Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Newmarket is slightly cheaper for detached houses: $1,070,000 at the median from January to October 2026, against $1,125,000 in East Gwillimbury. Newmarket also has condos, faster sales and better local transit. East Gwillimbury offers newer freehold homes and more space. Tax rates are nearly identical, at 0.916299% and 0.919045%.
This guide is for buyers choosing between East Gwillimbury and Newmarket in 2027, two neighbouring York Region towns on the GO Barrie line. You will get 2026 prices by home type, how fast homes sold, the 2026 tax rates, commute facts and growth plans, and a plain answer on who each town suits.
East Gwillimbury vs Newmarket: how do prices compare side by side?
The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) reports each town as one area. These are median sold prices for the first ten months of 2026.
| Jan–Oct 2026 | East Gwillimbury median | EG sales | Newmarket median | Newmarket sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | $1,125,000 (−11.1%) | 250 | $1,070,000 (−10.1%) | 483 |
| Semi-detached | $902,450 (−16.2%) | 24 | $825,000 (−7.6%) | 91 |
| Freehold townhouse | $835,000 (−2.9%) | 61 | $827,000 (−8.1%) | 89 |
| Condo townhouse | No sales | 0 | $680,000 (−6.2%) | 44 |
| Condo apartment | One sale | 1 | $490,000 (−12.8%) | 51 |
| Detached, avg days on market | 38 | 27 | ||
| 2026 residential tax rate | 0.916299% | 0.919045% |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025 (change in brackets); Town of East Gwillimbury and Town of Newmarket 2026 tax rates.
The first thing to notice is what East Gwillimbury does not have. It had no condo townhouse sales and only one condo apartment sale in ten months. It is almost entirely a freehold market. Newmarket offers every home type, including about 95 condo sales.
Is East Gwillimbury cheaper than Newmarket?
No, not for houses. East Gwillimbury’s detached median was $55,000 higher than Newmarket’s in 2026, and its semis were about $77,000 higher. Freehold townhouses were almost the same, at $835,000 against $827,000.
The reason, in my experience, is the age of the homes. Much of East Gwillimbury’s recent growth is in new subdivisions. The town grew 44.4% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, to 34,637 people. Newmarket grew 4.4% over the same years, to 87,942, and has many more older homes from earlier decades. Newer homes often sell for more, even in a slower market.
Be careful with the semi and townhouse numbers in East Gwillimbury. Twenty-four semi sales is a small sample, and one or two unusual sales can move the median a lot. That is likely part of why the semi median fell 16.2%.
Two years of price changes
| Detached median | Jan–Oct 2024 | Jan–Oct 2025 | Jan–Oct 2026 | Change since 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Gwillimbury | $1,359,000 | $1,265,000 | $1,125,000 | −17.2% |
| Newmarket | $1,265,000 | $1,190,000 | $1,070,000 | −15.4% |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October of each year.
Both towns have given back a lot since 2024. East Gwillimbury’s detached median has dropped $234,000 in two years, and Newmarket’s has dropped $195,000.
How fast are homes selling in East Gwillimbury and Newmarket?
Newmarket sold faster. Detached homes there averaged 27 days on market in 2026, against 38 days in East Gwillimbury. Detached sales also moved in opposite directions: up 10.3% in Newmarket and down 9.1% in East Gwillimbury.
Supply tells the same story. The 2026 data showed 189 active detached listings in East Gwillimbury against 250 sales over ten months. Newmarket had 193 active detached listings against 483 sales. In plain terms, East Gwillimbury buyers had more homes to choose from for every home that sold. That gives buyers room to negotiate, and it means sellers there need to price carefully from the first day.
Freehold townhouses were the exception. They sold in about 24 days in East Gwillimbury and 27 in Newmarket, and East Gwillimbury’s townhouse median barely moved.
Which has lower property taxes, East Gwillimbury or Newmarket?
East Gwillimbury, but only just. Both towns pay the same York Region rate (0.392412%) and the same education rate (0.153%). The difference is the town portion.
| 2026 residential rate | East Gwillimbury | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|
| Town | 0.370887% | 0.373633% |
| York Region | 0.392412% | 0.392412% |
| Education | 0.153000% | 0.153000% |
| Total | 0.916299% | 0.919045% |
| Tax on a $700,000 assessment | about $6,414 | about $6,433 |
Source: Town of East Gwillimbury tax rates and assessments page; Town of Newmarket 2026 tax rate schedule.
