Neighbourhood guide · Toronto & the GTA
Living in Courtice: Neighbourhood & Real Estate Guide
Moving to Courtice? Family neighbourhoods between Oshawa and Bowmanville, 2026 Clarington prices, the new GO station, taxes and schools.
By Irina Marchenkova, Sales Representative, RE/MAX Realtron Realty · Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) · Last updated September 2026
Courtice is a growing suburban community in the Municipality of Clarington, sitting right between Oshawa and Bowmanville. It’s known for quiet family neighbourhoods, newer homes, quick access to Oshawa’s amenities and universities, and Darlington Provincial Park on the lake. A new Courtice GO station is planned as part of the Bowmanville Extension.
This guide covers Courtice’s neighbourhoods, homes and prices, transit, schools, lifestyle and the honest pros and cons.
Neighbourhoods Prices Market Costs Transit Schools Checklist FAQ
Courtice at a glance
- Where: Municipality of Clarington, Durham Region, directly east of Oshawa
- Homes: Mostly detached homes built from the 1980s onward, plus townhouses and new builds
- Getting to Toronto: Highways 401 and 418, with a Courtice GO station planned on the Bowmanville Extension
- Best for: Families who want a newer home near Oshawa’s amenities
- Big draws: Darlington Provincial Park, the Courtice Community Complex and good value
Why people choose Courtice
Close to everything in Oshawa. Shopping, hospitals, Ontario Tech University and Durham College are minutes away.
Newer family homes. Much of Courtice was built from the 1980s onward, with larger lots and newer subdivisions to the north.
A future GO station. The Bowmanville Extension will add a Courtice GO station, bringing all-day train service to the community.
Lakeside nature. Darlington Provincial Park offers a beach, trails and camping on Lake Ontario.
Courtice suits families who want a quieter, newer neighbourhood but still want Oshawa’s shopping, schools and hospital close by. I help buyers compare it street by street with north Oshawa and Bowmanville.
— Irina Marchenkova
Courtice neighbourhoods
Courtice can be thought of in a few areas:
South Courtice
Established streets south of Highway 2, closer to Highway 401 and Darlington Provincial Park.
Central Courtice
The area around Courtice Road and Highway 2, with shopping, the Courtice Community Complex and a mix of homes.
North Courtice
Newer subdivisions toward Highway 407 and the 418, with larger detached homes, parks and new schools.
Homes and prices in Courtice
Courtice’s housing includes:
- Detached homes, mostly built from the 1980s to today
- Freehold townhouses and semis
- New builds in northern subdivisions
- Rural properties on the edges of the community
Courtice benchmark prices (September 2026)
Courtice is part of the Municipality of Clarington, so TRREB reports its benchmark prices for Clarington as a whole:
| Area | All homes | Detached | Semi-detached | Townhouse | Condo apt. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarington (incl. Bowmanville & Courtice) | $738,900 | $829,300 | $645,700 | $538,800 | $445,900 |
| Durham Region | $805,600 | $883,700 | $698,000 | $555,900 | $456,900 |
| City of Toronto | $908,200 | $1,417,600 | $1,111,200 | $714,700 | $543,800 |
Benchmark prices describe a “typical” home and can differ from any individual sale. Clarington’s composite benchmark was down 5.23% year over year in September 2026, and a typical detached home was benchmarked about $606,000 below the City of Toronto figure. Ask me for recent Courtice sold prices on any street.
Thinking of selling? Get a free home evaluation and I’ll show you what comparable homes near you have actually sold for.
Market snapshot
Here’s how many homes sold and at what prices in September 2026, for all home types combined:
| Area | Homes sold | Average price | Median price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarington (incl. Bowmanville & Courtice) | 113 | $781,521 | $770,000 |
| Durham Region | 552 | $828,141 | $770,000 |
| All TRREB (GTA) | 5,040 | $1,006,409 | $860,000 |
Across the whole GTA in September 2026, homes sold for about 98% of their final list price on average and spent an average of 34 days on the market. GTA sales were down 9.0% from a year earlier and the average price was down 5.1%, so buyers have more choice and negotiating room than in recent years. For the latest numbers on a specific street, ask me for a free market report.
