Neighbourhood guide · Toronto & the GTA
Living in East York: Neighbourhood & Real Estate Guide
Moving to East York? Bungalows and family homes near the subway and Taylor Creek, with 2026 prices, schools, taxes and pros and cons.
By Irina Marchenkova, Sales Representative, RE/MAX Realtron Realty · Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) · Last updated September 2026
East York is a friendly, family-oriented part of Toronto just north of the Danforth, known for its post-war bungalows, tree-lined streets, ravines and parks. It offers a more affordable way to own a house close to downtown, with Line 2 subway access along its southern edge.
This guide covers East York’s neighbourhoods, homes and prices, transit, schools, lifestyle and the honest pros and cons.
Neighbourhoods Prices Market Costs Transit Schools Checklist FAQ
East York at a glance
- Where: East Toronto, north of the Danforth, between the Don Valley and Victoria Park Avenue
- Homes: Post-war bungalows, semis, detached homes and some condos
- Transit: Line 2 subway, buses, and the Ontario Line under construction
- Best for: Families and first-time buyers wanting a house close to downtown
- Big draws: Taylor Creek Park, Stan Wadlow Park, and value for a central location
Why people choose East York
More affordable houses. East York’s detached benchmark is well below the Toronto average.
Close to the core. Line 2 stations like Pape, Donlands, Greenwood and Coxwell are a short walk or bus ride away.
Room to grow. Many bungalows sit on good-sized lots, and some owners add a second storey or a garden suite.
Ravines and parks. Taylor Creek, the Don Valley trails and neighbourhood parks are close to most homes.
East York is often where first-time buyers find their first house in the city. I help them look past dated interiors to the lot, the location and the potential.
— Irina Marchenkova
East York neighbourhoods
Popular East York neighbourhoods include:
Danforth Village & Woodbine Heights
North of the Danforth near Coxwell and Woodbine, with semis, bungalows and easy subway access.
Old East York & Broadview North
Quiet streets near the Don Valley and Pape Avenue, with detached homes and bungalows.
O’Connor-Parkview
Family streets around Taylor Creek Park and O’Connor Drive.
Thorncliffe Park (nearby)
A dense condo and rental community across the Don Valley, with more affordable apartments.
Homes and prices in East York
East York’s housing includes:
- Post-war bungalows on good-sized lots
- Semi-detached and detached homes
- Renovated and rebuilt homes, including second-storey additions
- Condos and rental apartments along major roads
East York benchmark prices (September 2026)
East York is TRREB district E03:
| Area | All homes | Detached | Semi/attached | Townhouse | Condo apt. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E03 (East York) | $1,016,900 | $1,171,800 | $1,060,800 | — | $453,500 |
| 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. A typical detached home in East York was benchmarked about $246,000 below the City of Toronto figure in September 2026, and the composite benchmark was down 5.82% year over year. Ask me for recent 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto East (incl. East York & Riverdale) | 481 | $956,004 | $880,000 |
| City of Toronto | 1,937 | $1,034,320 | $810,000 |
| 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%. For the latest numbers on a specific street, ask me for a free market report, or read my September 2026 market update.
What it costs to buy in East York
Land transfer tax
East York is in the City of Toronto, so buyers pay two land transfer taxes: Ontario’s and Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax. Here’s what that looks like at typical prices:
| Example purchase | Ontario LTT | Toronto LTT | Total | First-time buyer pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached home at $1,175,000 | $19,975 | $19,975 | $39,950 | $31,475 |
| Condo apartment at $475,000 | $5,975 | $5,975 | $11,950 | $3,475 |
First-time buyers can get a refund of up to $4,000 on the Ontario land transfer tax and a rebate of up to $4,475 on the Toronto tax (together up to $8,475). 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.
Property taxes
Toronto’s residential property tax rate is 0.767311% (2026 final rate, City of Toronto), or about $767 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.
| MPAC assessed value | Approximate yearly property tax |
|---|---|
| $400,000 | $3,069 |
| $600,000 | $4,604 |
| $800,000 | $6,138 |
| $1,000,000 | $7,673 |
Getting around
- Line 2 Bloor-Danforth: Pape, Donlands, Greenwood, Coxwell and Woodbine stations along the southern edge.
- Ontario Line (under construction): A new line through Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park, connecting to Line 2 at Pape.
- Buses: TTC routes on Pape, Donlands, Coxwell, O’Connor and more.
- Driving: The Don Valley Parkway is minutes away.
Schools and family life
East York is served by the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board, with French-language options through Viamonde and MonAvenir. Check the TDSB school locator for any address.
Michael Garron Hospital, the area’s community hospital, is in East York.
Child care
At licensed 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. (The $10-a-day average has not yet been reached in Ontario.)
In Toronto, the City’s online child care system lets you search licensed centres, see their quality ratings and join waitlists, and you can apply for a fee subsidy through Toronto Children’s Services.
