Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Brampton is far cheaper: its detached median was $950,000 from January to October 2026, against $1,415,000 in Vaughan. Vaughan has the much lower tax rate (0.749217% vs 1.253381%) and the Line 1 subway. Pick Brampton for price and space; pick Vaughan for the subway, lower taxes and more condo choice.
This guide is for buyers choosing between Brampton and Vaughan in 2027, and for owners in one city thinking about moving to the other. You will get 2026 prices for every home type, a two-year price view, the real tax gap in dollars, the transit options, and a clear answer on who each city suits.
Brampton vs Vaughan: how do they compare side by side?
Brampton and Vaughan share a border, and Brampton’s Queen Street runs east into Vaughan as Highway 7. But they are in different regions. Brampton is in Peel Region. Vaughan is in York Region. They cover almost the same land area, yet Brampton has about twice as many people: 656,480 in the 2021 census against 323,103 in Vaughan.
| Measure (Jan–Oct 2026) | Brampton | Vaughan |
|---|---|---|
| Detached median price | $950,000 (−8.9%) | $1,415,000 (−5.0%) |
| Detached sales | 2,280 (+9.0%) | 1,193 (+2.1%) |
| Semi-detached median | $790,000 (−8.1%) | $1,040,000 (−9.2%) |
| Freehold townhouse median | $755,000 (−7.2%) | $1,014,500 (−9.3%) |
| Condo townhouse median | $570,000 (−10.9%) | $768,000 (−6.1%) |
| Condo apartment median | $415,000 (−12.6%) | $530,000 (−10.9%) |
| Average days on market, detached | 30 | 30 |
| Average days on market, condo apartment | 53 | 42 |
| 2026 total residential tax rate | 1.253381% | 0.749217% |
| Rapid transit to Toronto | GO Kitchener line (3 stations) | Line 1 subway, plus GO Barrie line (2 stations) |
| Population (2021 census) | 656,480 | 323,103 |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025 (changes in brackets); Region of Peel and City of Vaughan 2026 tax rates; 2021 census.
A median is the middle sale: half sold for more, half for less. These are city-wide numbers. Woodbridge, Maple, Kleinburg and Thornhill all sit inside Vaughan’s figure, and older Bramalea and newer north Brampton sit inside Brampton’s.
Is Vaughan more expensive than Brampton?
Yes, by a wide margin for houses. Vaughan’s detached median was $1,415,000 from January to October 2026. Brampton’s was $950,000. That is a gap of $465,000 for the middle detached home. The gap is about $250,000 for semis and about $260,000 for freehold townhouses.
Condos are closer. Vaughan’s condo apartment median was $530,000 and Brampton’s was $415,000, a gap of $115,000. Vaughan also has far more condo choice: 664 condo apartments sold there, against 241 in Brampton. Many of Vaughan’s newer condo towers are around the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, the new downtown at Highway 7 and Jane Street.
Which market moves faster?
For detached homes it is a tie, at 30 days on average in both. Condos are slower in Brampton, at 53 days against 42 in Vaughan. Detached sales rose in both cities in 2026, by 9.0% in Brampton and 2.1% in Vaughan, so buyers have been coming back at lower prices.
Which has lower property taxes, Brampton or Vaughan?
Vaughan, by a lot. Its 2026 total residential rate is 0.749217% of assessed value. Brampton’s is 1.253381%. Vaughan’s rate is made up of 0.203805% for the city, 0.392412% for York Region and 0.153% for education. Both cities pay the same provincial education rate, so the gap comes from the city and regional portions.
What it means in dollars
Your tax is your MPAC assessed value times the rate. On a home assessed at $700,000, the 2026 bill would be about $8,774 in Brampton and about $5,245 in Vaughan. That is roughly $3,500 a year, or close to $300 a month, more in Brampton for the same assessment.
In real life, a Vaughan house usually has a higher assessment than a Brampton house, so the gap on the actual homes you compare will be smaller. Always ask for the latest tax bill. Our GTA property tax rate comparison shows how both cities stack up against the rest of the region.
Which is better for commuting, Brampton or Vaughan?
Vaughan has the subway, and Brampton does not. Line 1 Yonge–University opened to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station on December 17, 2017, with a second Vaughan stop at Highway 407 station. That gives Vaughan a one-seat ride to York University and downtown Toronto. Vaughan also has two GO stations, Rutherford and Maple, on the Barrie line.
Brampton has three GO train stations on the Kitchener line: Bramalea, Brampton and Mount Pleasant. Metrolinx’s GO Expansion plan names Bramalea GO as the end of the Kitchener line’s core section, where its goal is trains every 15 minutes or better, all day, in both directions. Metrolinx has not given a date for that service.
Can you get from Brampton to the Vaughan subway?
Yes. Brampton Transit’s 501 Züm Queen bus runs along Queen Street and Highway 7 to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, where it stops at the station’s Viva platform. For people in east Brampton, that bus plus the subway is a real option for getting to York University or north Toronto.
