Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
King Township costs far more: its detached median was $1,850,000 from January to October 2026, against $1,180,000 in Caledon, so most King houses need 20% down. King has a slightly lower tax rate and a GO station, but homes sell slowly. Caledon offers more choice and insured-mortgage prices; King suits buyers wanting estate land.
This guide is for buyers who want land, privacy and a country setting north of Toronto, and are choosing between King Township in York Region and the Town of Caledon in Peel Region. You will get 2026 prices, how slowly or quickly homes sold, the down payment rule that splits these two markets, tax bills in dollars, the GO train facts I checked and a plain answer on who each place suits.
King vs Caledon: how do they compare side by side?
Both are big, mostly rural municipalities on the northern edge of the GTA, and they are neighbours across the Peel–York boundary. King had 27,333 people in 2021 on about 333 square kilometres; the Township calls itself the largest municipality in York Region by area and the smallest by population. Most King residents live in King City, Nobleton and Schomberg. Caledon is bigger on both counts, with 76,581 people on about 694 square kilometres, the largest municipality in the GTA by area. Its main centre is Bolton.
| Measure | King Township | Caledon |
|---|---|---|
| Detached median, Jan–Oct 2026 | $1,850,000 (−9.1%) | $1,180,000 (−7.3%) |
| Detached sales, Jan–Oct 2026 | 150 | 447 |
| Detached average days on market | 47 | 40 |
| Months of inventory, October 2026 | 11.1 | 6.5 |
| Detached sale vs list price, October 2026 | 92% | 95% |
| 2026 total residential tax rate | 0.9160087% | 0.982207% |
| GO train station | King City GO (Barrie line) | None |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs 2025 (change in brackets); TRREB Market Watch, October 2026; Township of King By-law 2026-043; Town of Caledon 2026 tax rates; 2021 census.
Is King more expensive than Caledon?
Yes, by a wide margin. King’s detached median was $1,850,000 from January to October 2026, about $670,000 above Caledon’s $1,180,000. Freehold townhouses were about $400,005 higher in King, but only 13 sold there.
| Jan–Oct 2026 | King median | King sales | Caledon median | Caledon sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | $1,850,000 | 150 | $1,180,000 | 447 |
| Semi-detached | $1,166,000 | 3 | $865,000 | 43 |
| Freehold townhouse | $1,200,000 | 13 | $799,995 | 114 |
| Condo townhouse | No sales | 0 | $589,990 | 17 |
| Condo apartment | $550,000 | 19 | $756,250 | 4 |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026. Median sold prices. Any type with fewer than 20 sales is a rough guide only.
The bigger story is choice. Caledon sold about three times as many detached homes and almost nine times as many freehold townhouses. King had just 3 semi sales and no condo townhouse sales, so outside detached homes there is hardly a market. King’s 19 condo apartment sales had a median of $550,000, while Caledon sold only 4.
Both towns are reported by TRREB as one area. That means King’s figures mix King City subdivisions with estates and farms, and Caledon’s mix Bolton streets with country properties. Treat them as town-wide guides, not street prices.
How much down payment do you need in King vs Caledon?
This is the rule that splits the two markets. Canada’s minimum down payment is 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the part up to $1.5 million. At $1.5 million and above, you need at least 20% down, and the mortgage cannot be insured.
- King detached at $1,850,000: at least $370,000 down, plus about $33,475 in Ontario land transfer tax.
- Caledon detached at $1,180,000: at least $93,000 down, plus about $20,075 in Ontario land transfer tax.
That is a gap of about $290,400 in cash before legal fees. Neither municipality charges a municipal land transfer tax, and first-time buyers can get up to $4,000 of the Ontario tax refunded. For many families, this cash gap decides the question before anything else.
Why are homes slower to sell in King than Caledon?
King is a small, high-priced market with fewer buyers who can qualify. Detached homes took 47 days on average to sell in King in 2026, against 40 in Caledon. King condo apartments took 77 days.
