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.