Published 29 September 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
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Burlington is the most retiree-heavy of the GTA cities I compare, and it pairs that with a lake and a real condo market: 21.0% of residents were 65+ in the 2021 Census. In August 2026 TRREB’s median detached sale was $1,250,000, a condo townhouse $660,000 and a condo apartment $482,500. Seniors ride Burlington Transit free with PRESTO, Joseph Brant Hospital is the city’s hospital, and 2026 property tax works out to $1,015.29 for every $100,000 of MPAC assessed value. Owners 65+ on the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) can apply for a $575 Low-Income Property Tax Reduction by 31 December.
Burlington at a glance
| Item | Burlington |
|---|---|
| Typical detached house (median, Aug 2026) | $1,250,000 |
| Typical condo townhouse | $660,000 |
| Typical condo apartment | $482,500 |
| 2026 tax per $100,000 of assessment | $1,015.29 (urban residential) |
| Seniors’ tax reduction | $575, for owners 65+ on GIS |
| Local bus, age 65+ | Free on Burlington Transit with PRESTO |
| Specialized transit | Specialized Transit (formerly Handi-Van) |
| Hospital | Joseph Brant Hospital |
| Residents 65+ (2021) | 39,175, about 21.0% |
For the full comparison across the region, see my city-by-city guide to retiring in the GTA.
What homes cost in Burlington, by type
These are TRREB’s figures for one month, August 2026. I use the median as the typical price.
| Home type | Sales | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | 89 | $1,421,482 | $1,250,000 |
| Semi-detached | 12 | $871,142 | $898,500 |
| Freehold townhouse | 15 | $847,133 | $870,000 |
| Condo townhouse | 38 | $683,931 | $660,000 |
| Condo apartment | 36 | $514,550 | $482,500 |
The semi-detached row (12 sales) and freehold townhouse row (15 sales) are small samples, so treat them as rough. The local Cornerstone board, which reports Hamilton and Burlington together, put its August 2026 benchmark at $728,400, down 3.9% from a year earlier, with sales at their lowest level in more than a decade. For your own street, start with Burlington home values.
Property tax and seniors’ relief
The City shows 2026 tax on $100,000 of urban residential assessment as $1,015.29: City $528.11, Halton Region $334.18 and education $153.00. That is about 1.015% of your MPAC assessed value, not your market price. The combined increase for 2026 was 4.50%, or $43.71 per $100,000.
- Low-Income Property Tax Reduction: $575. For owners 65+ receiving GIS (or ODSP) who have lived in the home at least a year, own only one Burlington property and have paid their taxes in full. Apply by 31 December of the current tax year.
- Halton Older Adults Property Tax Deferral. Defers the whole annual bill, interest-free, for owners 65+ with household income under $69,500 who have lived there four years. A one-time $200 fee applies, and the tax is repaid on sale, transfer or probate. Apply or renew by 30 September.
- Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant. Up to $500 a year for lower-income owners 64+, claimed through ON-BEN.
Talk to your accountant before you apply. More in property tax relief for seniors, city by city.
Getting around without a car
- Burlington Transit: seniors 65+ ride free with a PRESTO card, all day, every day. The free fare is PRESTO-only, so it does not apply to cash or tapping a bank card.
- Specialized Transit: a book-in-advance, door-to-door service within Burlington for people who cannot use a regular bus. Older booking papers still call it Handi-Van.
- GO Transit: seniors 65+ save 55% with the Seniors PRESTO fare type or a senior e-ticket. Appleby, Burlington and Aldershot GO are on the Lakeshore West line.
Hospitals and care
Joseph Brant Hospital is Burlington’s hospital. If care needs grow, my guide to retirement homes versus long-term care explains who pays for what. Ask your doctor how a move would affect your care before you commit.
Daily life
Burlington has a long Lake Ontario shoreline. Spencer Smith Park sits on the water at the foot of downtown, and Brant Street is the main downtown street. North of the city the Niagara Escarpment and the Bruce Trail offer countryside walks, and the Royal Botanical Gardens are on Plains Road. For classes and company, look up Seniors Active Living Centre programs near you on the Ontario government’s site.
The age profile is the standout. In the 2021 Census, 39,175 Burlington residents were 65+, 21.0% (computed from Halton’s age table, and matching the City’s own figure). That is the highest share of any GTA city in this series, and it means services and neighbours are used to older residents.
