Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Newmarket is the cheaper choice: its detached median was $1,070,000 from January to October 2026, versus $1,370,000 in Aurora. Aurora has the lower 2026 tax rate (0.873953% vs 0.919045%), is one GO Barrie line stop closer to Toronto, and held its value better. Pick Newmarket for budget, Aurora for commute and steadier prices.
This guide is for buyers deciding between Newmarket and Aurora in 2027, and for owners in one town thinking about moving to the other. You will get the latest price numbers for each home type, the 2026 property tax rates, the commute facts, and a plain answer on who each town suits.
Newmarket vs Aurora: how do they compare side by side?
Newmarket and Aurora sit next to each other in York Region, along Yonge Street and Highway 404. Aurora is the southern town, closer to Toronto. Newmarket is just north of it and is the larger of the two, with 87,942 people in the 2021 census compared with 62,057 in Aurora. The table below puts the main numbers in one place.
| Measure (Jan–Oct 2026) | Newmarket | Aurora |
|---|---|---|
| Detached median price | $1,070,000 (−10.1%) | $1,370,000 (−2.0%) |
| Detached sales | 483 (+10.3%) | 325 (+9.1%) |
| Semi-detached median | $825,000 (−7.6%) | $922,500 (−7.3%) |
| Freehold townhouse median | $827,000 (−8.1%) | $900,000 (−8.2%) |
| Condo apartment median | $490,000 (−12.8%) | $583,500 (−14.8%) |
| Average days on market, detached | 27 | 32 |
| Average days on market, condo apartment | 54 | 45 |
| 2026 total residential tax rate | 0.919045% | 0.873953% |
| GO train | Newmarket GO, Barrie line | Aurora GO, Barrie line |
| Highway 404 access | Davis, Mulock | Wellington, Bloomington |
| English school boards | YRDSB and YCDSB | YRDSB and YCDSB |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025 (percent changes in brackets); Town of Newmarket and Town of Aurora 2026 tax rate schedules; Metrolinx; 2021 census.
These are medians for each whole town. A median is the middle sale: half of homes sold for more and half for less. Prices on your street can be quite different, so use these as a starting point, not a value for a specific house.
Is Newmarket cheaper than Aurora?
Yes. Newmarket is cheaper for every home type in the REALM data. The biggest gap is in detached houses. The detached median in Newmarket was $1,070,000 from January to October 2026, while Aurora’s was $1,370,000. That is a $300,000 difference at the middle of the market.
The gap is smaller for attached homes. Freehold townhouses were $827,000 in Newmarket and $900,000 in Aurora, about $73,000 apart. Semis were about $97,500 apart. Condo apartments were $490,000 in Newmarket and $583,500 in Aurora, but both towns had only about 50 condo apartment sales, so treat those condo numbers with care.
There is a second story in the data. Newmarket’s detached median fell 10.1% from 2025, one of the larger drops in York Region. Aurora’s fell only 2.0%. In plain terms, Newmarket has already given back more of its peak, while Aurora held its value better. Both towns sold more detached homes in 2026 than in 2025, which tells me buyers were stepping in at the lower prices.
Which has lower property taxes, Newmarket or Aurora?
Aurora has the lower rate. For 2026, Aurora’s total residential tax rate is 0.873953% of your assessed value. Newmarket’s is 0.919045%. Both towns pay the same York Region rate (0.392412%) and the same provincial education rate (0.153%). The difference comes from the town portion: 0.328541% in Aurora and 0.373633% in Newmarket.
What that means in dollars
Your bill is based on the value the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) gives your home, not the price you pay. Newmarket’s 2026 budget still uses 2016 market values for its average home. As an example, a home assessed at $700,000 would pay about $6,433 a year in Newmarket and about $6,118 in Aurora at the 2026 rates, a gap of roughly $315.
Keep this in proportion. Because Aurora homes cost more, an Aurora home will often carry a higher assessment, so the actual bill can still be higher there. Always ask the seller for the latest tax bill.
What changed for 2026
Newmarket council approved a 2.99% increase to the town portion for 2026, which the Town says is about $78 a year on an average home assessed at $711,000. Aurora adopted a 2.2% increase in its town tax levy, about $56.94 a year on a home assessed at $800,000, according to the Town.
How do Newmarket and Aurora compare for commuting to Toronto?
Both towns are on the GO Barrie line, which runs into Union Station. Aurora GO is one stop south of Newmarket GO, so Aurora riders have a slightly shorter train trip. I am not giving trip times here because they change with each schedule; check the current GO timetable for the trains you would actually take.
