Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Vaughan is slightly cheaper for houses: its detached median was $1,415,000 from January to October 2026, against $1,485,000 in Richmond Hill. Condo apartments cost the same, about $530,000, and tax rates are almost equal. Vaughan has the subway today; Richmond Hill has rush-hour GO trains and a subway extension with no opening date.
This guide is for buyers choosing between Richmond Hill and Vaughan in 2027, and for owners in either city thinking about a move across Bathurst Street. You will get 2026 prices for every home type, how fast homes sold, the real subway and GO train picture, the tax gap in dollars and a plain answer on who each city suits.
Richmond Hill vs Vaughan: how do they compare side by side?
The two cities sit next to each other in York Region, just north of Toronto. Bathurst Street is the line between them. Vaughan is the bigger place, with 323,103 people in the 2021 census on about 272 square kilometres. Richmond Hill had 202,022 people on about 101 square kilometres, so it is more tightly built.
| Measure (Jan–Oct 2026) | Richmond Hill | Vaughan |
|---|---|---|
| Detached median price | $1,485,000 (−8.9%) | $1,415,000 (−5.0%) |
| Detached sales | 838 (+10.7%) | 1,193 (+2.1%) |
| Semi-detached median | $1,051,000 (−7.7%) | $1,040,000 (−9.2%) |
| Freehold townhouse median | $1,040,000 (−9.4%) | $1,014,500 (−9.3%) |
| Condo townhouse median | $690,000 (−15.6%) | $768,000 (−6.1%) |
| Condo apartment median | $529,250 (−8.8%) | $530,000 (−10.9%) |
| Condo apartment sales | 344 | 664 |
| 2026 total residential tax rate | 0.760104% | 0.749217% |
| Subway today | No | Yes, Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (Line 1) |
| Hospital | Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital | Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025 (changes in brackets); City of Richmond Hill 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. Vaughan’s figure mixes Woodbridge, Maple, Kleinburg, Concord and the Vaughan side of Thornhill. Richmond Hill’s mixes older streets near Yonge with Oak Ridges and newer subdivisions. Use them as a starting point, not a price for one street.
Is Vaughan cheaper than Richmond Hill?
For houses, slightly. Vaughan’s detached median was $1,415,000 from January to October 2026, about $70,000 below Richmond Hill’s $1,485,000. Semis and freehold townhouses were close to even, with Vaughan $11,000 and $25,500 cheaper.
Condos tell a different story. Condo apartments were a dead heat: $529,250 in Richmond Hill and $530,000 in Vaughan. Condo townhouses were about $78,000 cheaper in Richmond Hill. Vaughan sold almost twice as many condo apartments, 664 against 344, mostly because of the towers around the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. More sales means more choice and a clearer read on fair value.
Which held its value better since 2024?
Vaughan did. Richmond Hill had further to fall.
| Home type | Richmond Hill 2024 → 2026 | Vaughan 2024 → 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | $1,774,400 → $1,485,000 (−16.3%) | $1,590,000 → $1,415,000 (−11.0%) |
| Freehold townhouse | $1,250,000 → $1,040,000 (−16.8%) | $1,165,000 → $1,014,500 (−12.9%) |
| Condo townhouse | $895,000 → $690,000 (−22.9%) | $840,000 → $768,000 (−8.6%) |
| Condo apartment | $637,500 → $529,250 (−17.0%) | $635,000 → $530,000 (−16.5%) |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October of 2024 and 2026, median sold prices.
In 2024 a detached home in Richmond Hill cost about $184,000 more than one in Vaughan at the median. By 2026 that gap had shrunk to $70,000. If you own in Vaughan and want to move to Richmond Hill, the step up is much smaller than it was two years ago. Past changes are not a forecast.
How fast are homes selling in Richmond Hill and Vaughan?
At about the same pace. Detached homes took 31 days on average to sell in Richmond Hill and 30 in Vaughan in 2026, up from 25 and 21 days in 2024. Condo apartments took 42 days in both. Freehold townhouses were a little quicker in Vaughan, at 29 days against 32.
TRREB’s October 2026 Market Watch gives a fresher read. Detached homes in both cities sold for 97% of the asking price on average that month. Richmond Hill had 5.5 months of inventory and Vaughan 4.8. Months of inventory is how long it would take to sell every active listing at the recent pace. Higher numbers favour buyers, so Richmond Hill buyers had slightly more room to negotiate.
Are property taxes lower in Vaughan or Richmond Hill?