That is a difference of about $19 a year on a $700,000 assessment, so tax should not decide this choice. What matters more is the assessed value of the actual home. A newer, larger house will usually carry a higher assessment, and so a higher bill. Ask the seller for the latest tax bill. Neither town charges a municipal land transfer tax, so buyers pay only Ontario’s.
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How do East Gwillimbury and Newmarket compare for commuting to Toronto?
Both towns are on the GO Barrie line. East Gwillimbury GO is the next station north of Newmarket GO, so Newmarket riders have one stop less to Union Station. Off-peak, the Barrie line runs hourly two-way trains between Union and Aurora, which is south of both towns. Metrolinx says it is working to bring more frequent two-way, all-day service to the Barrie line, seven days a week. Check the current GO timetable for the trains you would actually take.
Buses and highways
Newmarket has better local transit. The Viva Blue rapid bus runs from the Newmarket Bus Terminal to the Finch Bus Terminal in Toronto, and the Davis Drive Rapidway, finished in November 2015, gives buses their own lanes to Southlake Regional Health Centre. York Region Transit also serves Sharon, Queensville, Holland Landing and Mount Albert in East Gwillimbury, but most residents there drive.
Highway 404 runs through both towns. Newmarket has interchanges at Davis Drive and at Mulock Drive. East Gwillimbury has three: Green Lane, Queensville Sideroad and Woodbine Avenue.
What is it like to live in East Gwillimbury vs Newmarket?
East Gwillimbury is large and mostly green. It covers about 245 square kilometres, and almost 75% of its land is in the Greenbelt or the Oak Ridges Moraine, so it will not be developed. Its main communities are Holland Landing, Queensville, Sharon and Mount Albert. The Sharon Temple, built from 1825 to 1831, is a National Historic Site. Life there is quieter, more spread out and more car-based.
Newmarket is a compact town of about 38.5 square kilometres with a complete set of services. It has a historic Main Street that is a heritage conservation district, Upper Canada Mall, Fairy Lake in the town centre and Southlake Regional Health Centre, a regional hospital and major employer. For a closer look at its areas, see my guide to the best neighbourhoods to live in Newmarket.
School options differ by street, so check the exact address with the school board. My list of top schools in Aurora and Newmarket is a good start.
Will East Gwillimbury keep growing?
Growth there depends on sewer capacity. York Region dropped its earlier plan, Upper York Sewage Solutions, after a 2022 provincial law required a Lake Ontario solution instead. The replacement, the York Region Sewage Works Project, covers East Gwillimbury, Newmarket and Aurora, among others. York Region says the overall project should be finished by 2041, with some parts, such as a Newmarket pumping station upgrade, scheduled for 2028.
For buyers, that means new subdivisions in East Gwillimbury will keep arriving in stages, not all at once. If you are buying a new home from a builder, one rule changes soon. Starting on 1 January 2027, buyers of new freehold homes in Ontario get a 10-day cooling-off period. My guide to the new freehold cooling-off period explains who gets it and who does not.
East Gwillimbury’s sample sizes are small for every home type except detached houses. A median built from 24 or 61 sales can swing a lot from year to year. Before you set a price or make an offer, look at recent sales of similar homes in the same subdivision, not the town-wide median.
If you want a newer detached house with more space and you drive to work, East Gwillimbury is worth a look, and slower sales there give you room to negotiate. If you want a condo, a townhouse with low upkeep, walkable shops or a shorter GO trip, Newmarket is the easier choice. In my view, the gap between the two is about the age of the home and the lifestyle, not the tax rate. The Bank of Canada raised its rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026, so get your pre-approval updated before you shop.
Who should pick East Gwillimbury?
- Buyers who want a newer freehold home in a newer subdivision.
- Drivers on Highway 404 with easy access at Green Lane, Queensville Sideroad or Woodbine.
- People who want space and green land around them, with most of the town protected.
- Patient buyers who want more listings to choose from and time to negotiate.
Who should pick Newmarket?
- Condo and condo townhouse buyers, since East Gwillimbury had almost none for sale.
