Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
My top five GTA cities for families in 2027 are Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Whitby and Newmarket. The three Halton cities have the lowest crime severity of Ontario’s largest police areas. Whitby is the best value: its median detached home sold for $977,000 from January to October 2026, versus $1,625,000 in Oakville (TRREB MLS data via REALM).
This guide is for parents who are deciding where in the GTA to raise their kids in 2027, whether you are leaving a Toronto condo, moving up from a townhouse or arriving in Canada. You will get my five picks, the real 2026 prices for family-size homes in each, and the trade-offs I would weigh before choosing.
How did I choose the best GTA cities for families?
There is no single “best” city. A family with a $900,000 budget and one parent working downtown needs something different from a family with $1.6 million and two parents working from home. So I scored cities on things you can check yourself:
- Safety. Statistics Canada’s Crime Severity Index measures both the amount and the seriousness of police-reported crime.
- The price of a family home. I used 2026 medians for detached houses and freehold townhouses, the two home types most families buy.
- Getting around. A GO train line matters if a parent commutes to Toronto.
- Room to play. Parks, trails, recreation centres and sports programs.
- Health care close by. A hospital in town is a real comfort with young kids.
I did not rank schools here. In my experience, the schools that serve a specific street matter more than the city’s name, so check them for any address you like. All prices below are city-wide figures, not neighbourhood figures.
What are family homes selling for in the best GTA cities?
| City | Detached median 2026 | Change vs 2025 | Freehold town median 2026 | Detached avg. days on market | GO train line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakville | $1,625,000 | −3.0% | $1,005,000 | 33 | Lakeshore West |
| Burlington | $1,249,750 | 0.0% | $860,000 | 29 | Lakeshore West |
| Milton | $1,130,000 | −6.6% | $810,000 | 32 | Milton (rush hour) |
| Whitby | $977,000 | −6.2% | $765,000 | 23 | Lakeshore East |
| Newmarket | $1,070,000 | −10.1% | $827,000 | 27 | Barrie |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025. Medians for each city as a whole.
A median is the middle sale: half sold for more and half for less. Every city on this list was cheaper in 2026 than in 2024, which gives families a better entry point than they had two years ago.
1. Oakville: the top pick if your budget allows
Why families choose it: Oakville is in Halton Region, which Halton Regional Police says had the lowest overall Crime Severity Index among Ontario’s 12 largest police jurisdictions in 2024, a spot it has held every reporting year since 2008. Oakville had 213,759 people in 2021. It has a long Lake Ontario shoreline with parks such as Coronation Park and Shell Park, Bronte Creek Provincial Park, and the Sixteen Mile Creek Sports Complex. Oakville GO and Bronte GO are on the Lakeshore West line.
What it costs: the highest on this list. The detached median was $1,625,000 from January to October 2026, down only 3.0%. Freehold townhouses had a median of $1,005,000.
The trade-off: price. A detached home here usually means a down payment of 20% or more, because insured mortgages stop at $1.5 million. See my guide to the best neighbourhoods in Oakville to narrow it down.
2. Burlington: lake, escarpment and steady prices
Why families choose it: Burlington is also in Halton, with the same low crime severity. It had 186,948 people in 2021 and has three GO stations, Appleby, Burlington and Aldershot. Families have a lot to do: Spencer Smith Park on the lake has a water-jet play area and a pond for skating, the Royal Botanical Gardens is Canada’s largest botanical garden, and Mount Nemo Conservation Area sits on the Niagara Escarpment. Joseph Brant Hospital is downtown.
What it costs: Burlington’s detached median of $1,249,750 was flat against 2025, the steadiest result on this list. Freehold townhouses had a median of $860,000.
The trade-off: less new housing. Burlington grew just 2% from 2016 to 2021, the slowest in Halton, which points to fewer brand-new family subdivisions than in Milton or Oakville. My guide to the best neighbourhoods in Burlington compares the main areas.