Driving
Brampton is built around Highway 410, with the 407 along its south side and the 401 a short drive south. Vaughan has Highway 400 through its middle and the 407 across it. The Province is building Highway 413, a 52-kilometre highway from Highway 400 to the 401/407 interchange, and its planned route passes through both Vaughan and Brampton. No completion date has been given. I am not quoting drive times because they change too much with traffic; test your own route at rush hour.
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How much have Brampton and Vaughan prices fallen since 2024?
Most comparisons only look at one year. Going back two years shows how much room buyers have gained. Brampton has fallen further on every home type.
| Home type | Brampton 2024 → 2026 | Vaughan 2024 → 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | $1,127,250 → $950,000 (−15.7%) | $1,590,000 → $1,415,000 (−11.0%) |
| Semi-detached | $923,000 → $790,000 (−14.4%) | $1,175,000 → $1,040,000 (−11.5%) |
| Freehold townhouse | $872,000 → $755,000 (−13.4%) | $1,165,000 → $1,014,500 (−12.9%) |
| Condo apartment | $540,000 → $415,000 (−23.1%) | $635,000 → $530,000 (−16.5%) |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October of 2024 and 2026, median sold prices.
Brampton’s condo apartment median is down almost a quarter in two years. That is good news for first-time buyers and hard news for investors who bought in 2024. Past drops do not tell you what happens next, so treat this as history, not a forecast.
What is it like to live in Brampton vs Vaughan?
Brampton
Brampton grew 10.6% from 2016 to 2021, so much of it is newer subdivisions, especially in the north and west. It has big public parks: Gage Park downtown, Chinguacousy Park, Professor’s Lake and Heart Lake Conservation Area. William Osler Health System runs two hospital sites in the city, Brampton Civic and Peel Memorial. The Rose Theatre anchors the arts scene downtown. For more, see our Brampton housing market outlook for 2027.
Vaughan
Vaughan grew more slowly, 5.5% over the same five years. It is a group of distinct communities: Woodbridge, Maple, Thornhill, Concord and Kleinburg. It is the third-largest employment centre in the GTA, after Toronto and Mississauga, which matters if you want to work close to home. Big draws include Canada’s Wonderland, Vaughan Mills, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and the Kortright Centre. Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, run by Mackenzie Health, opened in June 2021. Our Vaughan housing market outlook goes deeper.
Schools
Brampton is served by the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Vaughan is served by the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board. Both cities also have French-language schools from Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. Check the exact address on the board’s school locator before you buy, because boundaries can split a street.
How much down payment do you need in Brampton vs Vaughan?
Canada’s minimum down payment is 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the part between $500,000 and $1.5 million. Every 2026 median below is under $1.5 million, so a buyer could use an insured mortgage in either city.
| Home type (2026 median) | Brampton minimum down | Vaughan minimum down |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | $70,000 on $950,000 | $116,500 on $1,415,000 |
| Semi-detached | $54,000 on $790,000 | $79,000 on $1,040,000 |
| Freehold townhouse | $50,500 on $755,000 | $76,450 on $1,014,500 |
| Condo apartment | $20,750 on $415,000 | $28,000 on $530,000 |
Source: medians from TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026; federal minimum down payment rules.
With less than 20% down you also pay mortgage default insurance, which is added to the loan. Rates also matter: the Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on October 28, 2026, and the big banks moved prime to 4.70%. A buyer stretching for Vaughan feels a rate change more, because the loan is bigger. See our guide to the minimum down payment in Ontario for the full rules.
I see a lot of buyers compare these two cities, and the decision usually comes down to one trade. Brampton gets you a detached house for close to half a million dollars less, but with a higher tax rate and no subway. Vaughan costs much more up front, but the lower tax rate and the subway save money and time every month. If you work downtown, at York University or in Vaughan’s business parks, run the numbers on a Vaughan townhouse before you rule it out. If you want the most house for your money and you drive, Brampton is hard to beat in 2027.
Do not compare tax rates alone. A rate is only half the math; the assessment is the other half. Ask for the actual tax bill on each home. Also, many Vaughan condos near the subway are in brand-new towers. Check the building’s reserve fund, the monthly fee and how many units are being rented before you buy there, because a building full of investor units can be slower to resell.
Who should pick Brampton?
- Buyers who want a detached home under $1 million. Brampton’s 2026 detached median was $950,000.
- GO train commuters near Bramalea, Brampton or Mount Pleasant stations.
- Growing families who want newer homes and big city parks.
- First-time buyers who want the lowest entry price: a condo apartment median of $415,000.
- People who work in Brampton, Mississauga or near Pearson airport.
Who should pick Vaughan?
- Subway commuters heading to York University or downtown Toronto.
- Owners who care about monthly carrying cost. Vaughan’s 2026 tax rate is about 0.5 points lower than Brampton’s.
