Published 29 September 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
What's Your Home Worth Right Now?
Get a free AI-powered price range for your property in under 90 seconds, based on recent GTA comparable sales. No name or address required.
Get My Free Estimate →
Pickering, Ajax and Whitby offer Lake Ontario, GO trains to Union Station and house prices well below York or Halton. In August 2026 the median detached home sold for $990,000 in Pickering and $935,000 in Ajax; Whitby’s detached average was $1,010,663 (a reliable median was not available). The trade-off is property tax: Ajax’s 2026 total rate is 1.388664% and Whitby’s 1.382491% of assessed value. Durham Region Transit charges seniors $2.53 a ride with PRESTO and offers a $55.30 senior monthly pass. Lakeridge Health runs Ajax Pickering Hospital and Whitby Hospital.
Pickering, Ajax and Whitby at a glance
These three Durham Region towns line up along Lake Ontario and Highway 401, east of Scarborough. For the broader comparison, see my GTA retirement comparison.
| Pickering | Ajax | Whitby | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ (2021) | 16,435 (16.6%) | 16,585 (13.1%) | 20,440 (14.8%) |
| Detached, Aug 2026 | median $990,000 | median $935,000 | average $1,010,663 |
| Total residential tax rate | 1.288240% (2025) | 1.388664% (2026) | 1.382491% (2026) |
| Seniors’ tax help (GIS) | $620 grant (2026) | Durham deferral | rebate; amount not published |
| Senior bus fare (DRT, PRESTO) | $2.53 | $2.53 | $2.53 |
| Hospital | Ajax Pickering Hospital | Ajax Pickering Hospital | Whitby Hospital |
What homes cost, by type
TRREB figures for one month, August 2026, as sales / median. I have added Durham Region for context because each town is a small market beyond detached houses. For Whitby, TRREB’s detached median was not reliably captured, so I show the average, which expensive homes pull up.
| Home type (Aug 2026) | Pickering | Ajax | Whitby | Durham Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | 57 / $990,000 | 45 / $935,000 | 82 / avg $1,010,663 | 389 / $860,000 |
| Semi-detached | 11 / $822,000 (small) | – | – | 40 / $719,750 |
| Freehold townhouse | 9 / $749,000 (small) | 16 / $762,500 | – | 71 / $722,000 |
| Condo townhouse | – | – | – | 35 / $553,100 |
| Condo apartment | 13 / $509,900 (small) | 4 / $487,513 (tiny) | 6 / avg $511,321 (tiny) | 46 / $457,500 |
A dash means TRREB did not report the category for that town. Detached houses here cost several hundred thousand dollars less than in Markham or Vaughan, and Durham’s $553,100 condo townhouse median is one of the more affordable ways in the GTA to get ground-level living without a yard.
Property tax: higher rates, and the relief available
Durham’s rates are noticeably higher than York’s. They apply to your MPAC assessed value, not the sale price.
- Ajax, 2026: 1.388664% (town, Durham Region 0.384821% and education 0.153000%).
- Whitby, 2026: 1.382491%.
- Pickering: latest verified rate is 2025, 1.288240%; the town’s example is a $586,000 assessment paying $7,549.09.
As simple arithmetic, a $500,000 assessment pays about $6,943 in Ajax, against about $3,614 in Markham. Lower prices offset part of that.
- Pickering Tax Grant for Low Income Seniors: $620 for 2026, owners 65 and older on GIS, in the home a year or more. The 19 August deadline has passed for 2026. Pickering also defers assessment-related increases beyond the first 5% or $100, whichever is greater.
- Durham Region reassessment deferral: owners 65 and older on GIS, run through the local town.
- Whitby: a low-income seniors’ rebate for owners 65 and older on GIS, due 31 December; amount not published in our sources. Whitby’s deferral is closed until the next province-wide reassessment.
- Ajax: no town rebate in our sources; the Durham deferral applies.
The province adds the Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant: up to $500 a year for owners 64 or older, in full for a single person with income up to $35,000 (a couple, $45,000), phasing out at $50,000 ($60,000). It is claimed with your tax return, so ask your accountant.
Getting around
Durham Region Transit’s senior fares, from 1 July 2026: $2.53 per PRESTO tap, a $55.30 senior monthly PRESTO pass, $3.55 cash or $4.85 by debit or credit. York Region, by comparison, lists no senior monthly pass. All three towns have stations on GO’s Lakeshore East line, and seniors save 55% on GO with the Seniors fare type on PRESTO or a senior e-ticket. DRT’s Specialized Services, built into its On Demand service, are for riders whose disability prevents them using scheduled buses.
Healthcare: Lakeridge Health
Lakeridge Health runs five hospitals with four emergency departments, including Ajax Pickering Hospital and Whitby Hospital, plus Oshawa, Bowmanville and Port Perry. Before you buy, check which site offers the services you use and which emergency department you would go to. If a retirement home is on the horizon, my retirement home cost guide explains how fees are built up and what to compare.
Daily life by the lake
The waterfront sets these towns apart: Frenchman’s Bay in Pickering, Ajax’s lakefront parks, the harbour at Port Whitby, and the Waterfront Trail along the shore. Rouge National Urban Park sits on Pickering’s western edge, and Whitby has an older downtown north of the 401. If walking to the lake is part of the plan, check the distance and crossings, because Highway 401 and the rail line separate much of each town from the shore.