TRREB’s October 2026 Market Watch puts numbers on it. King had 235 active listings and only 28 sales that month, for 11.1 months of inventory, meaning it would take about 11 months to sell everything listed at the recent pace. Caledon had 6.5 months. Detached homes in King sold for 92% of the asking price on average that month, and in Caledon for 95%. Across the first ten months of 2026, King homes sold for 94% of list on average and Caledon homes for 96%.
In plain terms, both are buyers’ markets in late 2026, and King especially so. Buyers can negotiate on price and conditions. Sellers need careful pricing and patience.
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How have King and Caledon prices changed since 2024?
Detached prices fell by a similar share in both. King’s detached median went from $2,120,000 in January to October 2024 to $1,850,000 in 2026, down 12.7%. Caledon’s went from $1,330,000 to $1,180,000, down 11.3%. In 2026 alone, King fell 9.1% and Caledon 7.3%, while detached sales rose a little in both. These are past figures, not a forecast for 2027.
Are property taxes higher in King or Caledon?
Caledon’s rate is a little higher. King’s 2026 total residential rate is 0.9160087%: 0.3705967% for the Township, 0.392412% for York Region and 0.153% for education, set by a by-law passed on 1 June 2026. Caledon’s total is 0.982207%, made up of the Town, a Town infrastructure levy, the Region of Peel and the same education rate.
On a home assessed at $1,000,000 by MPAC, the 2026 bill would be about $9,160 in King and $9,822 in Caledon, a gap of about $662 a year. King homes usually carry higher assessments because they cost more, so the real bills are often higher in King. Ask for the seller’s latest tax bill.
Which is better for commuting, King or Caledon?
King
Highway 400 runs right through King Township, which suits commuters heading to Vaughan, Pearson or west Toronto. King City GO is on the Barrie line to Union Station, and GO buses also run through the township on weekdays. Metrolinx is adding a new platform, a pedestrian bridge and more parking at King City GO to prepare for future two-way, all-day trains on the Barrie line, but no date has been set for that service.
Caledon
Caledon has no GO train station today. In March 2021 the Province used a zoning order to set aside land near Humber Station Road and King Street in Bolton for a future GO station, but no rail line or opening date has been confirmed. Buses connect Bolton and other communities to GO stations in Brampton and Malton. For drivers, the main routes are Highway 410, Highway 10 and Highway 50.
If you need a train, King City GO gives King the edge. If you drive south to Brampton or Mississauga, Caledon is usually closer.
What is it like to live in King vs Caledon?
King is defined by protected land. The Township says about 66% of King lies on the Oak Ridges Moraine and 33% is in the Greenbelt, and provincial plans shape what can be built. The Holland Marsh, known as Ontario’s vegetable basket, straddles King and Bradford. My list of the best neighbourhoods in King Township covers King City, Nobleton and Schomberg.
Caledon is also mostly rural, with hamlets and small villages spread over a large area, plus the much bigger community of Bolton in the southeast next to York Region. It also has many more mid-priced homes, which shows in its much higher sales numbers. Before you buy country land in either place, read my guide to what you can build on Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine land.
Many rural homes in both municipalities use a private well and septic system, and protected land can limit additions, pools and second homes. Make your offer conditional on a water test, a septic inspection and a check with the municipality and conservation authority on what you plan to build. My guide to well and septic conditions in Ontario shows how to word them.
For most buyers, the down payment settles this. If you can put 20% down on a home near $1.85 million and want an estate setting on the Moraine with a GO station nearby, King is worth a serious look, and late 2026 gave buyers real bargaining power there. If you want a detached home with an insured mortgage, more choice and a shorter drive to Brampton, Caledon is the practical pick. In my view, buyers in either place should plan to hold for many years, because rural homes can take months to sell.
Who should pick King or Caledon?
