5M — while established central Markham subdivisions and newer townhomes balance the average. Semi-detached and townhomes fall between $1.1M and $1.4M, and condominium apartments — concentrated at Markham Centre, along Highway 7, and near the GO stations — average $650K to $950K. Markham has the lowest residential tax rate in the GTA (0.72%), which is a meaningful part of the total-cost-of-ownership calculation on a $1.5M home.

Markham vs. surrounding communities

Markham prices sit above Aurora ($1.4M–$1.9M) and East Gwillimbury ($1.3M–$1.7M), on par with central Richmond Hill ($1.6M–$2.2M), and below Vaughan's Kleinburg and Toronto's Bayview corridor. Its combination of six GO stations (Markham, Unionville, Centennial, Mount Joy, Milliken, Old Elm), two 400-series highways (404 and 407), and the lowest tax rate in the GTA make it a rare "everything works" market for GTA-tier buyers. Buyers moving up from a Scarborough house routinely land in Markham for the schools; buyers moving down from downtown Toronto land here for the space at a comparable commute.

Best neighbourhoods in Markham

• UnionvilleMarkham's heritage village on Main Street Unionville — Victorian storefronts, Toogood Pond, the Varley Art Gallery, and one of Ontario's most photographed main streets. Century homes on shaded lots, plus modern executive builds in the surrounding Bridle Trail and Angus Glen catchments. Consistently the highest per-square-foot values in the city.
• CathedraltownMaster-planned executive community north of Elgin Mills, anchored by the Cathedral of the Transfiguration. Estate homes on 45-to-70-foot lots, wide boulevards, and Bayview-corridor prestige. Popular with move-up families from Richmond Hill and Scarborough.
• Berczy VillageFamily subdivision east of Bayview and north of Major Mackenzie. 2000s-to-2010s builds on 30-to-40-foot lots, strong elementary-school catchments (Beckett Farm, Pierre Elliott Trudeau), and walking-distance parks. A perennial first-time-move-up favourite.
• Wismer CommonsNortheast family neighbourhood between McCowan and Highway 48. Newer detached and townhome inventory, community parks built in from the start, and easy access to Highway 407. Popular with young families moving up from a Scarborough townhome.
• Markham VillageThe city's original heritage core along Main Street Markham. Century homes on wider lots, walkable to Markham GO Station, and a distinct small-town feel within the larger city. Popular with buyers wanting heritage character with transit.
• CornellNew-urbanist master-planned community east of the 407, next to Cornell Community Centre and Markham Stouffville Hospital. 2000s-to-2020s builds with front porches, lane-way garages, and grid streets designed for walkability. A distinctive design pocket popular with young families.

Schools and family life

Markham is served by the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board. Unionville High School and Bill Crothers Secondary School (a specialized athletics-focused public school) are among Ontario's most sought-after public high schools; Middlefield Collegiate, Milliken Mills, Markville, and Bur Oak also serve the city. St. Robert Catholic High School and St. Augustine Catholic High School anchor the Catholic system. Markham Stouffville Hospital in Cornell and Mackenzie Health's Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital in Vaughan serve the region. The city's cultural anchors include the Flato Markham Theatre, the Varley Art Gallery, Toogood Pond, Milne Dam Conservation Park, and the Markham Pan Am Centre — the largest concentration of public amenities in York Region.

Getting around

Highway 404 runs the city's western half, Highway 407 runs east-west across the middle, and Highway 407 East / Highway 412 give access to Durham Region. The Stouffville GO Line runs six stations through Markham (from south to north: Milliken, Unionville, Centennial, Markham, Mount Joy, and Old Elm), with peak trips to Union Station in 40 to 55 minutes depending on the station. viva Blue and viva Purple bus rapidway services run Highway 7 and Yonge Street. York Region Transit runs local buses across the city. Toronto Pearson is a 35-to-50-minute drive west via Highway 407.

Property taxes and municipal services

Markham's 2025 residential property tax rate is approximately 0.72% of assessed value, blended across the City of Markham, York Region, and provincial education portions — the lowest rate of any major municipality in the GTA. On a $1.7M home, that works out to roughly $12,240 per year, which is less than the tax bill on a $1.3M home in Newmarket (0.94% = ~$12,220) or a $1.5M home in Stouffville (0.91% = ~$13,650). The low rate reflects Markham's commercial and industrial tax base — one of the largest in Ontario — which subsidizes the residential portion. On a $2M executive home, the tax-rate savings vs. Newmarket alone is roughly $4,400 a year.

Frequently asked questions about Markham real estate