By Irina Marchenkova, Sales Representative, RE/MAX Realtron Realty · Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) · Last updated September 2026
Port Perry is a picturesque lakeside town on the shore of Lake Scugog and the main community in the Township of Scugog, north of Oshawa and Whitby. With a beautifully preserved Victorian downtown, waterfront parks and surrounding farmland, it’s a favourite with families, retirees and cottage-lovers who still want to be within reach of the GTA.
This guide covers Port Perry and Scugog’s communities, homes and prices, getting around, schools, lifestyle and the honest pros and cons.
Neighbourhoods Prices Market Costs Transit Schools Checklist FAQ
Port Perry at a glance
- Where: Township of Scugog, north Durham Region, on Lake Scugog
- Homes: Heritage homes, detached homes, waterfront properties and country estates
- Getting to Toronto: Highways 7A and 12 to Highways 407 and 401; no GO train station
- Best for: Retirees, families and anyone who wants small-town lakeside living
- Big draws: Queen Street’s historic downtown, Lake Scugog and Palmer Park
Why people choose Port Perry
Lakeside small-town living. Port Perry’s waterfront, marina and Palmer Park sit right beside downtown.
A beautiful historic downtown. Queen Street’s Victorian buildings house independent shops, cafés and restaurants.
Country and waterfront options. Scugog Island, Caesarea and the surrounding countryside offer waterfront and rural properties.
Local hospital. Lakeridge Health Port Perry serves the community.
Port Perry feels like cottage country, but it’s close enough to Oshawa and Whitby for everyday life. Waterfront and rural properties need extra homework, so I always build in time for well, septic and shoreline checks.
— Irina Marchenkova
Port Perry neighbourhoods
Communities in the Township of Scugog include:
Port Perry
The main town, with a historic downtown on Queen Street, waterfront parks, established streets and newer subdivisions.
Scugog Island
An island community in Lake Scugog with waterfront and rural properties, also home to the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.
Caesarea
A lakeside community on the east shore of Lake Scugog, popular for waterfront homes.
Blackstock, Greenbank & Seagrave
Smaller hamlets surrounded by farmland and country properties.
Homes and prices in Port Perry
Scugog’s housing includes:
- Heritage homes near downtown Port Perry
- Detached homes in established and newer subdivisions
- Waterfront properties on Lake Scugog
- Country properties and farms across the township
Port Perry benchmark prices (August 2026)
Here’s how Scugog compares with Durham Region and the City of Toronto (TRREB publishes composite and detached benchmarks for Scugog):
| Area | All homes | Detached | Semi-detached | Townhouse | Condo apt. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scugog (incl. Port Perry) | $898,000 | $905,000 | — | — | — |
| Durham Region | $811,000 | $889,700 | $702,300 | $556,300 | $463,200 |
| City of Toronto | $918,400 | $1,437,900 | $1,127,200 | $717,200 | $547,400 |
Benchmark prices describe a “typical” home and can differ from any individual sale, and waterfront and country properties vary enormously. A typical detached home in Scugog was benchmarked about $533,000 below the City of Toronto figure in August 2026, and the composite benchmark was down 3.35% year over year. Ask me for recent comparable sales before making an offer.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scugog (incl. Port Perry) | 18 | $819,217 | $825,000 |
| Durham Region | 602 | $819,569 | $766,000 |
| All TRREB (GTA) | 5,057 | $993,410 | $850,000 |
With fewer than 20 sales in a month, averages in Scugog can swing a lot depending on which homes sold. 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 the average price was down 2.7%, 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 Port Perry
Land transfer tax
Port Perry 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 $905,000 | $14,575 | $10,575 |
| Home at the local median price at $825,000 | $12,975 | $8,975 |
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
Scugog’s residential property tax rate is 1.387% (2026 rate, Township of Scugog), or about $1,387 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 | $5,548 |
| $600,000 | $8,322 |
| $800,000 | $11,096 |
| $1,000,000 | $13,870 |
Getting around
- Driving: Highway 7A and Highway 12 connect Port Perry to Highways 407 and 401 in Whitby and Oshawa.
- GO Transit: There is no GO train station in Scugog; the nearest stations are in Whitby and Oshawa.
- Local services: Durham Region Transit provides limited service in the area, including on-demand options.
Schools and family life
Scugog is served by the Durham District School Board and Durham Catholic District School Board, with French-language options through Viamonde and MonAvenir. Rural students often travel by school bus; check each board’s school locator for a specific address.
Lakeridge Health Port Perry is the local hospital.
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
- Palmer Park and the Port Perry waterfront: the marina, trails and summer concerts
- Queen Street: Victorian storefronts, shops and restaurants
- Town Hall 1873: a historic theatre and arts venue
- Scugog Shores Museum Village: local and Indigenous history on Scugog Island
- Port Perry Fair: one of Ontario’s long-running agricultural fairs
- Great Blue Heron Casino on Scugog Island
- Lake Scugog: boating, fishing and ice fishing
Pros and cons of living in Port Perry
Pros
- Charming lakeside small-town life
- Beautiful historic downtown
- Waterfront and country properties
- Local hospital
- Lower prices than the southern GTA
Cons
- No GO train station
- Long commute to Toronto
- Very car-dependent
- Waterfront and rural homes need extra due diligence
- Small market with few sales each month
Before you buy in Port Perry: local checklist
Every area has its own rules and quirks. Here’s what I check with buyers in Port Perry:
- Conservation areas: properties near Lake Scugog and local creeks may be regulated by Kawartha Conservation.
- Waterfront: check shoreline allowances, dock permits and flood-risk areas on Lake Scugog.
- Rural properties: inspect the septic system, well water and outbuildings.
- Heritage properties: check for heritage designations in downtown Port Perry before planning exterior changes.
- 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 Port Perry with Irina
I’m a RE/MAX Realtron Realty Sales Representative and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®). Whether you’re looking for a lakeside home, a country property or a heritage home near Queen Street, I’ll give you honest, local advice about Port Perry and Scugog, 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
Call or text 416-846-8064 or email irina@loveurlife.ca, or send me a message below.
Port Perry real estate FAQ
Is Port Perry a good place to live?
For buyers who want small-town lakeside living within reach of the GTA, it can be. Port Perry offers a historic downtown, a waterfront, a local hospital and a strong community.
How much does a house cost in Port Perry?
TRREB reports prices for the Township of Scugog, which includes Port Perry. In August 2026, the benchmark price for a typical detached home in Scugog was $905,000. Waterfront and country properties vary widely.
Is Port Perry on the water?
Yes. Port Perry sits on the western shore of Lake Scugog, with a marina and waterfront parks next to downtown.
Is there a GO train in Port Perry?
No. The nearest GO train stations are in Whitby and Oshawa, about 30 minutes south by car.
Do you pay Toronto land transfer tax in Port Perry?
No. Port Perry 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):
- Township of Scugog
- Scugog 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
- Kawartha Conservation: check if a property is in a regulated area
- TRREB Market Watch: monthly GTA sales and price data
Explore nearby areas
- Whitby: to the south
- Oshawa: to the south-east
- Uxbridge: to the west
- Peterborough: to the north-east
- All area guides: every neighbourhood guide in one place
- Interactive map: see every area on one clickable map