Who Burlington suits, and who it doesn’t
It suits you if you want a lake city with plenty of people your age, free local buses, a real mix of condo apartments and condo townhouses, and prices below Oakville’s.
It may not suit you if your children and grandchildren are in Toronto or York Region and you plan to visit often, or you want the lowest possible tax per dollar of assessment. Compare retiring in Oakville next door and retiring in Milton or Halton Hills.
The money, and your next steps
Median to median, before costs, this is what a typical Burlington downsize frees up. Illustrative only.
| Move (Burlington medians, Aug 2026) | Equity freed, before costs |
|---|---|
| Detached $1,250,000 to condo townhouse $660,000 | $590,000 |
| Detached $1,250,000 to condo apartment $482,500 | $767,500 |
Take off commission, legal fees, moving, and Ontario land transfer tax on the purchase: $6,125 on a $482,500 condo using the province’s brackets. Put your own numbers into the downsizing money planner below.
- Get a realistic sale price for your home.
- Find your MPAC assessment and 2026 tax bill.
- Check the $575 reduction and Halton deferral with your accountant.
- Load a PRESTO card for the free senior fare.
- If you are weighing an adult community, read 55+ communities in and around the GTA.
When you want to talk it through, book a call or phone me at 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 Burlington a good place to retire?
Many people think so. In the 2021 Census 21.0% of residents were 65+, the highest of the GTA cities I compare. Seniors ride Burlington Transit free with PRESTO, Joseph Brant Hospital is in the city, and the August 2026 median condo apartment sold for $482,500.
Do seniors ride free on Burlington Transit?
Yes. Seniors 65+ ride free all day, every day, with a PRESTO card. The free fare does not apply to cash or to tapping a credit or debit card, so get a PRESTO card set up first. GO trains and buses are separate, with a 55% senior discount.
How much is property tax in Burlington in 2026?
The City shows $1,015.29 on each $100,000 of urban residential assessment, including the City, Region and education portions. It is charged on your MPAC assessed value, not the market price, so a home assessed at $500,000 would pay about $5,076 a year.
Is there a property tax break for seniors in Burlington?
Owners 65+ receiving GIS can apply for a $575 Low-Income Property Tax Reduction by 31 December. Halton Region also offers a deferral for owners 65+ with household income under $69,500, and Ontario pays a Senior Homeowners’ grant of up to $500.
How much does a condo cost in Burlington?
In August 2026 TRREB’s median Burlington condo apartment sold for $482,500, from 36 sales, and the median condo townhouse sold for $660,000, from 38 sales, according to TRREB’s monthly report. That is one month of data, so individual buildings, floors and layouts vary.
Sources
- TRREB — Market Watch, August 2026 — August 2026 sales, average and median prices by home type and municipality
- City of Burlington — Understanding Your Property Tax Bill — 2026 tax per $100,000 and 4.50% increase
- City of Burlington — Low-Income Property Tax Reduction — $575 reduction, eligibility and deadline
- Halton Region — Older Adults Property Tax Deferral Program — 65+, household income under $69,500, four-year residence rule, $200 fee, 30 September deadline
- Government of Ontario — Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant — up to $500 a year, age and income limits, claimed through ON-BEN
- City of Burlington — Transit fares — free senior rides with PRESTO
- City of Burlington — Specialized Transit — door-to-door specialized service
- GO Transit — Seniors — seniors 65+ save 55% with the Seniors PRESTO fare type or a senior e-ticket
- Joseph Brant Hospital — Burlington’s hospital
- City of Burlington — Council Information Package, 30 June 2022 — 65+ share 21.0% (2021 Census)
- CREA Statistics — Cornerstone Association of REALTORS, Hamilton and Burlington — August 2026 benchmark $728,400
- Government of Ontario — Calculating land transfer tax — provincial land transfer tax brackets
Related reading
- Best Places to Retire in the GTA (2026): A City-by-City Comparison
- Retiring in Oakville
- Retiring in Milton and Halton Hills
- Burlington home values
- Property Tax Relief for Seniors, City by City
- 55+ Communities In and Around the GTA
- What Your House Buys When You Downsize, City by City
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.