Neighbourhood guide · Toronto & the GTA
Living in Forest Hill: Neighbourhood & Real Estate Guide
Thinking of Forest Hill Village, Forest Hill South or North? Homes, 2026 prices, Line 5 and subway access, top schools and pros and cons from Irina Marchenkova.
By Irina Marchenkova, Sales Representative, RE/MAX Realtron Realty · Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) · Last updated September 2026
Forest Hill is one of Toronto’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, just north of St. Clair Avenue West between Bathurst Street and Avenue Road. Once a separate village until it joined Toronto in 1967, it’s known for tree-lined streets, grand Tudor and Georgian homes, respected public and private schools, and the boutiques and cafés of Forest Hill Village. Here’s what to know before you buy or sell.
Streets & pockets Prices Market Costs Transit Schools Checklist FAQ
Forest Hill at a glance
- Where: midtown Toronto, north of St. Clair Avenue West, between Bathurst Street and Avenue Road, up to about Eglinton Avenue and beyond
- Typical home price: $1,429,900 MLS® HPI benchmark for all home types in TRREB district C03 (Forest Hill South), and $1,914,100 in C04 (including Forest Hill North), August 2026
- Getting around: Line 1 at St. Clair West, and Line 5 Eglinton at Forest Hill and Cedarvale stations
- Best for: families seeking large homes, mature trees and top schools close to midtown
Why people choose Forest Hill
- Architecture: stately Tudor, Georgian and Arts and Crafts homes on generous, treed lots
- Schools: Forest Hill Collegiate and some of Canada’s best-known private schools
- Forest Hill Village: boutiques, cafés, bakeries and restaurants around Spadina Road and Lonsdale Road
- Green space: the Cedarvale Ravine, the Beltline Trail and nearby Casa Loma grounds
Forest Hill buyers are usually looking for the right house on the right street near the right school. Because so few homes come up each month, preparation and timing make all the difference. — Irina
Streets and pockets of Forest Hill
TRREB includes Forest Hill South in district C03, together with Humewood-Cedarvale, Oakwood Village and Yonge-Eglinton, and Forest Hill North in district C04. Here’s how the pockets differ:
Forest Hill South
Between St. Clair and Eglinton, the heart of the neighbourhood, with the largest homes on quiet, winding streets and Forest Hill Village at its centre.
Forest Hill North
North of Eglinton, with detached family homes on slightly smaller lots and easier access to Line 5.
Humewood-Cedarvale
West of Bathurst along the Cedarvale Ravine, with character homes at lower prices than Forest Hill proper.
Along St. Clair and Eglinton
Luxury and mid-rise condos with walkable access to transit, shops and restaurants.
Homes and prices in Forest Hill
Mostly large detached homes, many rebuilt or extensively renovated, plus semis on the western edges and luxury condos along St. Clair Avenue and Eglinton Avenue.
Forest Hill benchmark prices (August 2026)
Here’s how district C03 compares with the City of Toronto and the whole TRREB area:
| Area | All homes | Detached | Semi-detached | Townhouse | Condo apt. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C03 (Forest Hill South, Cedarvale) | $1,429,900 | $1,836,900 | $1,167,900 | – | $701,600 |
| C04 (incl. Forest Hill North) | $1,914,100 | $2,464,400 | $1,436,900 | – | – |
| City of Toronto | $918,400 | $1,437,900 | $1,127,200 | $717,200 | $547,400 |
| All TRREB (GTA) | $925,900 | $1,209,600 | $919,000 | $666,500 | $531,200 |
A typical detached home in district C03 was benchmarked about $399,000 above the City of Toronto figure in August 2026, and the C03 composite benchmark was down 5.26% year over year. The largest Forest Hill South homes sell far above the district benchmark. 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 August 2026, for all home types combined:
| Area | Homes sold | Average price | Median price |
|---|---|---|---|
| C03 (Forest Hill South, Cedarvale) | 34 | $2,290,894 | $1,251,500 |
| C04 (incl. Forest Hill North) | 36 | $1,935,770 | $1,839,000 |
| City of Toronto | 1,767 | $979,684 | $770,000 |
| All TRREB (GTA) | 5,057 | $993,410 | $850,000 |
Across the whole GTA in August 2026, homes sold for about 97% of their final list price on average and spent an average of 35 days on the market. GTA sales were down 2.1% from a year earlier and new listings were down 14.1%, so choice has tightened in some neighbourhoods. Monthly numbers for a single district can swing a lot, so ask me for a free market report on a specific street.