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3. Milton: the young, fast-growing Halton option
Why families choose it: Milton grew 20.7% between 2016 and 2021, to 132,979 people, the fastest growth in Halton. Growth that fast means many newer homes and subdivisions. The Milton Youth Soccer Club alone has more than 3,300 players. Milton sits on the Niagara Escarpment, with Conservation Halton parks such as Kelso, Crawford Lake and Rattlesnake Point close by, and Milton District Hospital tripled the size of its emergency department in a 2016–2017 expansion. It is also in Halton, with the low crime severity that comes with it.
What it costs: the lowest-priced Halton city on this list. The detached median was $1,130,000, down 6.6%, and freehold townhouses had a median of $810,000.
The trade-off: the train. The Milton GO line runs mainly in the peak direction at rush hour only, and plans for all-day two-way service have no firm timeline. If a parent works odd hours downtown, expect to drive. Read my guide to the best neighbourhoods in Milton for the areas I like.
4. Whitby: the best value for a detached family home
Why families choose it: Whitby had 138,501 people in 2021, up 7.9% in five years. Its Iroquois Park Sports Centre is one of the largest minor sports centres in North America, with six ice pads, a pool, tennis courts, ball diamonds, a skatepark and a soccer pitch. Whitby Harbour has a 420-berth marina. Whitby GO is on the Lakeshore East line, and Highway 412, which links the 401 and 407, has been toll-free since April 2022.
What it costs: the lowest detached median on this list at $977,000, down 6.2%. Freehold townhouses had a median of $765,000. Detached homes still sold in 23 days on average, the fastest of the five, so good homes do not sit.
The trade-off: Whitby has no full-service hospital of its own. Lakeridge Health Whitby is a specialized centre, and the nearest full hospitals are in Oshawa, Ajax and Port Perry. The commute west is also long. See my guide to the best neighbourhoods in Whitby.
5. Newmarket: a compact York Region town with a hospital
Why families choose it: Newmarket is the seat of York Region, with 87,942 people in 2021 on about 38.5 square kilometres, so most daily needs are a short drive away. Southlake Regional Health Centre is a major hospital in town. Families use Fairy Lake in the town centre and the Tom Taylor Trail, which runs from the Aurora border through downtown to Holland Landing. Newmarket GO is on the Barrie line, and Viva rapid buses run down Yonge Street to Finch and along the Davis Drive rapidway.
What it costs: the detached median fell 10.1% to $1,070,000, one of the bigger drops in the GTA in 2026. Freehold townhouses had a median of $827,000.
The trade-off: distance to downtown Toronto and a longer train ride. Check GO Transit’s current timetable for the trips you need. My guide to the best neighbourhoods in Newmarket covers the main areas.
Which GTA cities just missed the list?
- Ajax has a detached median of $925,000, a strong value option in Durham.
- Aurora is a smaller York Region town next to Newmarket, with a detached median of $1,370,000.
- Clarington has the lowest prices of the bunch, with a detached median of $820,000, but a longer drive to Toronto.
- Markham is a big family city with a detached median of $1,420,000, the highest of these four.
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026, detached medians.
If I were raising young kids and could afford it, I would start in Halton: Oakville if the budget is there, Burlington for steady value, and Milton if you want newer homes for less. Whitby is my pick for families who want a detached house under $1 million. Newmarket is the one I suggest to families who work in York Region and want a hospital close by. Whatever you choose, visit the school, the park and the commute in person before you buy. A city can be great while one street in it is not right for you.
How much cash do you need for a family home in these cities?
The minimum down payment in Canada is 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the portion up to $1.5 million. At $1.5 million and above, you need 20%. Here is what that means at each city’s 2026 detached median:
| City | Detached median 2026 | Minimum down payment |
|---|---|---|
| Oakville | $1,625,000 | $325,000 (20%) |
| Burlington | $1,249,750 | $99,975 |
| Milton | $1,130,000 | $88,000 |
| Newmarket | $1,070,000 | $82,000 |
| Whitby | $977,000 | $72,700 |
Source: minimum down payment rules for Canada; medians from TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026.
Below $1.5 million, a mortgage with less than 20% down needs CMHC or other default insurance, and the premium is added to the loan. Rates also rose this fall: the Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026, and the big banks moved prime to 4.70%. If you are buying your first home, see my list of the top GTA cities for first-time buyers.
