Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Ajax was slightly cheaper at the median in 2026: $925,000 for a detached house against about $957,000 across Scarborough, and Ajax has no Toronto land transfer tax. Scarborough has a much lower yearly tax rate (0.767311% vs 1.388664%), Line 2, Line 5 and seven GO stations. Commuters lean Scarborough; buyers short on closing cash lean Ajax.
This guide is for buyers choosing between Scarborough, in the east end of the City of Toronto, and Ajax, the next town east in Durham Region. You will get 2026 prices by home type and district, the tax trade-off that surprises most people, the subway and GO facts I checked, and a plain answer on who each place suits.
Scarborough vs Ajax: how do they compare side by side?
Scarborough is a district of Toronto with more than 620,000 people (2021 census). Ajax is a lakeshore town of 126,666 on about 67 square kilometres, split in half by Highway 401. Because Scarborough is part of Toronto, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) reports it as eight districts, E04 to E11, rather than one area. I combined those districts by weighting each district’s median by its sales.
| Jan–Oct 2026 | Scarborough median (E04–E11) | Sales | Ajax median | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | about $957,000 (−8.9%) | 1,598 | $925,000 (−4.2%) | 561 |
| Semi-detached | about $834,000 (−4.7%) | 168 | $810,000 (−3.4%) | 53 |
| Freehold townhouse | about $796,000 (−9.8%) | 149 | $750,000 (−7.2%) | 136 |
| Condo townhouse | about $632,000 (−7.6%) | 281 | $625,000 (−5.7%) | 50 |
| Condo apartment | about $460,000 (−11.3%) | 916 | $437,500 (−14.0%) | 52 |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025 (change in brackets). Scarborough figures are my sales-weighted calculation from the median of each district E04 to E11, not an official TRREB number.
The surprise for many buyers: at the median, Ajax was slightly cheaper than Scarborough for every home type in 2026. The gap was about $32,000 for a detached house, about $46,000 for a freehold townhouse and about $22,500 for a condo apartment. Scarborough, though, sold almost three times as many detached homes, so you get far more choice there.
Is Scarborough cheaper than Ajax in any area?
Yes. Scarborough is not one market. Detached medians ranged from $866,500 to $1,148,250 across its eight districts, so some parts were cheaper than Ajax and some cost much more.
| Area | Detached median, Jan–Oct 2026 | Detached sales |
|---|---|---|
| E04 (Clairlea-Birchmount, Dorset Park, Wexford-Maryvale) | $870,000 | 307 |
| E05 (L’Amoreaux, Tam O’Shanter-Sullivan) | $1,148,250 | 176 |
| E06 (Birchcliffe-Cliffside, Oakridge) | $955,000 | 180 |
| E07 (Agincourt, Milliken) | $1,003,000 | 153 |
| E08 (Cliffcrest, Guildwood, Scarborough Village) | $938,750 | 166 |
| E09 (Bendale, Morningside, Woburn) | $866,500 | 248 |
| E10 (West Hill, Highland Creek) | $1,025,000 | 249 |
| E11 (Malvern) | $910,000 | 119 |
| Ajax (whole town) | $925,000 | 561 |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026. Community names from TRREB Q2 2026 community reports.
E04 (Clairlea-Birchmount, Dorset Park, Wexford-Maryvale), E09 (Bendale, Morningside, Woburn) and E11 (Malvern) came in below Ajax’s town-wide median. E05 (L’Amoreaux, Tam O’Shanter) and E10 (West Hill, Highland Creek) cost the most. If you want a detached house under about $900,000, both places have options, and the street matters more than the city line.
How have prices changed since 2024?
Both fell. Scarborough fell harder for houses, while condos dropped by a similar share in both.
| Median change, Jan–Oct 2024 to Jan–Oct 2026 | Scarborough | Ajax |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | −15.7% | −11.9% |
| Semi-detached | −12.7% | −5.8% |
| Freehold townhouse | −12.2% | −11.7% |
| Condo townhouse | −13.9% | −14.6% |
| Condo apartment | −17.4% | −18.2% |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2024 and 2026; Scarborough uses sales-weighted district medians (my calculation).
Ajax detached prices slipped 4.2% in 2026, against about 8.9% in Scarborough. Detached sales fell about 8% to 9% in both. In my experience, areas where buyers stretch hardest to qualify tend to drop more when rates rise. That does not tell us what 2027 will bring. The Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026 and will decide one meeting at a time.