What it costs to buy in Forest Hill
Land transfer tax
Forest Hill is in the City of Toronto, so buyers pay two land transfer taxes on closing: Ontario’s and Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax. Up to $3 million the two use the same rates; above $3 million, Toronto’s luxury rates apply (3.5% from $3 to $4 million, rising in steps above that).
| Example purchase | Ontario + Toronto LTT | First-time buyer pays |
|---|---|---|
| Detached home at $1,835,000 | $66,350 | $57,875 |
| Condo apartment at $700,000 | $20,950 | $12,475 |
First-time buyers can get refunds of up to $4,000 on the Ontario tax and up to $4,475 on the Toronto tax, as long as they (and their spouse) have never owned a home anywhere in the world. Land transfer tax is paid on closing, on top of your down payment. Try the land transfer tax calculator.
Property taxes
Toronto’s 2026 residential property tax rate is 0.767311% (City of Toronto, including the education portion and City Building Fund levy), or about $767 a year for every $100,000 of assessed value, one of the lowest rates in the GTA. 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 5 Eglinton: Forest Hill and Cedarvale stations opened with the line in February 2026, connecting east–west across the city.
- Line 1: St. Clair West station, with Cedarvale (formerly Eglinton West) linking Lines 1 and 5.
- Buses and streetcars: the 512 St. Clair streetcar and bus routes along Spadina Road and Bathurst Street.
- Driving: Allen Road connects north to Highway 401.
Schools and family life
Forest Hill is served by the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board, with French-language schools through Viamonde and MonAvenir. Forest Hill is also known for respected schools, including Forest Hill Collegiate Institute and well-known private schools such as Upper Canada College and The Bishop Strachan School. Always check each board’s school locator for a specific address, as boundaries and programs vary street by street.
Major downtown hospitals, including Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to the north and the University Avenue hospitals to the south, are a short drive away.
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 City of Toronto’s child care finder lists licensed centres, including those in the reduced-fee program, and EarlyON drop-in centres. My tip: get on waitlists early and ask each centre whether it’s in the reduced-fee program.
Parks, shopping and things to do
- Forest Hill Village: boutiques, cafés, bakeries and restaurants
- Parks and trails: the Cedarvale Ravine, the Beltline Trail and local parks
- Culture: Casa Loma and Spadina Museum just to the south
- Shopping: Yorkdale Shopping Centre is a short drive north
Pros and cons of living in Forest Hill
Pros
- Beautiful, established streets and homes
- Excellent public and private schools
- Line 1 and Line 5 nearby
- Village shops and ravine trails
Cons
- Among the highest prices in the city
- Few listings each month
- Renovations can face heritage and tree rules
- Busy traffic on Bathurst, Spadina and Eglinton
Before you buy in Forest Hill: local checklist
Every area has its own rules and quirks. Here’s what I check with buyers in Forest Hill:
- Heritage: check whether the home is individually designated or in a Heritage Conservation District, which affects exterior renovations and additions.
- Trees: Toronto’s tree protection bylaws are strict in these leafy neighbourhoods; removing or injuring a large tree needs a permit, which can affect renovation and addition plans.
- Older homes: many houses here are 80 to 100+ years old, so budget for a thorough inspection covering wiring, plumbing, the roof and the foundation.
- Rebuilds: if you plan a new custom home, confirm zoning, height and lot coverage limits, and any Committee of Adjustment history on the street.
- Basement flooding: ask about backwater valves and sump pumps; the City offers a Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program.
- Vacant Home Tax: every Toronto owner must file an occupancy declaration each year, even if they live in the home.
- 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 Forest Hill with Irina
I’m a RE/MAX Realtron Realty Sales Representative and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®), based in Scarborough and working across Toronto and the GTA. Whether you’re buying your first home, moving up or downsizing from a family home, I’ll help you compare neighbourhoods, price your home correctly and negotiate the best terms. I work in English and Russian.
Forest Hill real estate FAQ
Is Forest Hill a good place to live?
For families who want large homes, mature trees and some of Toronto’s best schools close to midtown, it’s one of the city’s most sought-after neighbourhoods. The main trade-off is price.
How much does a house cost in Forest Hill?
In August 2026, the MLS® HPI benchmark for a detached home in TRREB district C03 (which includes Forest Hill South) was $1,836,900, and $2,464,400 in district C04 (which includes Forest Hill North). The largest homes sell for much more.
What transit is near Forest Hill?
Line 1 at St. Clair West, and Line 5 Eglinton at Forest Hill and Cedarvale stations, which opened in February 2026.
What is Forest Hill Village?
The neighbourhood’s shopping area around Spadina Road and Lonsdale Road, with boutiques, cafés, bakeries and restaurants.
What are property taxes in Forest Hill?
Toronto’s 2026 residential rate is 0.767311% of your home’s MPAC assessed value, about $767 per $100,000 of assessment.
Useful links
- City of Toronto
- TTC (routes and service)
- Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board
- TRREB Market Watch (monthly prices)
Nearby neighbourhood guides
- Annex & Yorkville
- Midtown Toronto
- Lawrence Park
- Rosedale & Moore Park
- Bathurst Manor & Clanton Park
- See all areas on the interactive map
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 Midtown: Yonge-Eglinton, Davisville & St Clair condo guide on IrinaSellsCondos.ca.