Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Oshawa is much cheaper: its detached median was $730,000 from January to October 2026, about $195,000 below Ajax’s $925,000. Ajax is closer to Toronto, has the lower 2026 tax rate (1.389% vs 1.575%) and sold homes faster. Pick Ajax for a daily Toronto commute; pick Oshawa for the lowest price on a detached house.
This guide is for buyers weighing Ajax against Oshawa in 2027, often people moving east from Toronto or Scarborough who want more home for their money. You will get 2026 prices for each home type, how quickly homes sold, the tax rates in dollars, the GO train facts and a straight answer on who each place suits.
Ajax vs Oshawa: how do they compare side by side?
Both sit on Lake Ontario in Durham Region, with Whitby in between. Ajax is the closer of the two to Toronto, with only Pickering between it and the city. Oshawa is about 60 km east of downtown Toronto and is Durham’s largest municipality. In the 2021 census Ajax had 126,666 people and Oshawa had 175,383.
| Measure (Jan–Oct 2026) | Ajax | Oshawa |
|---|---|---|
| Detached median price | $925,000 (−4.2%) | $730,000 (−8.8%) |
| Detached sales | 561 (−8.8%) | 1,028 (−15.6%) |
| Semi-detached median | $810,000 (−3.4%) | $610,000 (−7.6%) |
| Freehold townhouse median | $750,000 (−7.2%) | $657,500 (−10.5%) |
| Condo townhouse median | $625,000 (−5.7%) | $518,500 (−9.0%) |
| Condo apartment median | $437,500 (−14.0%) | $340,500 (−14.3%) |
| 2026 total residential tax rate | 1.388664% | 1.575342% |
| GO train | Ajax GO, Lakeshore East line | Durham College Oshawa GO, end of the Lakeshore East line |
| English school boards | Durham District SB; Durham Catholic DSB | Durham District SB; Durham Catholic DSB |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025 (changes in brackets); Town of Ajax and City of Oshawa 2026 final tax rates; 2021 census; GO Transit.
These are town-wide and city-wide medians. A median is the middle sale. Oshawa’s number blends older homes near downtown with newer subdivisions in the north end, so treat it as a guide, not a price for a particular street.
Is Oshawa cheaper than Ajax?
Yes, by a wide margin for every home type. The detached median was $195,000 lower in Oshawa: $730,000 against $925,000. Semis were $200,000 cheaper, freehold townhouses about $92,500 cheaper and condo apartments $97,000 cheaper.
Oshawa also gives you far more to choose from. It recorded 1,028 detached sales from January to October 2026, almost twice Ajax’s 561. If you want a detached house under $800,000 in this part of Durham, Oshawa is where most of those sales happen.
How have prices changed since 2024?
| Home type | Ajax 2024 → 2026 | Oshawa 2024 → 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | $1,050,000 → $925,000 (−11.9%) | $835,000 → $730,000 (−12.6%) |
| Freehold townhouse | $849,000 → $750,000 (−11.7%) | $780,000 → $657,500 (−15.7%) |
| Condo townhouse | $731,500 → $625,000 (−14.6%) | $605,000 → $518,500 (−14.3%) |
| Condo apartment | $535,000 → $437,500 (−18.2%) | $441,000 → $340,500 (−22.8%) |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October of 2024 and 2026, median sold prices.
Both fell by roughly the same share for detached homes over two years. The difference is in 2026 alone: Ajax’s detached median slipped only 4.2% from 2025, while Oshawa’s fell 8.8%. Oshawa condo apartments have dropped the most, down almost 23% since 2024. That is a real discount for a first-time buyer, but it also shows how much weaker that segment has been. Past changes are not a forecast.
How fast are homes selling in Ajax and Oshawa?
Ajax homes sold a little faster. Detached homes took 23 days on average in Ajax in 2026 and 25 in Oshawa. The gap was bigger for other types: freehold townhouses took 27 days in Ajax and 34 in Oshawa, and condo apartments took 38 days in Ajax and 51 in Oshawa.
TRREB’s October 2026 Market Watch shows both markets were fairly balanced that month. Ajax had 3.1 months of inventory and Oshawa 3.7. Months of inventory is how long it would take to sell every active listing at the recent pace, and a lower number favours sellers. Detached homes sold at 97% of asking in Ajax and 98% in Oshawa in October. If you are buying an Oshawa condo, the slow 51-day average gives you room to negotiate.