- Condo buyers who want choice. 664 condo apartments sold in Vaughan in the first ten months of 2026.
- People who work in Vaughan’s large employment areas or along Highway 400.
- Move-up buyers with the budget for a detached home near $1.4 million.
What to do next
- Write down your budget, then compare the full monthly cost in each city: mortgage, property tax and commuting.
- Test your real commute at rush hour from the streets you like, including the 501 Züm if you are looking in east Brampton.
- Look at condo options near the subway in our guide to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre condo buildings.
- Check school boundaries with the board for each address.
- If you own in Brampton, find out what your Brampton house is worth before you decide whether to move up to Vaughan.
Need help with this? Talk to me.
I’m Jatin Dua, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quantum Realty, and I’m the best agent to do this kind of work for you in Toronto and across the GTA. Over $100 million in GTA sales and 100+ families helped sell. Feel free to contact me any time: call or text 833-330-1925 or email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Is Brampton better than Vaughan?
Neither is better for everyone; it depends on your budget and commute. In 2026, Brampton’s detached median was $950,000, about $465,000 below Vaughan’s $1,415,000. Vaughan has the Line 1 subway and a 2026 tax rate of 0.749217%, against 1.253381% in Brampton. Choose Brampton for the most house for your money, and Vaughan for subway access and lower yearly taxes.
Is Vaughan more expensive than Brampton in 2026?
Yes. From January to October 2026, Vaughan’s median detached price was $1,415,000 and Brampton’s was $950,000, according to TRREB MLS data via REALM. Vaughan was also higher for semis ($1,040,000 vs $790,000), freehold townhouses ($1,014,500 vs $755,000) and condo apartments ($530,000 vs $415,000). Prices fell in both cities compared with 2025.
Are property taxes lower in Vaughan or Brampton?
Property taxes are lower in Vaughan. Its 2026 total residential rate is 0.749217%, while Brampton’s is 1.253381%. On a home assessed at $700,000, that works out to about $5,245 a year in Vaughan and about $8,774 in Brampton. Vaughan homes often carry higher assessments, so compare the actual tax bills on the homes you like.
Does the subway go to Brampton?
No. The TTC subway does not reach Brampton as of November 2026. The closest subway stop is Vaughan Metropolitan Centre on Line 1, which opened in December 2017. Brampton Transit’s 501 Züm Queen bus runs along Queen Street and Highway 7 to that station. Brampton’s rail link to Toronto is the GO Kitchener line, with Bramalea, Brampton and Mount Pleasant stations.
How much is a detached house in Brampton vs Vaughan?
A typical detached house cost $950,000 in Brampton and $1,415,000 in Vaughan from January to October 2026, based on median sold prices from TRREB MLS data via REALM. Brampton’s detached median fell 8.9% from the same period of 2025, and Vaughan’s fell 5.0%. Over two years, Brampton’s detached median is down 15.7% and Vaughan’s 11.0%.
Which is cheaper for condos, Brampton or Vaughan?
Brampton is cheaper for condo apartments. Its median from January to October 2026 was $415,000, against $530,000 in Vaughan. Vaughan has far more choice, with 664 condo apartment sales against 241 in Brampton, including many newer towers near the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Brampton condos took longer to sell, averaging 53 days on market against 42 in Vaughan.
How long does it take to sell a house in Brampton vs Vaughan?
Detached homes took about the same time to sell in both cities in 2026: an average of 30 days on market in Brampton and 30 in Vaughan, from January to October, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. Condo apartments were slower, at 53 days in Brampton and 42 in Vaughan. Pricing right at the start matters more than the city.
What school boards serve Brampton and Vaughan?
Brampton is served by the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Vaughan is served by the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board. Both cities also have French-language schools run by Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the board.
How much down payment do I need for a house in Vaughan vs Brampton in 2027?
At the 2026 detached medians, the minimum down payment is about $116,500 in Vaughan and $70,000 in Brampton. Canada’s rule is 5% of the first $500,000 plus 10% of the amount from $500,000 to $1.5 million. With less than 20% down, you also pay mortgage default insurance, which is added to your loan.
Sources
- Region of Peel: Total 2026 tax rates (Caledon, Brampton, Mississauga)
- City of Vaughan: By-law 103-2026 (2026 tax rates)
- Metrolinx: GO Expansion
- Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station (Wikipedia)
- Vaughan (Wikipedia, 2021 census figures)
- Brampton (Wikipedia, 2021 census figures)
- Barrie line (Wikipedia)
- Ontario Highway 413 (Wikipedia)
Related reading
- Mississauga vs Oakville in 2027: Prices, Commute and Which Fits You
- Brampton vs Mississauga in 2027: Prices, Commute and Which Fits You
- Markham vs Richmond Hill in 2027: Prices, Commute and Which Fits You
- Vaughan vs Markham in 2027: Prices, Commute and Which Fits You
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.