Moving from Toronto to York Region in 2026

Every week I get a call from someone who is ready to leave Toronto. They are tired of the noise, the space that keeps shrinking, and the price tag that keeps growing. They want a yard, a good school for their kids, and a community where they know their neighbours. They are looking at York Region, and they want to know which town fits. The answer is not the same for everyone. East Gwillimbury, Newmarket, and Aurora each give you something different, and picking the right one comes down to what you actually value. Here is the honest breakdown for anyone making the move in 2026.

Why People Are Leaving Toronto for York Region in 2026

Let's start with the obvious. The average detached home in Toronto is well over $1.6 million, and for that price you are getting a semi-detached or a townhouse in most central neighbourhoods. In York Region, that same money buys you a four-bedroom detached home on a proper lot, with a garage, a backyard, and a neighbourhood where kids still play street hockey.

But it is not just about price. What I hear from buyers who have made the move is that the lifestyle shift is the real draw. They trade a 15-minute walk to a coffee shop for a 15-minute walk to a conservation trail, and they do not miss the coffee shop as much as they thought they would. They gain space for a home office. They gain a school community. They gain a sense of calm that Toronto has been losing over the last decade.

The hybrid work reality helps. With two or three days in the office instead of five, the commute from York Region becomes manageable rather than punishing. A lot of my clients are coming from Liberty Village, Leslieville, the Danforth, or midtown. They are keeping their downtown jobs and using GO Transit or the 404 a few times a week. It works.

The Commute Question: Let's Be Real

This is the first question everyone asks, and it deserves an honest answer. Driving from East Gwillimbury or Aurora to downtown Toronto takes roughly 45 to 60 minutes in normal traffic. With the 404 widening projects and regular congestion, you should budget closer to 75 minutes in rush hour. From Newmarket, add about five to ten minutes depending on which part of town you are in.

The GO Train is the smarter play for office days. Aurora GO Station and East Gwillimbury GO (Mulock) both serve the Barrie line. Express trains hit Union Station in about 55 minutes. The trains are clean, reliable, and you can work, read, or nap instead of staring at brake lights. Two-way, all-day GO service has been a long time coming, and 2026 is seeing real progress on frequency improvements.

Here is what I tell my clients: if you are commuting five days a week, York Region is probably not the right move. If you are commuting two or three days, it is absolutely doable and thousands of people do it happily. The key is picking the right town and the right neighbourhood within that town.

Aurora: The Established Choice

Aurora is probably the most familiar option for someone coming from Toronto. It has a real downtown core with restaurants, shops, a farmers market, and a sense of place that many suburbs lack. The Yonge Street corridor runs right through it, giving you walkable access to amenities that East Gwillimbury and even parts of Newmarket are still building toward.

The housing stock leans older and established, with mature trees and generous lots in neighbourhoods like Aurora Highlands, Bayview Northeast, and Aurora Grove. You get more character and more land, but you pay for it. The average detached home in Aurora sits around $1.4 million, with overall averages closer to $1.3 million. Inventory has tightened through 2026, with sales rising 16.8% year-over-year while new listings dropped 7.3%. Months of inventory have fallen from around five months to under four, which tells me demand is real and growing.

Aurora also has a strong private school presence, which matters to some buyers. St. Andrew's College and the country day schools draw families who value that option. But even the public schools are excellent across the board.

Best fit for: Buyers who want an established downtown, walkable amenities, and classic suburban character, and who are willing to pay a premium for it. You are trading a bit of square footage for location and maturity. If you are used to Toronto neighbourhoods where everything is within a 10-minute walk, Aurora comes closest to replicating that feeling.

Newmarket: The Amenity-Rich Hub

Newmarket is the largest of the three towns, and it shows in the breadth of amenities. Upper Canada Mall, Southlake Regional Health Centre, the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex, the Newmarket Theatre, the Riverwalk Commons skating trail in winter, and the farmers market on Davis Drive in summer. If you want options for restaurants, shopping, and entertainment without driving to Vaughan or Toronto, Newmarket delivers.

The housing market in Newmarket is more varied than Aurora or East Gwillimbury. You will find everything from older bungalows and townhomes in established pockets to newer infill developments near Davis Drive and the 404. Average prices in 2026 sit around $1.08 million, which is noticeably more affordable than Aurora while still giving you access to top-tier amenities.

Neighbourhoods like Stonehaven, Davis Drive North, and Gorham-College Manor offer distinct characters. Stonehaven tends to have newer builds and family-oriented streets. The Davis Drive corridor has more townhomes and condos, ideal for first-time buyers and downsizers. The area around Fairy Lake is gorgeous and walkable, with heritage homes that command a premium.

