So you’re moving to Markham from another city or possibly just staying in the area but aren’t quite sure which neighbourhood you prefer? You’re not alone! Picking a neighbourhood is just as important as finding the right house. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right Markham neighbourhood so let’s take a closer look!
Price
The average house price in Markham can vary greatly across difference neighbourhoods. As I write this post, the average house price in Cornell over the past 6 months was $537,000 while the average price in Cachet was $1,340,000. Generally speaking, the further East in Markham you go, the more affordable the house. There are, however, many more factors to consider.
House Type
Are you looking for detached house or maybe just a townhouse or semi? In some of Markham’s older neighbourhoods, such as Sherwood Estates, you will only find detached homes on larger lots while in some of the newer neighbourhoods, such as Wismer Commons and Greensborough, you’ll find a greater mix of house types. Maybe you have the budget for a detached home in Markham Village but you would consider a townhome in Angus Glen for around the same price?
Schools
Markham is well known for having great schools and generally speaking, most of the schools in the city have a great reputation. However, some of the schools such as William Berczy Public School or St Justin Martyr in Unionville and Pierre Elliott Trudeau Secondary school or Stonebridge Public School in Berczy Village tend to attract added interest due to their high rankings. However, if you check the latest school rankings for yourself, you’ll see that most of the schools in Markham rank fairly well.
Amenities
How important are local amenities to you? Do you tend to drive everywhere? or maybe you prefer to walk or take local transit? Maybe you’d like to be within walking distance to a Go-Station to commute downtown for work? Do you want to be close to Main Street, local shops and restaurants, local parks or maybe a community centre?
Demographics
The demographics in Markham can also vary greatly depending on which neighbourhood you choose. Average age, ethnicities, owners vs renters and average number of kids might be very important factors for you. Sometimes the best thing to do is drive through the neighbourhood and visit the local parks, grocery stores, etc. to get a better sense of the community. It’s also never a bad idea to just take a walk through the area and talk with some of the neighbours.
Safetey
Safety is always an important factor, especially if you have children. Thankfully, Markham is generally considered to be a very safe city, regardless of the neighbourhood. In fact, York Region as a whole is consistently ranked as one of the safest areas in all of Canada. For more specific info on reported incidents, you can visit the York Region Police website here.
Community
Some neighbourhoods are better suited for homeowners who love to feel like they are a part of their community. Cornell is a great example of a family friendly neighbourhood where residents organize numerous community events throughout the year. Most Cornell residents would tell you that they are quite proud to live in the community.
While these are typically the most important factors when choosing a neighbourhood, you may have other criteria that is important to you as well. It’s important to prioritize your preferences and realize that you might not be able to get everything on your list. If you’re planning on making a move, to or within Markham and you’d like a little more guidance on which neighbourhood(s) might be a good fit for you, give me a call or send me an e-mail. I’d love to help you out!
