By Irina Marchenkova, Sales Representative, RE/MAX Realtron Realty · Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) · Last updated September 2026
Scarborough is Toronto’s eastern third: a big, green, wonderfully diverse part of the city where your budget usually stretches further than it does closer to downtown. From the lakefront Scarborough Bluffs to the edge of Rouge National Urban Park, it offers everything from post-war bungalows on generous lots to brand-new condos steps from future subway stations.
This guide covers Scarborough’s neighbourhoods, the types of homes you’ll find and what they cost, how to get around, schools, parks and everyday life, plus the honest pros and cons, so you can decide whether Scarborough is the right fit for your next move.
Neighbourhoods Prices Market Costs Transit Schools Checklist FAQ
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Scarborough at a glance
- Where: East end of the City of Toronto, from Victoria Park Avenue to the Rouge River and from Lake Ontario to Steeles Avenue
- Part of Toronto since: 1998 (amalgamation), so you pay City of Toronto property taxes and get City services
- Homes: Detached bungalows and two-storeys, semis, townhouses and a growing condo market
- Getting downtown: Line 2 subway from Kennedy, Line 5 Eglinton, GO trains on the Lakeshore East and Stouffville lines, Highway 401
- Best for: First-time buyers, growing families, downsizers who want space, and investors watching the new subway extension
- Big draws: Scarborough Bluffs, Rouge National Urban Park, the Toronto Zoo, University of Toronto Scarborough and some of the best food in the GTA
Why people choose Scarborough
More home for your money. Scarborough has long been one of the more affordable ways to own a detached or semi-detached home inside the City of Toronto, often on a bigger lot than you’d find in older central neighbourhoods.
Nature on your doorstep. Few big-city areas can match 90-metre lakefront bluffs, sandy beaches, deep river ravines and Canada’s first national urban park, all within Scarborough’s borders.
Real community and incredible food. Scarborough is one of the most culturally diverse places in Canada, and it shows in its festivals, places of worship and plazas full of Tamil, Chinese, Caribbean, Filipino, Afghan, Hakka and countless other kitchens.
Transit is getting better. Line 5 Eglinton opened in February 2026 with its eastern end at Kennedy, a new dedicated Scarborough Busway opens on September 30, 2026, and the three-stop Line 2 subway extension is under construction.
Scarborough is home for me, and what I love most is how many ways there are to truly love your life here: a morning walk along the Bluffs, dinner at a family-run restaurant from almost anywhere in the world, a weekend hike in the Rouge. Many of my clients come to Scarborough for the value and end up staying for the community.
— Irina Marchenkova
Scarborough neighbourhoods
📍 Want street-level detail? My Scarborough site has a clickable map and a guide for all 30 Scarborough neighbourhoods, from Steeles and Agincourt to Guildwood and the Bluffs.
Scarborough is really a collection of distinct communities. Here are the ones buyers ask me about most:
Scarborough Bluffs, Cliffside & Birch Cliff
Southwest Scarborough along Kingston Road and the lake. Character bungalows, custom rebuilds and some of Scarborough’s most sought-after streets near Bluffer’s Park, plus easy access to the Beaches and Danforth. Cliff-top lots can have special rules because of shoreline erosion, so due diligence matters here.
Guildwood
A quiet, leafy, family-oriented enclave around Guild Park and Gardens and Guildwood GO station. Mostly detached homes on established streets, with a strong small-community feel.
West Hill, Highland Creek & Port Union
Southeast Scarborough near the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, Rouge Hill GO and the waterfront trail. A mix of 1960s–1990s detached homes and townhouses, popular with families who want trails and the lake close by.
Rouge
The far east end, bordering Rouge National Urban Park and the Toronto Zoo. Newer subdivisions from the 1990s and 2000s, larger homes and quick access to Highway 401 and Durham Region.
Agincourt & L’Amoreaux
North-central Scarborough, known for great shopping and dining, Agincourt GO on the Stouffville line and a solid supply of detached homes, townhouses and condos.
Scarborough City Centre & Bendale
The area around Scarborough Town Centre and the Civic Centre. The heart of Scarborough’s condo market and the site of the future Scarborough Centre subway station, which makes it one to watch for investors.
Wexford, Maryvale & Dorset Park
West-central Scarborough with lots of solid post-war bungalows and backsplits, close to the Eglinton and Lawrence corridors and Line 5. A classic first-home and renovation market.
Woburn, Morningside & Malvern
Central and northeast Scarborough, generally among the more affordable pockets for freehold homes and townhouses, near Centennial College, Scarborough Health Network hospitals and Malvern Town Centre.
Want the full street-by-street picture? My dedicated Scarborough site, irinasellsscarborough.com, goes deeper on each neighbourhood.