The bigger difference is the future service plan. Metrolinx says the goal of GO Expansion is service every 15 minutes or better, all day, in both directions, on core sections of its lines, and for the Barrie line that core section runs to Aurora GO. Metrolinx says adding an extra track between Union and Aurora GO is a key part of that plan. Newmarket is north of that core section, so its future train service is likely to be less frequent than Aurora’s.
Driving and buses
For drivers, both towns sit on Highway 404. Newmarket has interchanges at Davis Drive and at Mulock Drive. The highway runs along Aurora’s eastern edge, with interchanges at Wellington and at Bloomington Road. Newmarket also has more rapid bus service. Viva Blue runs from the Newmarket Bus Terminal down Yonge Street to Finch subway station, and the Davis Drive rapidway carries Viva Yellow buses between Yonge Street and Southlake Regional Health Centre.
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What are the schools like in Newmarket and Aurora?
Both towns are served by the same English boards: the York Region District School Board (YRDSB, public) and the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB, Catholic). The YRDSB describes itself as the third-largest school district in Ontario. French-language families can look at Conseil scolaire Viamonde (public) and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (Catholic).
Aurora has a well-known private school scene. St. Andrew’s College (boys) and St. Anne’s School (girls) are independent schools in the town. For families who plan to pay private tuition, Aurora puts those schools close to home.
For public schools, the board sets the boundary, not the town. Check the exact address with the board’s school locator before you make an offer. Our guide to the top schools in Aurora and Newmarket goes deeper on individual schools.
What is it like to live in Newmarket vs Aurora?
Newmarket
Newmarket feels like a small city. Its historic Main Street is a provincially recognized heritage conservation district, with shops and restaurants in older buildings. Fairy Lake, officially the Wesley Brooks Conservation Area, sits near the centre of town, and the Tom Taylor Trail runs north through downtown. Upper Canada Mall is at Yonge and Davis. Southlake Regional Health Centre is on Davis Drive, which matters for health care workers and for older buyers who want to be near care.
Aurora
Aurora is smaller and a bit quieter. Its historic core is at Yonge and Wellington. Aurora Town Square opened in 2024 with a performing arts centre and a covered footbridge to the public library. The auto parts company Magna International has its headquarters in Aurora.
If you are planning for later life, our guide to retiring in Newmarket and Aurora covers health care, downsizing and housing options in both towns.
Are home prices still falling in Newmarket and Aurora?
Prices were lower in 2026 than in 2025 in both towns. Newmarket’s detached median fell from $1,190,000 in 2025 to $1,070,000 in 2026, and from $1,265,000 in 2024. Aurora’s detached median went from $1,560,500 in 2024 to $1,397,500 in 2025 and $1,370,000 in 2026. Condo apartments fell more than houses in both towns.
Homes are also taking a bit longer to sell. Detached homes in Aurora averaged 32 days on market in 2026, up from 28 in 2025. Newmarket held at 27 days, about the same as 2025. Condo apartments sat much longer: 54 days in Newmarket and 45 in Aurora.
Borrowing costs are moving the other way. The Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026, and the big banks raised prime to 4.70%. The Bank has said it will decide one meeting at a time, and the next decision is on 9 December 2026. Nobody can promise where prices go in 2027, and I do not try to.
If your budget tops out near $1.1 million and you want a detached house, Newmarket gives you far more choice. If you can stretch to Aurora, you are paying for a shorter train ride, better future GO service and a market that held its value better in 2026. Do not choose on the median alone. Compare two or three real homes in each town at your price, then add the property tax, commute cost and time for each one.
Who should pick Newmarket?
- Buyers who want a detached house for less. The detached median was about $300,000 lower than Aurora’s in 2026.
- Health care workers and people who want to live near a major hospital. Southlake is on Davis Drive.
- Transit riders who use buses. Viva Blue goes to Finch subway station and Viva Yellow runs on the Davis Drive rapidway.
- First-time buyers looking at condos or towns. Newmarket’s condo apartment and townhouse medians were lower than Aurora’s.
- People who like a busier town centre with a historic Main Street, a mall and more shops.
Who should pick Aurora?
- Daily GO commuters. Aurora is one stop closer to Union and is the end of the Barrie line’s planned 15-minute core service.
- Families planning on private school. St. Andrew’s College and St. Anne’s School are in town.
- Buyers who care about a lower tax rate. Aurora’s 2026 rate is lower than Newmarket’s.
