Durham Region remains one of the best-value commuter markets in the Greater Toronto Area. At an average of $850,000 compared to $1,019,000 for the City of Toronto, Durham offers buyers significantly more space, consistently faster-moving inventory, and stronger sales-to-list-price ratios than most of the 905. For first-time buyers, move-up buyers, and investors looking for GTA adjacency without GTA prices, this region consistently delivers.
This report covers the full Durham Region as of February 2026 — regional overview, city-by-city data for every municipality, where the best value sits right now, where caution is warranted, and what the GO Transit expansion means for long-term buyers.
Regional Overview
Durham had 1,650 active listings in February 2026. The region's SNLR of 38.9% places it right at the border between balanced and buyer's market territory — a meaningfully different picture from the broader GTA SNLR of 33.6%. Durham is slower than its 2022 pace but holding up better than most Ontario markets.
The 99% sales-to-list-price ratio is significant. This is not a market where buyers are routinely paying far below asking. Properties that are priced correctly for their condition and location are selling at essentially full list. The discipline for sellers is to price correctly from the start — overpriced listings are sitting, but well-priced homes are moving at or near asking.
City-by-City Breakdown
| City / Township | Active Listings | Avg Price | Days on Market | SP/LP Ratio | SNLR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickering | 321 | $906,000 | 27 days | 100% | 37.0% |
| Ajax | 192 | $862,000 | 27 days | 100% | 43.0% |
| Whitby | 289 | $929,000 | 20 days | 99% | 39.4% |
| Oshawa | 396 | $713,000 | 26 days | 100% | 38.4% |
| Clarington | 253 | $798,000 | 28 days | 98% | 40.9% |
| Scugog | 75 | $1,021,000 | 38 days | 98% | 36.4% |
| Uxbridge | 77 | $1,334,000 | 54 days | 96% | 31.3% |
| Brock | 47 | $948,000 | 38 days | 94% | 32.6% |
Where Is the Best Value?
Oshawa ($713,000 average) is the most affordable urban market in all of Durham Region. At 26 days on market and a 100% SP/LP ratio, it is priced where buyers and the market agree — meaning you are getting fair value, not overpaying. For first-time buyers seeking a detached freehold within GO Transit reach, Oshawa represents the best dollars-per-square-foot in the region. The North Oshawa, Pinecrest, and Windfields communities have seen consistent new residential development with modern housing stock.
Clarington ($798,000 average, especially Bowmanville and Courtice) is arguably the highest-growth corridor in Durham over the next decade. The planned GO Train extension to Bowmanville — the first expansion of GO service into the eastern edge of the region — will bring significant demand to this area when service launches. Buyers who get in before that infrastructure is fully operational are positioning themselves ahead of a meaningful liquidity and pricing catalyst. More space per dollar and newer housing stock make Clarington particularly attractive for families.
Ajax and Whitby both show strong fundamentals: 100% and 99% SP/LP ratios respectively, and Whitby's 20-day average days on market is the fastest in the region. In these two communities, well-priced properties in established neighbourhoods move quickly. Ajax's SNLR of 43% is the highest in the region — technically in balanced market territory, meaning competition exists at well-priced listings.
Where Should You Be Cautious?
Uxbridge is the clearest buyer's market in Durham Region — 54 days on market, a 31.3% SNLR, and a 96% SP/LP ratio. This is a rural and semi-rural market with significant luxury and estate inventory. Buyers in this market have meaningful negotiating room, but exiting within 3-5 years is not guaranteed to be straightforward. Lifestyle and long-term hold buyers are the right profile here.
Scugog (Port Perry and surrounding area) similarly sits in buyer's market territory at 38 days and a 36.4% SNLR. Waterfront and estate properties in this area require patient and realistic pricing from sellers. The township's charm is real — Port Perry is genuinely beautiful — but it attracts a narrow buyer profile that limits velocity.
Brock Township has only 47 active listings but a 94% SP/LP ratio and 32.6% SNLR. Smaller inventory can distort these numbers — a single sale can move the averages significantly. Buyers in Brock should look at individual property comparables rather than relying on regional averages.
The GO Train Factor
Durham is served by Lakeshore East GO rail with stations in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa. Plans for a Bowmanville GO extension are advancing — this would bring commuter rail service to Clarington for the first time.
Properties within a 10-minute drive of a GO station consistently sell faster and at a 10-15% premium over equivalent properties without GO access. For buy-and-hold investors, this infrastructure premium is a reliable long-term growth driver. The Bowmanville extension in particular represents an opportunity to buy ahead of the demand catalyst rather than after it.
Jerold's Take on Durham
From the Agent Who Works Here Every Day
Durham is where I work most actively and know best — I have bought and sold across every municipality in this region and I watch it closely every month. Here is how I actually think about it:
First-time buyers: start with Oshawa and Clarington. Best dollars per square foot, fastest-appreciating corridor, and the most accessible entry price for a detached freehold in the GTA commuter belt. Do not overlook North Oshawa and Courtice — they punch above their price point.
Move-up buyers: Whitby and Ajax have the best combination of school quality, GO commute access, and resale liquidity. Whitby in particular has consistently outperformed the regional average on both price appreciation and days on market. If you are moving from a starter home to something with more space and a better neighbourhood profile, this is where I would look first.
Investors: the Ajax and Pickering corridor offers the strongest rental demand near GO, driven by commuters who cannot afford to buy. But yields are thinner than you would find in Hamilton or Niagara — you are buying Durham for long-term appreciation and capital preservation, not for immediate cash flow. Know that going in.
Looking to buy or sell in Durham Region? This is Jerold's home market — he knows every neighbourhood, every sub-market, and exactly what fair value looks like right now.
Call (647) 291-3755