Homes and prices in Scarborough
Scarborough’s housing covers a wide range:
- Post-war bungalows and backsplits (1950s–1960s), especially in Wexford, Cliffside, Birch Cliff and Dorset Park, often on generous lots and popular for renovation or rebuilding
- Two-storey detached and semi-detached homes (1970s–1990s) in Agincourt, L’Amoreaux, Malvern and West Hill
- Newer subdivisions in Rouge and parts of Morningside Heights
- Townhouses across the area, a popular step up from a condo
- Condominiums clustered around Scarborough Town Centre, Agincourt, Kennedy and along Kingston Road, with new projects planned near the future subway stations
Prices vary a lot by neighbourhood and property type. Condos are the most accessible way in, detached homes near the lake or in established family pockets sit at the top, and a lakefront or ravine lot commands a real premium. For context, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board reported a GTA-wide average selling price of $993,410 in August 2026, with the benchmark price down 4.5% from a year earlier, a more balanced market than buyers have seen in years.
Scarborough benchmark prices by district (August 2026)
The table below shows TRREB’s benchmark price for a typical home in each of Scarborough’s eight MLS® districts. The standout: a typical detached home in Scarborough is benchmarked roughly $345,000 to $560,000 below the City of Toronto average, which is exactly why so many buyers look east.
| District | Main neighbourhoods | All homes | Detached | Townhouse | Condo apt. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E04 | Wexford, Maryvale, Dorset Park, Clairlea | $714,300 | $878,000 | $653,100 | $416,200 |
| E05 | L’Amoreaux, Steeles, Tam O’Shanter | $772,100 | $1,093,600 | $642,800 | $474,100 |
| E06 | Birch Cliff, Cliffside, Oakridge | $930,000 | $1,022,400 | $648,900 | $561,400 |
| E07 | Agincourt, Milliken | $724,400 | $1,050,400 | $695,800 | $468,400 |
| E08 | Guildwood, Cliffcrest, Scarborough Village, Eglinton East | $794,800 | $998,800 | $617,200 | $472,700 |
| E09 | Woburn, Bendale, Scarborough City Centre, Morningside | $700,400 | $883,000 | $599,400 | $434,400 |
| E10 | West Hill, Highland Creek, Rouge (south), Centennial | $894,800 | $1,019,500 | $598,200 | $404,000 |
| E11 | Malvern, Rouge (north) | $663,700 | $925,800 | $574,000 | $399,600 |
| City of Toronto | All districts | $918,400 | $1,437,900 | $717,200 | $547,400 |
Benchmark prices describe a “typical” home and can differ from any individual sale. Across the whole GTA, benchmark prices were down 4.5% year over year in August 2026, and every Scarborough district also sat below last year’s level, giving buyers more room to negotiate than in recent years. For recent sold prices on a specific street, ask me for a free market report.
Thinking of selling instead? 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto East (incl. Scarborough & East York) | 425 | $857,162 | $825,000 |
| 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 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 or building, ask me for a free market report.
What it costs to buy in Scarborough
Land transfer tax
Because Scarborough is in the City of Toronto, 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 $950,000 | $15,475 | $15,475 | $30,950 | $22,475 |
| Condo apartment at $450,000 | $5,475 | $5,475 | $10,950 | $2,475 |
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, so budget for it along with legal fees, title insurance and moving costs.
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. You can find a home’s assessment on its latest tax bill or through MPAC.
| 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
- Subway: Line 2 Bloor-Danforth runs to Kennedy station. The Scarborough Subway Extension will add stations at Lawrence & McCowan, Scarborough Centre and Sheppard & McCowan, and is expected to open in the early 2030s.
- Line 5 Eglinton: Opened in February 2026, running east–west across midtown to Kennedy station.
- Scarborough Busway: A 4-kilometre bus-only corridor on the former Line 3 route between Kennedy and Scarborough Centre, opening September 30, 2026.
- GO Transit: Lakeshore East line (Danforth, Scarborough, Eglinton, Guildwood and Rouge Hill stations) and the Stouffville line (Kennedy, Agincourt and Milliken).
- Driving: Highway 401 crosses Scarborough, with the Don Valley Parkway to the west and Highway 407 just north.
Schools and family life
Scarborough is served by the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board, with French-language schools through Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. School quality varies by neighbourhood, so check the TDSB school locator for any address you’re considering, and I’m happy to help you compare options.
For post-secondary, the University of Toronto Scarborough and Centennial College are both here, and Scarborough Health Network runs three hospital sites across the area.
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.)
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, 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
- 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
- Scarborough Bluffs and Bluffer’s Park: beach, marina, trails and some of the best views in Toronto
- Rouge National Urban Park: hiking, camping and Rouge Beach, Canada’s first national urban park
- Toronto Zoo: on the edge of the Rouge
- Guild Park and Gardens: historic architectural ruins set on the bluffs
- Ravines and trails: Highland Creek, Morningside Park and Thomson Memorial Park
- Shopping: Scarborough Town Centre, Agincourt, Bridlewood and Malvern malls, plus endless independent plazas
- Food: Scarborough is widely considered one of the best places to eat in the GTA; ask any local for their favourite spot
- Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre: Olympic-size pools, a gym and climbing wall at UTSC, open to the public
- Scarborough Civic Centre and Albert Campbell Square: summer events and winter skating
- Cathedral Bluffs and Scarborough Heights Park: lookouts over Lake Ontario from the top of the Bluffs
- Scarborough food tours: Sheppard, Midland and Markham Road are packed with family-run restaurants
One of my favourite places is Bluffer’s Park early in the morning, before the crowds: coffee in hand, the cliffs turning gold in the sunrise and the lake completely calm. It’s the moment I’m reminded why I love living and working in Scarborough.