What it costs to buy in Courtice
Land transfer tax
Courtice is outside the City of Toronto, so buyers pay only Ontario’s land transfer tax, not the extra Toronto municipal tax. Here’s what that looks like at typical prices:
| Example purchase | Ontario LTT | First-time buyer pays |
|---|---|---|
| Detached home at $850,000 | $13,475 | $9,475 |
| Townhouse at $540,000 | $7,275 | $3,275 |
First-time buyers can get a refund of up to $4,000 on the Ontario land transfer tax. You (and your spouse) must never have owned a home anywhere in the world. Land transfer tax is paid on closing, on top of your down payment, so budget for it along with legal fees, title insurance and moving costs.
Property taxes
Clarington’s residential property tax rate is 1.419% (2026 rate, Municipality of Clarington), or about $1,419 a year for every $100,000 of assessed value. In Ontario, property tax is based on your home’s MPAC assessed value, which is still based on January 1, 2016 values and is usually well below today’s market price. You can find a home’s assessment on its latest tax bill or through MPAC.
| MPAC assessed value | Approximate yearly property tax |
|---|---|
| $400,000 | $5,676 |
| $600,000 | $8,514 |
| $800,000 | $11,352 |
| $1,000,000 | $14,190 |
Getting around
- GO Transit: Oshawa GO is a short drive west today. A new Courtice GO station is planned on the Bowmanville Extension, which broke ground in January 2026.
- Durham Region Transit: Local buses connect Courtice with Oshawa and Bowmanville.
- Driving: Highway 401 in the south and toll-free Highway 418 connecting to Highway 407.
Schools and family life
Courtice is served by the Durham District School Board and Durham Catholic District School Board, with French-language options through Viamonde and MonAvenir. Check each board’s school locator for a specific address.
Ontario Tech University, Durham College and Lakeridge Health Oshawa are all a short drive away.
Child care
Licensed child care in Ontario is far more affordable than it was a few years ago. At centres enrolled in the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care program, fees for children under 6 are capped at $22 a day in 2026, and families with lower incomes can apply for a fee subsidy that reduces the cost further. (The long-promised $10-a-day average has not yet been reached in Ontario.)
Durham Region says there is no waitlist for child care fee subsidy, but waitlists for licensed child care spaces are growing, so it pays to start your search early.
My tip: get on waitlists as early as possible, ideally several months before you move or before parental leave ends, and ask each centre whether it’s enrolled in the reduced-fee program.
- Ontario: Find and pay for child care: search licensed centres province-wide and learn about fee subsidies
- Durham Region: Child Care Fee Help (Subsidy): eligibility, a fee calculator and how to find licensed care
Parks, shopping and things to do
- Darlington Provincial Park: beach, trails and camping on Lake Ontario
- Courtice Community Complex: a pool, fitness centre and library
- Waterfront trail along the lakeshore
- Oshawa’s amenities: shopping, dining and entertainment a few minutes west
- Bowmanville’s historic downtown a short drive east
Pros and cons of living in Courtice
Pros
- Newer family neighbourhoods
- Close to Oshawa’s shopping, hospital and universities
- Future Courtice GO station
- Among the best value in Durham
- Darlington Provincial Park nearby
Cons
- Mostly car-dependent
- No GO train until the extension opens
- Fewer shops and restaurants than Oshawa
- Higher property tax rate than Toronto
- Long commute to downtown Toronto
Before you buy in Courtice: local checklist
Every area has its own rules and quirks. Here’s what I check with buyers in Courtice:
- Conservation areas: properties near Farewell Creek, Black Creek or the lakeshore may be regulated by Central Lake Ontario Conservation.
- New builds: review Tarion warranty coverage and closing adjustments on newer homes in north Courtice.