Are property taxes higher in Oshawa or Ajax?
Oshawa’s rate is higher. Its 2026 total residential rate is 1.575342%: 0.659196% for the City, 0.763146% for Durham Region and 0.153% for education. Ajax’s total is 1.388664%, made of 0.454904% for the Town, 0.780760% across the regional pieces and 0.153% for education.
On a home assessed at $500,000 by MPAC, the 2026 bill would be about $6,943 in Ajax and $7,877 in Oshawa, about $930 a year more in Oshawa. A cheaper Oshawa home may carry a lower assessment, which narrows that gap, so ask for the seller’s last tax bill and budget from the dollar figure.
Closing costs and down payment
Neither place charges a municipal land transfer tax. At the detached medians, the Ontario tax is about $14,975 in Ajax and $11,075 in Oshawa, and first-time buyers can get up to $4,000 back. The minimum down payment is $67,500 at Ajax’s median and $48,000 at Oshawa’s. My first-time buyer guide to Durham Region covers programs and closing costs in more detail.
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Which is better for commuting to Toronto, Ajax or Oshawa?
Ajax, for most Toronto commuters. It is on the same train line but farther west, so it is closer to Union Station by train and by car.
GO train
Both are on GO Transit’s Lakeshore East line. Ajax GO serves Ajax. Durham College Oshawa GO, at 915 Bloor Street West, is the eastern end of the line and lists about 2,390 parking spaces. Since September 2021, weekday trains on this line have run about every 15 minutes and weekend trains about every 30 minutes; check the current timetable. Metrolinx plans more midday, evening and weekend service as part of GO Expansion, but has not given dates.
The Bowmanville extension
Metrolinx awarded the main construction contract for the Bowmanville Extension on 30 January 2026. It adds 18.7 km of new track east from Durham College Oshawa GO. Earlier plans place two of the new stations in Oshawa, at Thornton’s Corners East and Ritson Road. There is no opening date, so buy an Oshawa home for what is there today.
Driving
Highway 401 runs through the middle of both. Highway 407 runs north of Ajax, through Pickering, and across north Oshawa, and it charges tolls. Highways 412 and 418 link the 401 and 407 in Durham Region, and the province removed their tolls, so they are free to use. From Ajax, Toronto is simply less driving every day.
What is it like to live in Ajax vs Oshawa?
Ajax
Ajax is a younger, mostly suburban town. Its median age was 38.4 in 2021, below the national average. The waterfront is its standout feature: the Town lists six kilometres of public parkland along Lake Ontario, more than 150 acres in total, with an asphalt trail over seven kilometres long that is part of the Waterfront Trail. Rotary Park, at the mouth of Duffins Creek, has a beach, a splash pad and a small boat launch. Ajax has had its own hospital since 1954. See the best neighbourhoods to live in Ajax for area-by-area detail.
Oshawa
Oshawa is a full city with its own downtown, which the province has named an urban growth centre. General Motors Canada has its headquarters there, and its Oshawa plant reopened in 2021 to build pickup trucks. Durham College, Ontario Tech University and Trent University Durham together have about 22,000 full-time students. Lakeridge Health Oshawa is one of Ontario’s largest community hospitals and includes a regional cancer centre. Lakeview Park has a sandy beach, and the newer Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park links trails to Second Marsh. My guide to the best neighbourhoods in Oshawa covers where to look.
Schools
Both use the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board, which is based in Oshawa. With the same boards, the decision comes down to the school for a specific address, so use the board’s locator.
In my view, this is a trade between time and money. Ajax costs about $195,000 more for a detached house, but you get a shorter commute, a lower tax rate and homes that held their value better in 2026. Oshawa gets you into a detached home for much less, with a hospital, colleges and a real downtown. If you or your partner commute to Toronto every day, Ajax usually wins. If you work in Durham, work from home most days or need the lowest price, Oshawa makes more sense.
Oshawa condo apartments have fallen almost 23% since 2024 and took 51 days on average to sell in 2026. A low price can still be a slow resale later. Near the colleges, many homes are rented to students, so check whether a house has a legal second unit and what the City allows before you count on rent to cover the mortgage.
