Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Brampton is far cheaper: its median detached home sold for $950,000 from January to October 2026, against $1,420,000 in Markham. Markham has a much lower tax rate (0.72% vs 1.25%), more condos and the future subway extension. Pick Brampton for price and space; pick Markham for lower yearly taxes and York Region jobs.
This guide is for buyers torn between Brampton and Markham for 2027, and for owners in one city thinking about moving to the other. You will get 2026 prices for every home type, selling speed, the tax rates from each city, the cash you need, the GO and highway facts, and a clear answer on who each city suits.
Is Brampton cheaper than Markham?
Yes, by a lot. From January to October 2026, the median detached home sold for $950,000 in Brampton and $1,420,000 in Markham. That is a gap of $470,000. The median is the middle sale: half of homes sold for more and half for less. Brampton was cheaper for every home type, not just detached.
| Home type | Brampton median | Brampton sales | Markham median | Markham sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | $950,000 (−8.9%) | 2,280 | $1,420,000 (−6.5%) | 1,113 |
| Semi-detached | $790,000 (−8.1%) | 687 | $1,025,000 (−12.2%) | 151 |
| Freehold townhouse | $755,000 (−7.2%) | 554 | $999,990 (−10.9%) | 391 |
| Condo townhouse | $570,000 (−10.9%) | 237 | $750,000 (−9.1%) | 214 |
| Condo apartment | $415,000 (−12.6%) | 241 | $558,000 (−13.2%) | 582 |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025 (median change in brackets). City-wide medians.
The two markets have different shapes. Brampton is a house market: it sold more than twice as many detached homes as Markham and far more semis. Markham sold more than twice as many condo apartments as Brampton. So if you want a condo, Markham gives you more buildings to choose from. If you want a semi or a freehold townhouse under $800,000, Brampton is one of the few places in the GTA where that is still common.
How much have prices fallen in Brampton and Markham since 2024?
Both cities are well below their 2024 levels. Brampton’s detached median fell from $1,127,250 in January to October 2024 to $950,000 in the same months of 2026, a drop of about 15.7%. Markham’s fell from $1,650,000 to $1,420,000, about 13.9%. Condo apartments fell the most in both: about 23.1% in Brampton and 20.3% in Markham over the two years.
Sales did not dry up, though. Detached sales in 2026 were up 9.0% in Brampton and 10.6% in Markham compared with 2025. Lower prices seem to have drawn some buyers back. For the full picture of each city, see my Brampton housing market outlook and my Markham and Richmond Hill market outlook.
How fast are homes selling in Brampton vs Markham?
At almost the same pace for houses. Detached homes took 30 days on average to sell in Brampton and 29 days in Markham from January to October 2026. “Days on market” is the average time from listing to a firm deal. Two years earlier it was about 22 and 19 days, so buyers now have more time in both cities.
Condos are where the two split. Brampton condo apartments took 53 days on average, against 39 in Markham. A slow condo market is good for buyers who want to negotiate, but it also tells you resale could take longer when you sell. Semis and freehold townhouses moved in 27 to 29 days in both cities.
Supply is higher in Brampton. REALM showed 947 detached homes listed for sale in Brampton and 458 in Markham. That roughly matches the gap in sales, so neither city is flooded, but Brampton buyers see more options on any given weekend.
Are property taxes higher in Brampton or Markham?
Brampton’s rate is much higher. Its 2026 total residential tax rate is 1.253381%, according to the Region of Peel’s 2026 rate table. Markham’s 2026 total rate is 0.722889%, including the City, York Region and education. Brampton’s rate is about 73% higher.
Your bill is the rate times your home’s MPAC assessment. On a home assessed at $700,000, that works out to about $8,774 a year in Brampton and about $5,060 in Markham. Markham says its average home, assessed at $822,671, pays $5,947 in 2026. The 2027 rates are not set yet and are usually approved in the spring. See my guides to Brampton property tax for 2027 and Markham property tax for 2027 for due dates and rebates.
Instant Home Valuation
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Answer six quick questions and get an instant value range built from current Toronto & GTA sale data — property type, size, condition, lot and location all weighted the way a real pricing conversation weighs them. Takes about ninety seconds.
