Part 3: Where to Live in Ottawa
Ottawa Neighbourhoods Guide
There is no single “best” Ottawa neighbourhood. The right fit depends on budget, commute, housing style, schools, recreation and the pace of life you want.
|
Area |
Often suits |
General character |
|
Centretown and Downtown |
Professionals, condo buyers, car-light households |
Walkable, central and urban |
|
ByWard Market and Lowertown |
Buyers wanting nightlife, restaurants and historic character |
Lively, mixed housing and tourism activity |
|
Sandy Hill |
University staff, students, investors and character-home buyers |
Historic, central and close to the University of Ottawa |
|
The Glebe |
Families and professionals wanting walkability and established homes |
Prestigious, active and close to Lansdowne |
|
Old Ottawa South |
Families wanting character, schools and community atmosphere |
Mature, walkable and close to the Rideau River |
|
Old Ottawa East |
Professionals, families and infill buyers |
Central, increasingly developed and close to the canal |
|
Hintonburg and Wellington West |
Professionals, creatives and urban families |
Restaurants, shops, infill and older homes |
|
Westboro |
Move-up buyers and active households |
Upscale, walkable and close to the river |
|
Alta Vista |
Healthcare professionals and families |
Mature lots, established streets and hospital access |
|
Nepean |
Families seeking mature suburban communities |
Highly varied, with convenient central-west locations |
|
Kanata |
Technology workers and families |
Newer subdivisions, schools, recreation and employment |
|
Stittsville |
Families wanting newer homes and a community feel |
Fast-growing, suburban and village-influenced |
|
Barrhaven |
Families and first-time freehold buyers |
Large suburban community with extensive services |
|
Riverside South |
Buyers seeking newer homes and southern transit access |
Growing, family-oriented and newer construction |
|
Findlay Creek |
Buyers wanting modern suburban housing |
Newer homes, south-end location and ongoing development |
|
Orléans |
Families, bilingual households and east-end commuters |
Established and newer communities with strong French-language presence |
|
Beacon Hill and Blackburn Hamlet |
Families wanting mature east-end neighbourhoods |
Established homes, trees, parks and relative value |
|
Manotick |
Luxury, waterfront and village-oriented buyers |
Historic village character with high-end and rural properties |
|
Greely |
Buyers wanting larger lots and custom homes |
Rural-suburban, spacious and car-dependent |
|
Carp, Richmond and rural west |
Acreage, village and country-property buyers |
More space, wells, septic systems and longer commutes |
Ottawa Home Prices by District: 2026 Planning Guide
The following ranges are broad planning bands, not official district averages. They are inferred from June 2026 OREB benchmarks, active inventory and representative local listings. Property age, condition, lot, school boundary, street and exact housing type can move a price substan
|
Ottawa district |
Broad 2026 purchase range |
|
Centretown, Downtown and Lowertown condos |
$325,000–$700,000+ |
|
Central freehold homes |
$700,000–$1.3 million+ |
|
Glebe, Old Ottawa South and Old Ottawa East freeholds |
$900,000–$1.6 million+ |
|
Hintonburg, Wellington West and Westboro condos |
$400,000–$800,000+ |
|
Hintonburg, Wellington West and Westboro freeholds |
$850,000–$1.5 million+ |
|
Alta Vista, Elmvale and central-south detached homes |
$700,000–$1.2 million+ |
|
Nepean townhomes and detached homes |
$500,000–$1.1 million+ |
|
Orléans townhomes |
$475,000–$650,000+ |
|
Orléans detached homes |
$650,000–$950,000+ |
|
Kanata and Stittsville townhomes |
$525,000–$700,000+ |
|
Kanata and Stittsville detached homes |
$725,000–$1.1 million+ |
|
Barrhaven and Riverside South townhomes |
$525,000–$675,000+ |
|
Barrhaven and Riverside South detached homes |
$700,000–$975,000+ |
|
Rural villages and country properties |
$500,000–$1 million+ |
|
Larger acreage, waterfront and custom properties |
Often above $1 million |
Ottawa’s June 2026 property-type benchmarks
|
Property type |
MLS® benchmark |
|
Composite residential |
$632,200 |
|
Single-family home |
$720,000 |
|
One-storey single-family home |
$641,300 |
|
Two-storey single-family home |
$774,600 |
|
Townhouse |
$550,700 |
|
Apartment |
$384,500 |
A neighbourhood-specific comparative market analysis is essential before deciding what represents fair value.