How fast are homes selling in Scarborough and Ajax?
At about the same pace. Detached homes took 26 days on average to sell in Scarborough and 23 days in Ajax from January to October 2026.
TRREB’s October 2026 Market Watch shows Ajax with 3.1 months of inventory, tighter than the 4.6 months across all TRREB areas, and homes selling for 97% of list price on average. Scarborough’s districts ranged from 3.6 to 5.4 months of inventory, with sale-to-list ratios from 95% in E08 to 101% in E06. In plain terms, neither is a bidding-war market right now, but well-priced homes still sell.
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Which costs more to own, Scarborough or Ajax?
This is where the choice gets interesting. Scarborough charges more on the day you buy. Ajax charges more every year after.
Land transfer tax
Scarborough buyers pay both the Ontario land transfer tax and Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax. Ajax buyers pay only the Ontario tax. On a Scarborough detached home at about $957,000, the two taxes come to about $31,230. On an Ajax home at $925,000, the Ontario tax is about $14,975. First-time buyers can get up to $4,000 back from Ontario and up to $4,475 back from Toronto. My Toronto land transfer tax guide walks through the math.
Property tax
Toronto’s 2026 residential rate is 0.767311%. Ajax’s 2026 rate is 1.388664%, which includes the Town, Durham Region (with separate waste, transit and police levies) and education. On a home assessed at $600,000 by MPAC, the 2026 bill would be about $4,604 in Scarborough and $8,332 in Ajax, a gap of about $3,728 a year.
So if two homes had the same assessed value, the extra Toronto land transfer tax of about $15,615 would be used up by Ajax’s higher tax bill in roughly 4 years. Assessments differ by home, so compare the actual tax bills before you decide.
Which is better for commuting, Scarborough or Ajax?
Scarborough
Scarborough has seven GO stations on two lines: Scarborough, Eglinton, Guildwood and Rouge Hill on the Lakeshore East line, and Kennedy, Agincourt and Milliken on the Stouffville line. Line 2 Bloor–Danforth ends at Kennedy, with Victoria Park and Warden stations to the west. Line 5 Eglinton opened in February 2026 with its eastern end at Kennedy. Metrolinx is building a 7.8 km Line 2 extension from Kennedy to Sheppard Avenue and McCowan Road; it has not published an opening date.
Ajax
Ajax GO is on the Lakeshore East line, with trains west to Toronto’s Union Station and east to Oshawa. Highway 401 runs through the middle of town, with on-ramps at Westney Road and Salem Road. Only four streets cross the 401 inside Ajax, which can slow trips between the north and south ends.
If you work downtown and want options beyond the GO train, Scarborough wins. If you work in Durham, Pickering or Markham by car, Ajax can be just as convenient.
What is it like to live in Scarborough vs Ajax?
Scarborough has the Scarborough Bluffs, about 14 kilometres of cliffs along Lake Ontario, plus Rouge National Urban Park and the Toronto Zoo on its eastern side. It is a big district with very different areas, from lakeside streets in Guildwood and Cliffcrest to Malvern in the northeast. My list of the best neighbourhoods in Scarborough covers the differences.
Ajax is quieter and more suburban. Its lakefront has a pedestrian-only waterfront trail, built in 1995 and now named the William Parish Waterfront Trail. TRREB splits the town into communities such as Central, Northeast Ajax, Northwest Ajax, South East and South West. See the best neighbourhoods in Ajax for more.
School boards differ too: the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board in Scarborough, and the Durham boards in Ajax. Check each address with the board.
Do not compare tax rates alone. Ajax’s rate is much higher than Toronto’s, but Toronto adds a second land transfer tax when you buy. Ask the seller for the latest tax bill, and work out both closing costs and five years of property tax before you choose. Also check how many sales sit behind a district median; E11 and E07 sold 119 and 153 detached homes, while E04 and E10 sold 307 and 249.
If your budget is around $900,000 for a detached house, look at both, and let the commute decide. Scarborough gives you the subway, more GO stations and many more homes to choose from. Ajax gives you a quieter town, a slightly lower median price and no municipal land transfer tax, but a higher yearly tax bill. For a buyer planning to stay ten years or more, I would run the tax numbers carefully, because Ajax’s annual bill adds up.
Who should pick Scarborough or Ajax?
Scarborough suits
- Downtown commuters who want Line 2, Line 5 or seven GO stations to choose from.
- Buyers who want choice, with 1,598 detached sales in ten months.