Do not pick a home only because of a school’s name. School boundaries can change as new homes are built, and some fast-growing areas use portables or send kids to a school farther away. Before you firm up an offer, call the school board with the exact address and ask which schools serve it today.
What to do next
- Write down your real budget, your commute and your must-haves, such as a yard, a nearby hospital or a GO station.
- Shortlist two cities from this list and visit them on a school day and a weekend.
- Get a mortgage pre-approval so you know which home types you can afford.
- Call the school boards with any address you like and confirm the schools.
- Use the free estimator on this page to see what your current home could sell for.
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
What is the best place to raise a family in the GTA?
For 2027, my top five GTA cities for families are Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Whitby and Newmarket. Oakville, Burlington and Milton are in Halton Region, which had the lowest crime severity of Ontario’s 12 largest police jurisdictions in 2024. Whitby is the best value, with a detached median of $977,000 from January to October 2026.
Which GTA city is safest for families?
Halton Region, which includes Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills, had the lowest overall, violent and non-violent Crime Severity Index among Ontario’s 12 largest police jurisdictions in 2024, according to Halton Regional Police using Statistics Canada data. Halton has held that position every reporting year from 2008 to 2024. Crime still varies by street, so check local data.
What is the cheapest GTA city for a family home?
Oshawa had one of the lowest detached medians in the GTA from January to October 2026, at $730,000, and Clarington was at $820,000, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. Of my top five family cities, Whitby was the most affordable, with a detached median of $977,000 and a freehold townhouse median of $765,000.
Is Oakville or Burlington better for families?
Both are excellent for families, and both are in low-crime Halton Region. Oakville costs more, with a detached median of $1,625,000 from January to October 2026, while Burlington’s was $1,249,750 and held flat against 2025. Choose Oakville if your budget allows and you want its waterfront and newer north end, and Burlington for better value.
Is Milton a good place to raise a family?
Yes, Milton is a good place to raise a family. It grew 20.7% from 2016 to 2021, so it has many young families and newer homes, it is in low-crime Halton Region, and its youth soccer club alone has more than 3,300 players. Its detached median was $1,130,000 from January to October 2026. The main drawback is rush-hour-only GO train service.
Is Whitby a good place to raise a family?
Yes, Whitby is a good place for families, especially on a budget. Its detached median was $977,000 from January to October 2026, it has the Iroquois Park Sports Centre with six ice pads and a pool, and Whitby GO is on the Lakeshore East line. The main drawback is that Whitby has no full-service hospital of its own.
How much do you need to buy a family home in the GTA in 2027?
At the 2026 detached medians, you need a minimum down payment of about $72,700 in Whitby, $88,000 in Milton, $99,975 in Burlington and $325,000 in Oakville, where homes over $1.5 million need 20% down. Add closing costs such as land transfer tax and legal fees, and get pre-approved, since rates rose in October 2026.
Are house prices going down in the GTA suburbs?
Yes, in most GTA suburbs prices fell in 2026. From January to October 2026, detached medians fell 10.1% in Newmarket, 6.6% in Milton and 6.2% in Whitby compared with 2025, while Burlington held flat, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. Nobody can promise where prices go in 2027, so buy for your family’s timeline.
Which GTA cities have a GO train for commuting parents?
All five of my top family cities have GO train service. Oakville and Burlington are on the Lakeshore West line, Whitby is on Lakeshore East, Newmarket is on the Barrie line, and Milton has the Milton line, which runs mainly at rush hour in the peak direction. Check GO Transit’s current timetable for your exact trips before you buy.
Sources
- Halton Regional Police: 2024 Crime Severity Index and 2025 six-month report
- Halton Region: 2021 Census population and dwellings
- Oakville, Ontario (population, parks, GO stations)
- Burlington, Ontario (parks, hospital, GO stations)
- Milton, Ontario (escarpment, hospital, youth sports)
- Milton line (GO Transit service pattern)
- Whitby, Ontario (population, sports centre, hospital)
- Newmarket, Ontario (population, hospital, transit, trails)
Related reading
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Mississauga in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Brampton in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Markham in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Oakville in 2027
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.