Who should pick Ajax?
- Daily Toronto commuters, by GO train or Highway 401.
- Families who want the waterfront trail and parks along Lake Ontario.
- Buyers who care about resale speed: Ajax homes sold faster in every category.
- Owners who want a lower tax rate than Oshawa’s.
Who should pick Oshawa?
- First-time buyers who want a detached house at a $730,000 median.
- Condo buyers on a tight budget, with a $340,500 median.
- People who work in Durham, at the hospital, the colleges or GM.
- Investors who understand student rentals and local rules.
What to do next
- Get pre-approved and compare the full monthly cost in each place, including the real tax bill. 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.
- Drive or ride your commute from both places at rush hour.
- Read my Whitby vs Oshawa comparison if you want a middle option between the two.
- If you already own in Ajax, check what your Ajax or Pickering house is worth before you decide.
- Ask for recent sales on the exact streets you like, not the town 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 Ajax better than Oshawa?
It depends on your budget and commute. Ajax is closer to Toronto, has a lower 2026 tax rate and its homes sold faster, but its detached median was $925,000 from January to October 2026. Oshawa’s was $730,000, about $195,000 less, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. Daily Toronto commuters often prefer Ajax; budget buyers often pick Oshawa.
Is Oshawa cheaper than Ajax in 2026?
Yes, for every home type in 2026. From January to October, Oshawa’s detached median was $730,000 against $925,000 in Ajax. Semis were $610,000 against $810,000, and condo apartments $340,500 against $437,500. Oshawa also had almost twice as many detached sales, so buyers have more homes to choose from.
Are property taxes higher in Oshawa than Ajax?
Yes. Oshawa’s 2026 total residential tax rate is 1.575342%, while Ajax’s is 1.388664%. On a home assessed at $500,000, that works out to about $7,877 a year in Oshawa and $6,943 in Ajax. Lower-priced Oshawa homes may have lower assessments, so compare actual tax bills, not just the rates.
Which is closer to Toronto by GO train, Ajax or Oshawa?
Ajax is closer. Both are on GO Transit’s Lakeshore East line, but Ajax GO is west of Whitby and Oshawa, so the ride to Union Station is shorter. Durham College Oshawa GO is the end of the line. Weekday trains have run about every 15 minutes since 2021. Check GO Transit’s current timetable for exact trip times from each station in 2027.
When will the GO train extension to Bowmanville open?
There is no confirmed opening date as of November 2026. Metrolinx awarded the main construction contract on 30 January 2026 for 18.7 km of new track from Durham College Oshawa GO to a new Bowmanville station. Earlier plans include two new stations in Oshawa. Do not pay extra for an Oshawa home because of it.
Is Ajax a good place to live in 2027?
For many families, yes. Ajax has a younger population, a median age of 38.4 in 2021, and six kilometres of public waterfront parkland on Lake Ontario with a long trail. It has its own hospital and a GO station on the Lakeshore East line. Homes cost more than in Oshawa, with a $925,000 detached median in 2026.
Is Oshawa a good place to buy a first home?
It is one of the cheapest ways into a detached house in the GTA. Oshawa’s detached median was $730,000 from January to October 2026, so the minimum down payment is about $48,000. Condo apartments had a $340,500 median. The city has a hospital, three post-secondary schools and a GO station, though condos have been slow to sell.
How fast are houses selling in Ajax and Oshawa?
Fairly quickly for detached homes. In 2026, detached homes took 23 days on average to sell in Ajax and 25 in Oshawa, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. Condo apartments were slower, at 38 days in Ajax and 51 in Oshawa. In October 2026, detached homes sold at 97% of asking in Ajax and 98% in Oshawa.
Sources
- Town of Ajax: 2026 final tax rates
- City of Oshawa: Property tax rates (2026 final)
- Town of Ajax: Beaches, waterfronts and conservation
- City of Oshawa: Waterfront
- Metrolinx: Construction contract awarded for Bowmanville GO Extension
- GO Transit: Durham College Oshawa GO station details
- Region of Durham: Province removes tolls on Highways 412 and 418
- TRREB Market Watch, October 2026
Related reading
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- 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.