- Long-term owners who prefer Toronto’s lower yearly tax rate.
Ajax suits
- First-time buyers short on closing cash, since there is no municipal land transfer tax.
- Families who want a quieter lakeshore town close to Highway 401.
- Buyers who work in Durham Region or commute by Lakeshore East GO.
What to do next
- Get a written mortgage pre-approval. Prime is 4.70% after the October 2026 rate hike.
- Pick two Scarborough districts and two Ajax communities that fit your budget.
- Ask for the latest tax bill on every home you like, and compare five years of costs.
- Ride the Lakeshore East GO or the subway at your real commute time.
- If you own in Scarborough now, check what your Scarborough house is worth. Comparing Durham towns too? Read my Pickering vs Ajax guide.
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 cheaper than Scarborough?
Slightly, at the median. From January to October 2026, Ajax’s detached median was $925,000, while Scarborough’s sales-weighted detached median was about $957,000, based on TRREB MLS data. Some Scarborough districts, such as E09 (Bendale, Woburn), were cheaper than Ajax, and others, such as E05 and E10, cost more. Scarborough also had far more homes for sale.
Are property taxes higher in Ajax or Scarborough?
Ajax has the higher rate. Its 2026 total residential rate is 1.388664%, compared with 0.767311% in the City of Toronto, which includes Scarborough. On a $600,000 assessment, that is about $8,332 a year in Ajax versus $4,604 in Scarborough. Toronto buyers pay an extra municipal land transfer tax when they buy, though.
Do you pay Toronto land transfer tax in Ajax?
No. Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax applies only inside the City of Toronto, which includes Scarborough. Ajax buyers pay only the Ontario land transfer tax, about $16,475 on a $1,000,000 home. A Scarborough buyer at the same price pays that plus the same amount again to Toronto, as of November 2026. First-time buyers can claim rebates on both.
Is Scarborough a good place to buy a house in 2027?
It can be, for buyers who want Toronto services at a lower price than most of the city. Scarborough had 1,598 detached sales from January to October 2026, with district medians from $866,500 to $1,148,250. It has Line 2, Line 5 and seven GO stations. Prices fell more there than in Ajax since 2024, so price carefully.
How long is the commute from Ajax to downtown Toronto?
It depends on the train and your street. Ajax GO is on the Lakeshore East line, which runs to Union Station, so many Ajax commuters take the GO instead of driving Highway 401. I do not quote fixed times because GO schedules change; check the current GO timetable for your exact train and add the time to reach Ajax GO from your home.
When will the Scarborough subway extension open?
No official opening date has been published as of November 2026. Metrolinx is building a 7.8 km extension of Line 2 from Kennedy station to Sheppard Avenue and McCowan Road, replacing the old Scarborough RT. Some sources expect completion around 2030, but buyers should not pay a premium today based on an opening date that has not been confirmed.
How fast are houses selling in Ajax in 2026?
Fairly quickly for the GTA. Detached homes in Ajax took 23 days on average to sell from January to October 2026, per TRREB MLS data. TRREB’s October 2026 Market Watch showed Ajax with 3.1 months of inventory and homes selling for 97% of list price on average, a tighter market than many GTA towns.
Is Scarborough or Ajax better for families?
Both can work. Ajax offers a quieter lakeshore town with a waterfront trail and newer subdivisions, served by the Durham school boards. Scarborough offers more transit, Rouge National Urban Park, the Toronto Zoo and the TDSB and Toronto Catholic boards. Families on a tight closing budget may prefer Ajax, while families who rely on transit usually prefer Scarborough.
Which is cheaper for a condo, Scarborough or Ajax?
Ajax, at the median, but with very few sales. Ajax’s condo apartment median was $437,500 on only 52 sales from January to October 2026. Scarborough’s weighted median was about $460,000 on 916 sales, so Scarborough offers far more buildings to choose from. Check each building’s fees and reserve fund.
Sources
- TRREB Market Watch, October 2026
- City of Toronto: Property tax rates and fees (2026)
- City of Toronto: Municipal Land Transfer Tax rates and fees
- Town of Ajax: 2026 final tax rates
- Ontario: Calculating land transfer tax
- Metrolinx: Scarborough Subway Extension
- Ajax, Ontario (Wikipedia: 2021 census, Highway 401, waterfront trail, GO)
- Scarborough, Toronto (Wikipedia: census, transit, Bluffs)
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.