Reading recent GTA sale data…
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Estimated market value
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What moved the number
Starting from the area baseline for your property type, here’s what each answer added or subtracted.
Market context
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A range is a starting point.
A strategy is what sells.
This model doesn’t know that your neighbour’s identical semi went $80,000 over asking last month, or which two upgrades actually pay back in your area. That conversation is free and takes twenty minutes.
How much cash do you need to buy in Brampton vs Markham?
Much less in Brampton. In Canada the minimum down payment is 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the part between $500,000 and $1.5 million. Neither city charges a municipal land transfer tax, so buyers pay only Ontario’s tax.
| At the 2026 median | Brampton detached ($950,000) | Markham detached ($1,420,000) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum down payment | $70,000 | $117,000 |
| Ontario land transfer tax | $15,475 | $24,875 |
| Total of the two | $85,475 | $141,875 |
Source: my calculation using federal minimum down payment rules and Ontario’s land transfer tax rates (ontario.ca), before any first-time buyer refund of up to $4,000. Legal fees and moving costs are extra.
With less than 20% down you also need mortgage default insurance. At the minimum down payment on these prices, the CMHC premium is 4.00% of the loan, added to your mortgage. For a Markham townhouse at about $1,000,000, the minimum down payment is about $75,000. For a Brampton freehold townhouse at $755,000, it is $50,500.
Which is better for commuting, Brampton or Markham?
It depends on where you work. Neither city has subway service today.
Brampton
Brampton has three GO stations on the Kitchener line: Bramalea, Brampton and Mount Pleasant. On weekdays, most trains run toward Toronto in the morning and back in the evening, with hourly off-peak trains between Mount Pleasant and Union. Since November 2025, weekend trains have run every 30 minutes between Union and Bramalea. Brampton Transit’s Züm buses run rapid routes on main roads. By car, Highway 410 runs through the middle of the city, the 407 crosses its south end and the 401 is just south in Mississauga.
Markham
Markham has Unionville, Centennial, Markham and Mount Joy GO stations on the Stouffville line. Trains run in the peak direction at rush hour and roughly hourly in both directions at other times between Unionville or Mount Joy and Union. Highways 404 and 407 cross the city. Metrolinx is building the Yonge North Subway Extension, about 8 km and five stations into Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan, but it is set to open only after the Ontario Line is complete, so do not count on it for a 2027 commute.
Check the current GO timetable for your exact trip. If you work near Pearson or in Mississauga, Brampton is usually closer. If you work in Markham’s tech area or north Toronto, Markham is.
What is daily life like in Brampton and Markham?
Brampton is the larger city, with 656,480 people in the 2021 census, against 338,503 in Markham. In Markham, 58% of residents were immigrants in 2021. Markham is a technology hub: IBM is its largest employer, and more than 1,000 technology and life-science companies are based there.
For hospitals, Brampton has the Brampton Civic and Peel Memorial sites of William Osler Health System, and Markham has Markham Stouffville Hospital. Brampton students attend the Peel District School Board or the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Markham students attend the York Region District School Board or the York Catholic District School Board. Both cities also have French-language boards. I do not rank schools here. Check the assigned school for each address you consider.
Brampton or Markham: who should pick which?
Pick Brampton if you:
- Want a detached home under $1 million, or a semi or freehold townhouse under $800,000.
- Have a smaller down payment and want to keep your closing cash low.
- Work near Pearson, in Mississauga, or along the Kitchener GO line.
- Want more homes to choose from at every price.
Pick Markham if you:
- Can carry a higher price and want a much lower yearly tax rate.
- Work in York Region’s tech sector or in north Toronto.
- Want a condo, with more buildings and faster condo sales.
- Plan to hold for many years and want to be near the future subway extension.
I work across the GTA, and buyers often compare these two on price alone. My view, and it is only a view: if the $470,000 gap is the difference between a house and a condo for you, Brampton gives you the house today. If you can afford Markham, its lower tax rate saves real money every year, and that adds up over a long hold. Whichever you pick, buy the street and the school, not the city name.
Do not compare these cities on price without the tax bill. Brampton’s tax rate is about 73% higher than Markham’s, so a cheaper house can cost more each year than you expect. Ask for the seller’s latest tax bill on every home you are serious about, and put it into your monthly budget before you make an offer.