- Budget detached buyers, with a median $55,000 lower than East Gwillimbury’s.
- Transit users who want Viva bus service and a GO station one stop closer to Toronto.
- Healthcare workers at Southlake and anyone who wants shops and services nearby.
What to do next
- Decide on your home type first. If it is a condo, Newmarket is your market.
- Compare two or three real homes at your price in each town, including tax bill and commute.
- Test the drive or the GO trip at rush hour from the exact street.
- For a new build, read the builder’s agreement with a lawyer and note your cooling-off dates.
- If you own now, check what your Newmarket home is worth before you plan your purchase.
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 East Gwillimbury better than Newmarket?
It depends on what you need. In 2026, East Gwillimbury suited buyers who want a newer detached house and drive, with a detached median of $1,125,000. Newmarket suited buyers who want condos, walkable services, Viva buses and a shorter GO trip, with a detached median of $1,070,000. Their property tax rates are almost the same.
Is East Gwillimbury cheaper than Newmarket in 2027?
No, not for houses. From January to October 2026, East Gwillimbury’s detached median was $1,125,000, about $55,000 above Newmarket’s $1,070,000, based on TRREB MLS data via REALM. Freehold townhouses were close, at $835,000 and $827,000. East Gwillimbury had almost no condo sales, so Newmarket is the cheaper way in for most first-time buyers.
What is the property tax rate in East Gwillimbury in 2026?
East Gwillimbury’s 2026 total residential tax rate is 0.916299%. That is 0.370887% for the town, 0.392412% for York Region and 0.153% for education. On a home assessed at $700,000, that is about $6,414 a year. Newmarket’s 2026 rate is 0.919045%, almost the same.
Does East Gwillimbury have a GO station?
Yes. East Gwillimbury GO station is on the Barrie line, the stop north of Newmarket GO, with train service to Union Station in Toronto. As of 2026, off-peak hourly two-way service runs only between Union and Aurora, so check the timetable for trains from East Gwillimbury at the times you travel.
How fast are houses selling in East Gwillimbury?
Slowly compared with Newmarket. From January to October 2026, detached houses in East Gwillimbury averaged 38 days on market, up from 31 days in 2025. Newmarket’s detached homes averaged 27 days. East Gwillimbury had 189 active detached listings against 250 sales in ten months, so buyers had plenty of choice.
Can I buy a condo in East Gwillimbury?
Rarely. TRREB MLS data via REALM shows no condo townhouse sales and only one condo apartment sale in East Gwillimbury from January to October 2026. It is almost entirely a freehold market of detached houses, semis and townhouses. Newmarket had 44 condo townhouse sales at a $680,000 median and 51 condo apartment sales at $490,000.
Why is East Gwillimbury growing so fast?
New subdivisions. East Gwillimbury’s population grew 44.4% between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, to 34,637. Further growth depends on sewer capacity. York Region’s Sewage Works Project, which covers East Gwillimbury, Newmarket and Aurora, is expected to be fully finished by 2041.
Have house prices dropped in Newmarket?
Yes. Newmarket’s detached median was $1,070,000 from January to October 2026, down 10.1% from $1,190,000 a year earlier and 15.4% below $1,265,000 in the same months of 2024. Detached sales rose 10.3% in 2026, so more buyers were acting at the lower prices. These are TRREB MLS medians via REALM, not forecasts.
Is there a cooling-off period on new homes in East Gwillimbury?
From 1 January 2027, yes, for new freehold homes. Ontario is adding a 10-day cooling-off period for buyers of new freehold homes from builders, such as a new detached house, semi or freehold townhouse in an East Gwillimbury subdivision. It starts when you receive the agreement with the required information sheet and addendum. Agreements signed before 2027 do not get it.
Sources
- Town of East Gwillimbury – Tax rates and assessments (2026)
- Town of Newmarket – 2026 property tax rates
- York Region – Upper York Sewage Solutions and the York Region Sewage Works Project
- Metrolinx – Barrie line GO Expansion
- Tarion – Cooling-off period for new freehold homes (from 1 January 2027)
- Wikipedia – East Gwillimbury
- Wikipedia – Newmarket, Ontario
- Wikipedia – Barrie line (GO Transit)
Related reading
- Mississauga vs Oakville in 2027: Prices, Commute and Which Fits You
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- 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.