Who these towns suit, and who they don’t
In 2021, 16.6% of Pickering, 14.8% of Whitby and 13.1% of Ajax residents were 65 or older, against 15.9% for Durham and 18.5% for Ontario. Ajax is a young town. They suit you if you want lake access and GO trains, you are freeing equity from a higher-priced home, or you ride the bus often. They suit you less well if your budget is sensitive to property tax or you want many condos to choose from in one town. Compare retiring in Scarborough to the west or retiring in Markham to the north-west.
The money: what a downsize frees up
Median to median, one month of TRREB data, before commission, legal fees, land transfer tax and moving. Illustrative only.
| Illustrative move (Aug 2026 medians) | Sell | Buy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickering detached to Pickering condo apartment (13 sales) | $990,000 | $509,900 | $480,100 |
| Ajax detached to Ajax freehold townhouse | $935,000 | $762,500 | $172,500 |
| Durham detached to Durham condo townhouse | $860,000 | $553,100 | $306,900 |
| Durham detached to Durham condo apartment | $860,000 | $457,500 | $402,500 |
There is no Whitby row, because a median-to-median comparison needs a reliable Whitby detached median. Use the Durham rows as a guide. The downsizing money planner below lets you enter your own prices and compare the monthly cost of staying with moving, including the higher tax rate.
Next steps
- Get a value for your home from recent sold prices nearby.
- Look at the tax bill of any home you might buy, not just the price.
- Diarise the Pickering August grant deadline or the Whitby 31 December rebate for 2027.
- Price the $55.30 monthly pass against paying per trip.
- If you are coming from Toronto, see what your house buys when you downsize.
For a second opinion on the numbers, book a call or phone 833-330-1925.
Free tool — Downsizing money planner
Downsizing money planner
See roughly how much a move frees up, what the next place costs, and how long the money lasts. Prices start at TRREB’s August 2026 medians; change any number to match your home.
Want the line-by-line breakdown, plus what homes like yours actually sold for on your street? I’ll show the full breakdown here and send you a short written plan. No obligation, no spam.
Estimates only, not advice or a valuation. Starting prices are TRREB Market Watch August 2026 medians (one month, whole-municipality figures). Rent default: Rentals.ca August 2026 Toronto average asking rent. Retirement home default: CMHC’s last Seniors’ Housing Survey (2021, Toronto, studio or private room with meals; CMHC has since discontinued it), so expect higher today. Land transfer tax uses Ontario’s brackets, plus Toronto’s municipal tax for Toronto purchases; repeat buyers get no first-time rebate. Property tax is estimated on the price, but your bill is based on MPAC’s assessed value, which is usually lower.
Frequently asked questions
Is Durham Region a good place to retire?
It can be, particularly Pickering, Ajax and Whitby along the lake. Detached homes cost less than in York or Halton, GO trains run to Union and DRT offers a $55.30 senior monthly pass. Property tax rates are higher, around 1.38% in Ajax and Whitby for 2026.
What hospitals are in Pickering, Ajax and Whitby?
Lakeridge Health runs Ajax Pickering Hospital and Whitby Hospital, along with hospitals in Oshawa, Bowmanville and Port Perry. Lakeridge describes its network as five hospitals with four emergency departments, so check which site has the services and emergency care you need.
Do seniors get a property tax break in Pickering?
Low-income seniors do. Pickering’s Tax Grant for Low Income Seniors is $620 for 2026, for owners 65 and older on the Guaranteed Income Supplement; the 19 August deadline has passed for this year. The Ontario grant adds up to $500 for eligible owners.
How much is a senior bus pass in Durham Region?
From 1 July 2026, DRT’s senior monthly PRESTO pass is $55.30. A single senior ride is $2.53 with PRESTO, $3.55 cash or $4.85 by debit or credit. If you ride most days, the pass is usually worth pricing out.
How much is a house in Whitby?
TRREB recorded 82 detached sales in Whitby in August 2026 at an average of $1,010,663. A reliable median was not available, and averages run high, so a typical house may be lower. Durham Region’s detached median was $860,000.
Sources
- TRREB — Market Watch, August 2026 — prices by home type and municipality
- City of Pickering — Property taxes — 2025 rate
- City of Pickering — Tax deferrals, grants and rebates — $620 grant
- Region of Durham — Property taxes — reassessment deferral
- Town of Ajax — 2026 Final Tax Rates — 2026 rate
- Town of Whitby — Property Tax Rates 2026 — 2026 rate
- Town of Whitby — Low income seniors — rebate
- Government of Ontario — Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant — up to $500 a year
- Durham Region Transit — Fares — senior fares
- GO Transit — Seniors — 55% senior discount
- Lakeridge Health — hospitals
- Region of Durham — Report 2022-INFO-77 — residents 65+
Related reading
- Best Places to Retire in the GTA (2026)
- Retiring in Scarborough
- Retiring in Markham
- Retiring in Cobourg or Port Hope
- 55+ Communities In and Around the GTA
- How Much Does a Retirement Home Cost in Toronto?
- What Your House Buys When You Downsize
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, Etobicoke. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA, and I have helped more than 100 families sell, many of them downsizing after decades in the same house. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume. Every market figure here comes from TRREB’s published tables and every rule from the regulator or the legislation, so you can check all of it without asking me.
Reach me at connect@jatindua.com or 833-330-1925, or book a call.