- Move-up buyers with a bigger budget. Aurora’s detached median was $1,370,000 in 2026.
- Sellers and buyers who want steadier values. Aurora’s detached median fell only 2.0% in 2026.
Small numbers can mislead. Aurora had only 28 semi-detached sales and 48 condo apartment sales from January to October 2026, and Newmarket had 51 condo apartment sales. With so few sales, one or two unusual deals can move the median. Before you buy or list, look at the actual recent sales near the home, not just the town-wide number.
What to do next
- Set your budget at today’s rates. With prime at 4.70% as of November 2026, get a mortgage pre-approval before you shop.
- Pick two or three real homes at your price in each town and compare price, tax bill and commute side by side.
- Check the school boundary for each address with the YRDSB or YCDSB school locator.
- If you own in either town, get a current estimate. Our guide to what your house is worth in Newmarket or Aurora explains how values are set.
- Talk to an agent who works both towns. Read how to choose the best realtor in Newmarket before you sign anything.
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 Newmarket better than Aurora?
Neither town is better for everyone. Newmarket is cheaper, with a detached median of $1,070,000 from January to October 2026 versus $1,370,000 in Aurora, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. Aurora has a lower 2026 tax rate, is one GO stop closer to Toronto and sits at the end of the Barrie line’s planned 15-minute service. Pick on budget, commute and lifestyle.
Is Newmarket cheaper than Aurora in 2026?
Yes. From January to October 2026, Newmarket’s detached median was $1,070,000 and Aurora’s was $1,370,000, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. Newmarket was also cheaper for semis ($825,000 vs $922,500), freehold townhouses ($827,000 vs $900,000) and condo apartments ($490,000 vs $583,500). These are town-wide medians, so individual homes can differ a lot.
What is the property tax rate in Newmarket for 2026?
Newmarket’s total 2026 residential property tax rate is 0.919045%. That is made up of the Town rate of 0.373633%, the York Region rate of 0.392412% and the provincial education rate of 0.153%. Multiply the rate by your MPAC assessed value, not your purchase price, to estimate the yearly bill.
What is the property tax rate in Aurora for 2026?
Aurora’s total 2026 residential property tax rate is 0.873953%. It combines the Town rate of 0.328541%, the York Region rate of 0.392412% and the provincial education rate of 0.153%. Aurora’s rate is lower than Newmarket’s 0.919045%, but your actual bill depends on your home’s MPAC assessment.
Is there a GO train from Newmarket and Aurora to Toronto?
Yes. Both towns are on the GO Barrie line, which runs to Union Station, through Newmarket GO and Aurora GO. Metrolinx’s GO Expansion plan aims for service every 15 minutes or better, all day in both directions, on the Barrie line as far as Aurora GO. Check the current GO schedule for exact trip times.
Are house prices dropping in Newmarket?
Yes, in 2026. Newmarket’s detached median was $1,070,000 from January to October 2026, down 10.1% from $1,190,000 in the same period of 2025, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. Detached sales rose 10.3%, so buyers were active at lower prices. Condo apartment medians fell 12.8%. Past changes do not predict 2027 prices.
How long does it take to sell a house in Aurora?
Detached homes in Aurora averaged 32 days on market from January to October 2026, up from 28 days in the same period of 2025, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. Condo apartments averaged 45 days. In Newmarket, detached homes averaged 27 days and condo apartments 54 days. Well-priced homes usually sell faster than the average.
Which school boards serve Newmarket and Aurora?
Newmarket and Aurora are both served by the York Region District School Board for English public schools and the York Catholic District School Board for English Catholic schools. French-language options are Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. Aurora is also home to private schools including St. Andrew’s College and St. Anne’s School.
Is Aurora or Newmarket better for families?
Both work well for families in 2027, but for different reasons. Newmarket offers more detached homes under about $1.1 million, a hospital, a mall and rapid bus service. Aurora costs more but has a lower 2026 tax rate, a shorter GO trip and private schools such as St. Andrew’s College. Compare specific homes and school boundaries before deciding.
Sources
- Town of Newmarket – 2026 Schedule of Tax Rates
- Town of Aurora – 2026 Property Tax Rates (combined)
- Town of Newmarket – 2026 Budget
- Town of Aurora – Aurora adopts council-amended 2026 budget
- Metrolinx – GO Expansion
- Metrolinx – Barrie Line GO Expansion
- Newmarket, Ontario (Wikipedia)
- Aurora, Ontario (Wikipedia)
Related reading
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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.