Vaughan’s rate is a hair lower. Its 2026 total residential rate is 0.749217%, made of 0.203805% for the City, 0.392412% for York Region and 0.153% for education. Richmond Hill’s is 0.760104%, with a City share of 0.214692% and the same regional and education rates.
On a home assessed at $1,000,000 by MPAC, the 2026 bill is about $7,492 in Vaughan and $7,601 in Richmond Hill. That is a gap of about $109 a year, which should not decide anything. Ask for the seller’s actual tax bill, because two similar homes can carry different assessments. My Vaughan property tax guide explains how bills, due dates and instalments work.
Neither city charges a municipal land transfer tax; only the City of Toronto does. At the detached medians, the Ontario land transfer tax is about $24,775 in Vaughan and $26,175 in Richmond Hill. The minimum down payment is $116,500 and $123,500. Both medians sit under the $1.5 million cap for an insured mortgage.
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Which is better for commuting, Richmond Hill or Vaughan?
Today, Vaughan, if you use transit. If you drive, it depends on where you work.
Vaughan: a subway station since 2017
Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station opened on December 17, 2017, as the north end of TTC Line 1 Yonge–University. It is also a hub for York Region Transit, Viva and Züm buses. Vaughan also has GO train service on the Barrie line, including Rutherford GO at 699 Westburne Drive, which lists about 1,008 parking spaces. Metrolinx plans two-way, all-day service on the Barrie line, but has not given a date.
Richmond Hill: four GO stations, rush hour only
Richmond Hill has four stations on the GO Richmond Hill line: Langstaff, Richmond Hill, Gormley and Bloomington. Trains run on weekdays at peak times only, south in the morning and north in the afternoon. Off-peak trips use GO buses. It works for a regular downtown office day, not for evenings or weekends. Viva Blue, Purple, Orange and Pink rapid buses also stop in the city.
When will the subway reach Richmond Hill?
Not soon. The Yonge North Subway Extension will add about eight kilometres of Line 1 north from Finch, with five stations serving Vaughan, Markham and Richmond Hill. Metrolinx finished digging the tunnel launch shaft in July 2026, and the first tunnel boring machine arrived in September 2026. Metrolinx says the extension goes into service after the Ontario Line is complete, and the Ontario Line has no confirmed opening date. I would not pay extra for a home near Yonge because of the future subway.
Driving
Highway 404 runs along Richmond Hill’s east edge and leads straight into the Don Valley Parkway. Highway 400 runs through Vaughan past Canada’s Wonderland. If you work downtown east of Yonge, Richmond Hill and the 404 usually make more sense. If you work near Pearson or in Peel, Vaughan and the 400 are easier.
What is it like to live in Richmond Hill vs Vaughan?
Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill feels more like one connected city. Its spine is Yonge Street, with the Mill Pond area and its heritage homes in the middle, and Oak Ridges and Lake Wilcox to the north on the Oak Ridges Moraine. The David Dunlap Observatory is here, and the city has light pollution rules because of it. Mackenzie Health runs Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital. The median age in 2021 was 43.6. For street-level detail, see the best neighbourhoods to live in Richmond Hill.
Vaughan
Vaughan is a collection of communities more than one town. Most people say they live in Woodbridge, Maple, Kleinburg, Concord or Thornhill before they say Vaughan. It has Canada’s Wonderland, Vaughan Mills, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg and the Kortright Centre for Conservation. Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, also run by Mackenzie Health, fully opened in June 2021. Vaughan grew 5.5% from 2016 to 2021, against 3.6% in Richmond Hill. My guide to the best neighbourhoods in Vaughan goes area by area.
Schools
Both cities use the same boards: the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board. So the choice comes down to the school for a specific address. The public board runs 27 elementary and 5 secondary schools in Richmond Hill. Use the board’s school locator before you make an offer.
For most of my clients, this choice comes down to the commute and the type of home. If you take transit downtown, Vaughan has the subway today and the house prices are a bit lower. If you drive the 404, like a single walkable spine along Yonge, or want an older lot near Mill Pond, Richmond Hill is worth the extra. For a first condo, the prices are the same, so pick the building, not the city. My earlier piece on Vaughan vs Richmond Hill has more on land transfer tax compared with Toronto.
Some Richmond Hill and Vaughan listings near Yonge Street are sold on the future subway. The extension has no opening date, so do not pay a premium for it in 2027. In Vaughan’s condo market, check how many similar units are listed in the same tower. A building with dozens of resale units can take a long time to sell when you move on.