My tip: get on waitlists as early as possible, ideally several months before you move or before parental leave ends.
- Ontario: Find and pay for child care: search licensed centres province-wide
- City of Toronto: Licensed Child Care: search centres, see quality ratings, join waitlists and apply for a fee subsidy
Parks, shopping and things to do
- Taylor Creek Park: ravine trails linking to the Don Valley
- Stan Wadlow Park: sports fields, an outdoor pool and trails
- Danforth Avenue: shops and restaurants to the south
- East York Town Centre and local plazas
- Don Valley trails for walking and cycling
Pros and cons of living in East York
Pros
- More affordable houses close to downtown
- Subway access on Line 2
- Good-sized lots with renovation potential
- Ravines and parks
- Family-friendly streets
Cons
- Many bungalows need updating
- Fewer walkable main streets in the north
- Car-dependent away from the subway
- Ontario Line construction nearby
- Two land transfer taxes
Before you buy in East York: local checklist
Here’s what I check with buyers in East York:
- Renovation potential: check zoning before planning a second storey, addition or garden suite.
- Ravine lots: homes near Taylor Creek or the Don Valley may be regulated by the TRCA.
- Basement flooding: ask about backwater valves and sump pumps in older bungalows.
- Toronto Vacant Home Tax: every Toronto homeowner must file a yearly occupancy declaration; homes left vacant more than six months can be taxed at 3% of assessed value.
- Trees and ravines: removing or injuring trees of 30 cm diameter or more needs a City permit, and properties near ravines fall under Toronto’s Ravine and Natural Feature Protection by-law and may be regulated by the TRCA.
- Heritage: check whether the home is on Toronto’s Heritage Register or in a Heritage Conservation District, which can limit exterior changes.
- Older homes: homes built before the mid-1950s may still have a lead water service pipe, knob-and-tube wiring or galvanized plumbing, so a thorough home inspection is essential.
- More units allowed: Toronto now permits up to four units (multiplexes) plus garden and laneway suites on most residential lots.
- 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 federal foreign-buyer rules and Ontario’s 25% Non-Resident Speculation Tax and Toronto’s 10% Municipal Non-Resident Speculation Tax before making an offer.
Buying or selling in East York with Irina
I’m a RE/MAX Realtron Realty Sales Representative and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®). Whether you’re buying your first house, renovating a bungalow or selling to upsize, I’ll give you honest, local advice about East York, 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
- 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 East York
Where is East York?
Gold pin: East York. Click any white pin to open that neighbourhood’s guide.
What would I pay each month?
Start from a typical East York 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. Toronto buyers pay both Ontario and Toronto land transfer tax. This is an estimate, not financial advice.
How have prices changed this year?
Typical price for all home types in TRREB district E03: $1,016,900 in September 2026, -5.5% since October 2025 ($1,076,100).
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 East York. Tip: check at the time of day you’d actually travel.
East York real estate FAQ
How much does a house cost in East York?
In September 2026, TRREB’s benchmark price for a typical detached home in East York (E03) was $1,171,800, and for a semi-detached home $1,060,800.
Is East York part of Toronto?
Yes. East York was a separate borough until 1998 and is now part of the City of Toronto.
Is East York good for first-time buyers?
It’s one of the more affordable places to buy a house close to downtown, which makes it popular with first-time buyers.
What subway stations are near East York?
Line 2 stations along the Danforth, including Pape, Donlands, Greenwood, Coxwell and Woodbine.
Do you pay two land transfer taxes in East York?
Yes. East York is in the City of Toronto, so buyers pay both the Ontario and Toronto land transfer taxes.
Useful links
Official sources and local resources I recommend (links open in a new tab):
- City of Toronto
- Toronto property tax rates: 2026 rates
- Toronto municipal land transfer tax
- Toronto first-time buyer land transfer tax rebate
- Ontario first-time buyer land transfer tax refund
- Toronto Vacant Home Tax
- MPAC: look up a property’s assessed value
- TDSB school locator
- Toronto Catholic District School Board
- Fraser Institute school rankings
- TTC: subway, streetcar and bus routes
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
- TRREB Market Watch
- Metrolinx: Ontario Line: project updates for new east-end stations
- East York, Danforth and Leslieville condo guide
- The Beaches and east end neighbourhood guide
Explore nearby areas
- Riverdale and the Danforth: just south
- Leaside: across the Don Valley
- Leslieville: further south
- Flemingdon Park: to the north
- All area guides: every neighbourhood guide in one place
- Interactive map: see every area on one clickable map
- The Danforth
Compare neighbourhoods: Most affordable areas · Best for families · Best for downsizing · First-time buyer guide · Downsizing guide · All neighbourhood guides
🏙 Looking for a condo here? See Irina’s building-by-building East York, Danforth & Leslieville condo guide on IrinaSellsCondos.ca.