Neighbourhood guide · Toronto & the GTA
Living on the Danforth: Neighbourhood & Real Estate Guide
Thinking of the Danforth, Greektown or Playter Estates? Neighbourhoods, 2026 home prices, subway access, schools and pros and cons from Irina Marchenkova.
By Irina Marchenkova, Sales Representative, RE/MAX Realtron Realty · Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) · Last updated September 2026
The Danforth, in Toronto’s east end, runs along Danforth Avenue east of the Don Valley. Its western stretch is home to Greektown, known for its restaurants and the Taste of the Danforth festival, and the whole avenue sits right above the Line 2 subway. Side streets are lined with Edwardian semis and detached homes, making it a favourite with families who want city living with a neighbourhood feel. Here’s what to know before you buy or sell.
Streets & pockets Prices Market Costs Transit Schools Checklist FAQ
The Danforth at a glance
- Where: east-end Toronto, along Danforth Avenue from the Don Valley to around Coxwell Avenue and beyond
- Typical home price: $1,016,900 MLS® HPI benchmark for all home types in TRREB district E03 (September 2026)
- Getting around: Line 2 subway stations every few blocks, from Broadview to Coxwell
- Best for: families and professionals who want subway access, restaurants and character homes
Why people choose The Danforth
- Subway on your doorstep: Broadview, Chester, Pape, Donlands, Greenwood and Coxwell stations along the avenue
- Greektown: restaurants, bakeries and cafés, and the Taste of the Danforth festival
- Parks: Withrow Park, Riverdale Park and the Don Valley trails
- Family homes: Edwardian semis and detached houses on quiet side streets
The Danforth gives you the subway, great restaurants and real family homes. East of Pape, prices usually become more approachable, which is where many of my first-time buyers start. — Irina
Streets and pockets of The Danforth
The Danforth spans parts of TRREB districts E01 and E03. This guide uses E03 (Danforth, Playter Estates, Danforth Village and part of East York) for prices; the Riverdale side south of the avenue is in E01. Here’s how the pockets differ:
Greektown and Riverdale (west)
The liveliest stretch, near Chester and Pape, with Edwardian semis and detached homes close to Withrow Park and the restaurants.
Playter Estates
A small, prestigious pocket north of the Danforth near Broadview, with larger homes on quiet streets.
East Danforth
Around Donlands, Greenwood and Coxwell, with more modest semis and detached homes and a growing number of cafés and shops.
Danforth Village and East York edge
Further east and north, with bungalows and detached homes on larger lots.
Homes and prices in The Danforth
Mostly Edwardian semi-detached and detached houses, with some row houses, low-rise condos and newer mid-rise buildings along the avenue.
The Danforth benchmark prices (September 2026)
Here’s how district E03 compares with the City of Toronto and the whole TRREB area:
| Area | All homes | Detached | Semi-detached | Townhouse | Condo apt. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E03 (Danforth, Playter Estates) | $1,016,900 | $1,171,800 | $1,060,800 | – | – |
| City of Toronto | $908,200 | $1,417,600 | $1,111,200 | $714,700 | $543,800 |
| All TRREB (GTA) | $917,600 | $1,196,400 | $912,000 | $668,800 | $527,200 |
A typical detached home in district E03 was benchmarked about $245,800 below the City of Toronto figure in September 2026, and the composite benchmark was down 5.82% year over year. Homes on the Riverdale side (district E01) were benchmarked higher, at $1,382,900 for a detached home. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| E03 (Danforth, Playter Estates) | 66 | $1,122,091 | $1,029,750 |
| E01 (Riverdale, Leslieville) | 64 | $1,223,544 | $1,221,500 |
| City of Toronto | 1,937 | $1,034,320 | $810,000 |
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. 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 The Danforth
Land transfer tax
The Danforth 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, so the total is roughly double the provincial amount.
| Example purchase | Ontario + Toronto LTT | First-time buyer pays |
|---|---|---|
| Detached home at $1,175,000 | $39,950 | $31,475 |
| Semi-detached home at $1,075,000 | $35,950 | $27,475 |
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
- Subway: Line 2 stations at Broadview, Chester, Pape, Donlands, Greenwood and Coxwell.
- Streetcar: the 504 King and 505 Dundas streetcars connect Broadview to downtown.
- Future transit: the Ontario Line, under construction, is planned to connect at Pape station.
- Driving: the Don Valley Parkway is close to the west end of the Danforth.
Schools and family life
The Danforth is served by the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board, with French-language schools through Viamonde and MonAvenir. Always check each board’s school locator for a specific address, as boundaries and program availability (such as French Immersion) vary street by street.
Michael Garron Hospital (Toronto East Health Network) serves the east end.
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
- Greektown: restaurants, cafés, bakeries and the Taste of the Danforth festival
- Parks: Withrow Park, Riverdale Park East and the Don Valley trails
- Entertainment: the Danforth Music Hall and local cinemas
- Shopping: independent shops and services along Danforth Avenue
Pros and cons of living in The Danforth
Pros
- Subway stations every few blocks
- Great restaurants and a lively main street
- Family homes with character
- Good value east of Pape compared with Riverdale
Cons
- Detached homes are still costly west of Pape
- Older homes can need updating
- Street parking can be tight
- Construction near Pape station for the Ontario Line
Before you buy in The Danforth: local checklist
Every area has its own rules and quirks. Here’s what I check with buyers in The Danforth:
- Heritage: check whether the home is individually designated or in a Heritage Conservation District, which affects exterior renovations and additions.
- Older homes: many houses here are 80 to 120+ years old, so budget for a thorough inspection covering wiring (including any knob-and-tube), plumbing, the roof and the foundation.
- Basement flooding: ask about backwater valves and sump pumps; the City offers a Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program.
- Garden and laneway suites: if you want extra space or rental income, check whether the lot qualifies for a garden or laneway suite.
- 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 The Danforth with Irina
I’m a RE/MAX Realtron Realty Sales Representative and Seniors 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.
- 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
Plan your move to The Danforth
Where is The Danforth?
Gold pin: The Danforth. Click any white pin to open that neighbourhood’s guide.
What would I pay each month?
Start from a typical The Danforth 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 The Danforth. Tip: check at the time of day you’d actually travel.
The Danforth real estate FAQ
Is the Danforth a good place to live?
For families and professionals who want subway access, restaurants and character homes, it’s one of the east end’s most popular areas.
How much does a house cost on the Danforth?
In September 2026, the MLS® HPI benchmark for all home types in TRREB district E03 (Danforth, Playter Estates and Danforth Village) was $1,016,900, and for a detached home $1,171,800. Homes on the Riverdale side (district E01) are benchmarked higher.
What subway stations are on the Danforth?
Broadview, Chester, Pape, Donlands, Greenwood and Coxwell on Line 2.
Where is Greektown in Toronto?
Greektown is along Danforth Avenue, mainly between Chester and Pape stations.
What are property taxes on the Danforth?
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
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.