One thing to flag if you rely on GO Transit: Newmarket does not have its own GO station. The nearest stops are Aurora GO to the south and East Gwillimbury GO to the north, both within a 10-minute drive from most parts of town. For driving commuters, Highway 404 runs right through Newmarket with multiple access points via Davis Drive, Green Lane, and Mulock Drive. And the VIVA Blue bus service along Yonge Street connects Newmarket to Finch Station for those who prefer transit.

Best fit for: Buyers who want the widest selection of housing options, the most amenities, and good value for their dollar. Newmarket is a strong pick for families who want an active community life and do not want to drive 20 minutes for a decent restaurant or a hockey rink.

East Gwillimbury: Space, Growth, and Value

East Gwillimbury is the one to watch if your priority is maximum space for your budget and a newer home. With median prices hovering around $965,000 in early 2026 and moving toward $1.05 million by mid-year, you get more square footage and more land per dollar than any other York Region town in this comparison.

The growth here is unmistakable. Queensville is transforming with master-planned communities, new parks, and modern floor plans built for how families actually live today. Sharon offers established charm and GO station proximity, with the historic village core and mature trees that buyers from Toronto gravitate toward. Mount Albert gives you rural character, larger lots, and a small-town feel that is increasingly rare this close to the city.

The trade-off is that the lifestyle is more car-dependent. Amenities are still catching up to the population growth. You will drive to Newmarket or the Green Lane commercial area for most errands. But the homes are newer, the lots are bigger, and the community feel is genuine. I live and work in this area. I have sold more homes in East Gwillimbury than any other agent in the last five years, and I say that not to boast but to tell you I know this town inside out.

Best fit for: Buyers who want the most home for their money, value new construction and modern floor plans, and are comfortable driving for daily errands. Ideal for growing families and anyone who wants space to breathe without leaving York Region.

Schools Across the Three Towns

This is a big one for families leaving Toronto. The York Region District School Board is consistently one of the top-performing boards in Ontario, and all three towns have excellent elementary options. Aurora tends to get the most attention for schools, partly because of its private school presence and partly because neighbourhoods like Aurora Highlands feed into well-regarded secondary options like Aurora High School and Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School.

Newmarket has strong schools across the board, with Sir William Mulock Secondary School, Newmarket High School, and Huron Heights Secondary School all serving the community well. French Immersion programs are available at multiple schools.

East Gwillimbury has excellent elementary schools including Sharon Public, Queensville Public, and Mount Albert Public. The catch is that there is no high school within town limits yet (a site has been designated but not built). Secondary students commute to Huron Heights or other Newmarket high schools. For families with younger kids, this may not be an issue by the time your children reach Grade 9. It is something to know going in, not something to fear.

Lifestyle and Community Character

The biggest adjustment for Toronto transplants is the pace. York Region moves slower, and that is the point. Instead of walking past a dozen coffee shops on your way to work, you walk your kids to school past neighbours who wave. Instead of hearing sirens at night, you hear crickets. The Nokiidaa Trail system connects East Gwillimbury to Newmarket and gives you miles of safe, scenic paths for biking and walking. Lake Simcoe is 20 minutes north of East Gwillimbury. The Holland River runs through the heart of the area.

Each town has its own character. Aurora feels like an established suburb with polish and pride. Newmarket feels like a city in its own right, big enough to have everything you need without losing its community feel. East Gwillimbury feels like a town on the rise where you can get in early and watch it grow.

What I hear from buyers who make the leap is this: they worried they would be bored, but they are not. They are busy building new routines, exploring trails, joining community groups, and connecting with neighbours in a way that felt impossible in the city. Toronto is still there when they want it. They just do not need it every day anymore.

Making the Move in 2026

If you are thinking of relocating from Toronto to York Region, here is what I recommend. Spend a Saturday in each town. Not just driving through, but actually stopping. Go to the farmers market in Aurora. Walk the Fairy Lake trail in Newmarket. Grab a coffee at a cafe in Sharon. Get a feel for the pace and the people. The right town will click.

From a market perspective, 2026 is a good time to make this move. Inventory is available across all three towns, interest rates have stabilized, and sellers are realistic about pricing. You have room to negotiate on conditions and closing dates in a way that was impossible during the 2021–2022 frenzy. That window will not stay open forever as inventory tightens and demand continues to build.

I have helped families relocate from every corner of Toronto to every corner of York Region. I know what questions to ask, what pitfalls to watch for, and what each neighbourhood actually feels like to live in. If you are ready to start the conversation, I would love to hear your story and help you find the right place to land.

Don't worry, I've got this.

Thanks, Lee :)