— Irina Marchenkova
Pros and cons of living in Scarborough
Pros
- Better value for detached and semi-detached homes than much of Toronto
- Bigger lots, great for families, gardens and future renovations
- Exceptional parks, ravines and waterfront
- Diverse, welcoming communities and amazing food
- Transit improving with Line 5, the Busway and the coming subway
Cons
- Transit gaps remain until the subway extension opens
- Downtown commutes by car can be long at rush hour on the 401
- Some older homes need updating (budget for it)
- Construction disruption along McCowan until the subway is finished
- Cliff-top properties on the Bluffs may face erosion-related restrictions
Before you buy in Scarborough: local checklist
Every area has its own rules and quirks. Here’s what I check with buyers in Scarborough:
- 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 Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (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, which can add rental or family-living options.
- Scarborough Bluffs: cliff-top and lakefront lots can face TRCA erosion setbacks and building restrictions, so get a survey and check with TRCA before buying.
- 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 25% Non-Resident Speculation Tax and Toronto’s 10% Municipal Non-Resident Speculation Tax before making an offer.
Buying or selling in Scarborough with Irina
I’m a RE/MAX Realtron Realty Sales Representative and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) with deep roots in Scarborough and the east end. Whether you’re buying your first condo near Scarborough Town Centre, moving your family to Guildwood, downsizing from a long-time family home or looking at pre-construction near the new subway, I’ll give you honest, local advice, 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.
Scarborough real estate FAQ
Is Scarborough a good place to buy a home in 2026?
For many buyers, yes. Scarborough offers more space for the money than much of Toronto, excellent parks and waterfront, and transit that is steadily improving with Line 5 Eglinton, the new Scarborough Busway and the subway extension under construction. The GTA market in 2026 is also more balanced than in recent years, which gives buyers more choice and negotiating room. The right neighbourhood depends on your budget, commute and lifestyle.
How much does a house cost in Scarborough?
It depends on the district and property type. In August 2026, TRREB’s benchmark price for a typical detached home ranged from about $878,000 (E04: Wexford, Dorset Park) to $1,093,600 (E05: L’Amoreaux, Steeles) across Scarborough, compared with $1,437,900 for the City of Toronto overall. Townhouses benchmarked around $574,000 to $696,000 and condo apartments around $400,000 to $561,000. For recent sold prices on a specific street, contact Irina for a free market report.
When will the Scarborough subway extension open?
The three-station Line 2 extension (Lawrence & McCowan, Scarborough Centre, and Sheppard & McCowan) is under construction and expected to open in the early 2030s. In the meantime, the Scarborough Busway opens on September 30, 2026, linking Kennedy station and Scarborough Centre with a dedicated bus corridor.
What are the best Scarborough neighbourhoods for families?
Families often look at Guildwood, West Hill and Highland Creek, Rouge, Agincourt and parts of the Bluffs, thanks to their parks, established streets and schools. The best choice depends on your budget, school preferences and commute, and Irina can help you compare them.
Is Scarborough part of Toronto?
Yes. Scarborough became part of the amalgamated City of Toronto in 1998, so homeowners pay City of Toronto property taxes and receive City services. Buyers in Scarborough also pay both the Ontario and Toronto municipal land transfer taxes.
Useful links
Official sources and local resources I recommend to buyers and sellers (links open in a new tab):
- City of Toronto
- Toronto property tax rates: 2026 rates
- Toronto municipal land transfer tax: rates and fees
- Toronto first-time buyer land transfer tax rebate
- Ontario first-time buyer land transfer tax refund
- Toronto Vacant Home Tax: yearly occupancy declaration
- MPAC: look up a property’s assessed value
- TDSB school locator: find your public schools
- Toronto Catholic District School Board
- Fraser Institute school rankings: compare Ontario school results
- TTC: subway, streetcar and bus routes
- GO Transit: regional trains and buses
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA): check if a property is in a regulated area
- TRREB Market Watch: monthly GTA sales and price data
- Rouge National Urban Park: Parks Canada
- Toronto Zoo
Explore nearby areas
- The Beaches: lakeside living just west of the Bluffs
- Markham: Scarborough’s neighbour to the north
- North York: including Don Mills, Flemingdon Park and Willowdale
- Ajax and Whitby: Durham Region options just east
- All area guides: every neighbourhood guide in one place
- Interactive map: see every area on one clickable map