Who should pick Richmond Hill?
- Drivers on the 404 and Don Valley Parkway who work downtown or in Markham.
- Condo townhouse buyers, with a median about $78,000 below Vaughan’s.
- Families who want an established Yonge Street community, from Mill Pond to Oak Ridges.
- Rush-hour GO commuters with four Richmond Hill line stations to choose from.
Who should pick Vaughan?
- Daily subway riders who want Line 1 without waiting for an extension.
- Detached buyers who want to save about $70,000 at the median.
- Condo buyers who want choice, with nearly twice as many condo apartment sales.
- People who work near the 400, Pearson or in Peel.
What to do next
- Price out the full monthly cost in each city: mortgage, property tax and commuting. The Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026, prime is 4.70%, and the next decision is 9 December 2026.
- Do your actual commute from both cities at rush hour, by car and by transit.
- Confirm the school for each address with the YRDSB or YCDSB locator.
- If you own in Vaughan, find out what your Vaughan house is worth before you decide on a move.
- Ask for recent sales on the exact streets you like, not just the city median.
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 Richmond Hill better than Vaughan?
Neither is better for everyone in 2027. Vaughan was about $70,000 cheaper at the detached median from January to October 2026 ($1,415,000 vs $1,485,000) and has the Line 1 subway today. Richmond Hill has four rush-hour GO stations, a single Yonge Street spine and cheaper condo townhouses. Pick by commute and home type, not by name.
Is Vaughan cheaper than Richmond Hill in 2026?
Yes, for houses, but only slightly. From January to October 2026, Vaughan’s detached median was $1,415,000 and Richmond Hill’s was $1,485,000, based on TRREB MLS data via REALM. Condo apartments cost the same in both, about $530,000. Condo townhouses were cheaper in Richmond Hill, at $690,000 against $768,000.
Which has lower property taxes, Richmond Hill or Vaughan?
Vaughan, by a small margin. Its 2026 total residential tax rate is 0.749217%, against 0.760104% in Richmond Hill. Both pay the same York Region and education rates. On a $1,000,000 assessment, the 2026 bill is about $7,492 in Vaughan and $7,601 in Richmond Hill, a gap of roughly $109 a year.
Does Richmond Hill have a subway?
No, not as of November 2026. The Yonge North Subway Extension will add about eight kilometres of Line 1 from Finch, with five stations serving Vaughan, Markham and Richmond Hill. Metrolinx says it will open after the Ontario Line, which has no confirmed date. Today Richmond Hill relies on GO trains at rush hour and Viva buses.
Does Vaughan have a subway station?
Yes. Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station opened on December 17, 2017, as the north end of TTC Line 1 Yonge–University. It is also a hub for York Region Transit, Viva and Züm buses. Rutherford GO and other Barrie line stations add GO train service in the city. More subway stations will come with the Yonge North extension, which has no opening date yet.
Are homes selling fast in Vaughan and Richmond Hill?
Not fast, but steadily. In 2026, detached homes took about 30 days on average to sell in Vaughan and 31 in Richmond Hill, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. In October 2026, detached homes in both sold at about 97% of asking. Richmond Hill had 5.5 months of inventory and Vaughan 4.8, which favours buyers.
Is it better to buy a condo in Vaughan or Richmond Hill?
Prices are the same, so choose the building. Condo apartment medians were $530,000 in Vaughan and $529,250 in Richmond Hill from January to October 2026. Vaughan had 664 sales against 344, mostly around the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and its subway. Richmond Hill condos suit buyers who want Yonge Street and Viva buses.
Do Richmond Hill and Vaughan have hospitals?
Yes, both do. Mackenzie Health runs Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. The Vaughan hospital first opened in February 2021 and fully opened on June 6, 2021. Before that, Vaughan residents travelled to Richmond Hill or elsewhere for hospital care. Check drive times from the exact address you are considering.
What school boards serve Richmond Hill and Vaughan?
The same boards serve both cities: the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board, plus French-language boards. Because the boards match, the real difference is the school assigned to a specific address. Check the board’s online school locator for any home before you make an offer in 2027.
Sources
- City of Richmond Hill: Tax rates (2026)
- City of Vaughan: By-law 103-2026 (2026 tax rates)
- Metrolinx: Yonge North Subway Extension
- Mackenzie Health: Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital
- GO Transit: Rutherford GO station details
- TRREB Market Watch, October 2026
- Richmond Hill line (Wikipedia, service pattern background)
- Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station (Wikipedia, opening date)
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.