- Future GO station: check how Bowmanville Extension construction may affect homes near the rail corridor.
- Darlington Nuclear Generating Station: it sits on the lakeshore south of Courtice, and some buyers like to know how close a home is.
- Condos: always review the status certificate, reserve fund study and any upcoming special assessments before you firm up an offer.
- Non-Canadian buyers: check the current federal foreign-buyer rules and Ontario’s Non-Resident Speculation Tax before making an offer.
Buying or selling in Courtice with Irina
I’m a RE/MAX Realtron Realty Sales Representative and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®). Whether you’re buying your first detached home, moving up from Oshawa or relocating from Toronto, I’ll give you honest, local advice about Courtice, in English or Russian.
- Buying with Irina: how I help buyers find the right home and negotiate well
- Selling with Irina: pricing, preparation and marketing that gets results
- Pre-construction: new condos and homes across the GTA
- Free home evaluation: find out what your home is worth today
- First-time buyer guide, mortgage pre-approval and closing costs: plan your budget before you shop
- New to Canada? My guide to buying a home as a newcomer
Call or text 416-846-8064 or email irina@loveurlife.ca, or send me a message below.
Plan your move to Courtice
Where is Courtice?
Gold pin: Courtice. Click any white pin to open that neighbourhood’s guide.
What would I pay each month?
Start from a typical Courtice price (MLS® HPI benchmark, September 2026) or type your own:
The 4.5% interest rate is only an example; use the rate your lender or mortgage broker quotes. 30-year amortizations on insured mortgages are for first-time buyers and new builds. Outside Toronto, only Ontario land transfer tax applies. This is an estimate, not financial advice.
How have prices changed this year?
Typical price for all home types in Clarington: $738,900 in September 2026, -3.1% since October 2025 ($762,200).
MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark, October 2025 to September 2026. Source: TRREB Market Watch. Hover over a point to see that month’s figure.
Check your commute
Live travel times from Google Maps, starting in Courtice. Tip: check at the time of day you’d actually travel.
Courtice real estate FAQ
Is Courtice a good place to live?
For families who want newer homes near Oshawa’s amenities, it can be. Courtice offers quiet neighbourhoods, lakeside parks and a future GO station, at prices among the lowest in Durham.
How much does a house cost in Courtice?
TRREB reports prices for Clarington as a whole. In September 2026, the benchmark price for a typical detached home in Clarington was $829,300, with townhouses around $538,800.
Will Courtice get a GO train station?
Yes. A Courtice GO station is planned on the Bowmanville Extension of the Lakeshore East line, which broke ground in January 2026, with completion expected in the 2030s.
Is Courtice part of Oshawa?
No. Courtice is part of the Municipality of Clarington, directly east of Oshawa.
Do you pay Toronto land transfer tax in Courtice?
No. Courtice is in Durham Region, so buyers pay only the Ontario land transfer tax.
Useful links
Official sources and local resources I recommend to buyers and sellers (links open in a new tab):
- Municipality of Clarington
- Clarington 2026 tax rates
- Ontario first-time buyer land transfer tax refund
- MPAC: look up a property’s assessed value
- Fraser Institute school rankings: compare Ontario school results
- GO Transit: regional trains and buses
- Durham District School Board
- Durham Catholic District School Board
- Durham Region Transit
- Metrolinx: Bowmanville GO Extension: project updates for the new Courtice and Bowmanville stations
- Central Lake Ontario Conservation (CLOCA): check if a property is in a regulated area
- TRREB Market Watch: monthly GTA sales and price data
Explore nearby areas
- Bowmanville: Clarington’s largest community
- Oshawa: just west
- Whitby and Pickering: further west in Durham
- All area guides: every neighbourhood guide in one place
- Interactive map: see every area on one clickable map
Compare neighbourhoods: Most affordable areas · Best for families · Best for downsizing · First-time buyer guide · Downsizing guide · All neighbourhood guides