King suits
- Buyers with 20% or more down for a home above $1.5 million.
- Highway 400 and Barrie GO commuters.
- People who want estate lots on or near the Oak Ridges Moraine.
Caledon suits
- Detached buyers who need an insured mortgage, at a $1,180,000 median.
- Townhouse buyers, with 114 freehold townhouse sales in ten months.
- Drivers heading to Brampton, Mississauga or Pearson on Highways 410 and 10.
What to do next
- Get a pre-approval that shows both your borrowing limit and the cash you need. Prime is 4.70%, and the Bank of Canada’s next decision is 9 December 2026.
- Decide whether you need an insured mortgage. If you do, most King detached homes are out of reach.
- Drive your commute at rush hour, and check the Barrie GO timetable if King City GO matters.
- If you own in Caledon, check what your Caledon house is worth. Also weighing Aurora? Read my King City vs Aurora comparison.
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 King Township more expensive than Caledon?
Yes. From January to October 2026, King Township’s detached median was $1,850,000, against $1,180,000 in Caledon, based on TRREB MLS data. That is a gap of about $670,000. Freehold townhouses were also higher in King, though only 13 sold there. Caledon had about three times as many detached sales.
How much down payment do I need for a house in King City?
At King Township’s 2026 detached median of $1,850,000, you need at least 20% down, or about $370,000, because homes priced at $1.5 million or more cannot have an insured mortgage. Add about $33,475 in Ontario land transfer tax plus legal fees. Homes under $1.5 million in King need less, but they are fewer.
Which has lower property taxes, King or Caledon?
King has the slightly lower 2026 rate: 0.9160087%, against 0.982207% in Caledon. On a home assessed at $1,000,000, that is about $9,160 a year in King versus $9,822 in Caledon. Because King homes are usually assessed higher, actual King tax bills are often larger. Check the seller’s latest bill.
Is there a GO train in King or Caledon?
King has one: King City GO on the Barrie line, which runs to Union Station. Caledon has none as of November 2026. The Province set aside land near Humber Station Road and King Street in Bolton for a future Caledon GO station in March 2021, but no service date has been confirmed.
Why do houses take so long to sell in King Township?
Because it is a small, high-priced market. Detached homes in King took 47 days on average to sell from January to October 2026, and the township had 11.1 months of inventory in October 2026, per TRREB. Many buyers cannot reach the 20% down payment needed above $1.5 million, and estate homes are hard to compare.
Is Caledon a good place to buy a house in 2027?
It can be, especially for buyers who want space and drive to work. Caledon’s detached median was $1,180,000 in January to October 2026, with 447 detached sales, and its October 2026 market had 6.5 months of inventory, giving buyers room to negotiate. The trade-offs are no GO train yet and longer drives to Toronto.
How much of King Township is on the Oak Ridges Moraine?
About 66%, according to the Township of King, and about 33% of the township is in the Greenbelt. The Township applies the provincial Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and Greenbelt Plan, which limit where and how much you can build. If you plan to add a building on a rural lot in King, check with the Township first.
Do King and Caledon charge municipal land transfer tax?
No. Only the City of Toronto charges a municipal land transfer tax in the GTA. In King and Caledon you pay only Ontario’s land transfer tax, about $33,475 on a $1,850,000 home and $20,075 on a $1,180,000 home, as of November 2026. First-time buyers can get up to $4,000 back.
Sources
- TRREB Market Watch, October 2026
- Township of King: By-law 2026-043, setting 2026 tax rates
- Town of Caledon: Schedule A, 2026 property tax rates
- Ontario: Calculating land transfer tax
- Township of King: Location (Oak Ridges Moraine, Greenbelt, Highway 400, GO)
- Metrolinx: King City GO Station improvements
- Caledon Citizen: GO train station lands formally designated by province through MZO (March 2021)
- King, Ontario (Wikipedia: 2021 census, communities, Holland Marsh)
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.