What to do next
- Get pre-approved and work out your full cash needs: down payment, land transfer tax and closing costs.
- List your daily trips and test the drive or GO ride from a few real addresses in each city.
- Pull the last property tax bill for any home you like and add it to your monthly budget.
- Compare two or three neighbourhoods in each city using recent sales of the same home type.
- If you own now, use the estimator above to see what your home could sell for before you buy.
If you are also weighing Vaughan, my Brampton vs Vaughan comparison puts those two side by side.
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 cheaper than Markham in 2027?
Yes. From January to October 2026, the median detached home sold for $950,000 in Brampton and $1,420,000 in Markham, in TRREB MLS data via REALM. Brampton was cheaper for every home type, including semis ($790,000 vs $1,025,000) and condo apartments ($415,000 vs $558,000). Going into 2027, Brampton is the lower-cost city for buyers on a tighter budget.
Are property taxes higher in Brampton than in Markham?
Yes, much higher. Brampton’s 2026 total residential tax rate is 1.253381%, while Markham’s is 0.722889%. On a home assessed at $700,000, that is about $8,774 a year in Brampton and $5,060 in Markham. Both cities usually set their 2027 rates in spring 2027, so check the latest bill before you buy.
Is Markham a good place to buy a house in 2027?
It can be, if the price fits. Markham’s median detached home sold for $1,420,000 from January to October 2026, down 6.5% from 2025, and homes took about 29 days to sell. It has a low tax rate, York Region schools and a large tech job base. Prices could still move in 2027, so buy for the long term.
Does Brampton have a GO train to Toronto?
Yes. Brampton has three GO stations on the Kitchener line: Bramalea, Brampton and Mount Pleasant. Weekday trains run mostly toward Toronto in the morning and back in the evening, with hourly off-peak trains to Mount Pleasant. Since November 2025, weekend trains have run every 30 minutes between Union and Bramalea. Check the current GO schedule for your trip.
Is the subway coming to Markham?
Yes, but not soon. Metrolinx is building the Yonge North Subway Extension, about 8 km and five stations north from Finch into Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan. Metrolinx says it will open after the Ontario Line is complete, and gives no opening date. For a 2027 commute, Markham residents rely on the Stouffville GO line, buses and highways 404 and 407.
Which is bigger, Brampton or Markham?
Brampton is much bigger. It had 656,480 people in the 2021 census, compared with 338,503 in Markham. Brampton is also the bigger housing market: it sold 2,280 detached homes from January to October 2026, against 1,113 in Markham. Markham, however, sold more condo apartments, 582 compared with Brampton’s 241.
Are condos cheaper in Brampton or Markham?
Brampton condos are cheaper. The median condo apartment sold for $415,000 in Brampton and $558,000 in Markham from January to October 2026. Brampton condos took 53 days on average to sell, against 39 days in Markham, and both fell more than 12% from 2025. Markham offers more buildings to choose from and faster resale.
Do you pay a municipal land transfer tax in Brampton or Markham?
No. Only the City of Toronto charges a municipal land transfer tax in the GTA, so buyers in Brampton and Markham pay just Ontario’s land transfer tax. On a $950,000 home that is $15,475, and on a $1,420,000 home it is $24,875. First-time buyers can get up to $4,000 refunded if they qualify.
Which sells faster, Brampton or Markham?
For houses, they sell at about the same pace. Detached homes took 30 days on average in Brampton and 29 days in Markham from January to October 2026, in TRREB MLS data via REALM. Condo apartments were slower in Brampton, at 53 days against 39 in Markham. Both cities are slower than in 2024, when detached homes sold in about 19 to 22 days.
Sources
- Region of Peel – 2026 total tax rates (Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon)
- City of Markham – About your tax bill (2026 rates)
- Ontario – Calculating land transfer tax
- Metrolinx – Yonge North Subway Extension
- Kitchener line (Wikipedia: Brampton stations and service pattern)
- Stouffville line (Wikipedia: Markham stations and service pattern)
- Brampton (Wikipedia: 2021 census, highways, hospitals, school boards)
- Markham, Ontario (Wikipedia: 2021 census, employers, hospital, school boards)
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.