Published 29 September 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
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Markham is one of the better-equipped places in York Region to retire: its own hospital (Markham Stouffville), GO trains to Union Station and a 2026 total tax rate of 0.722889% of assessed value, the lowest of the GTA rates I verified. It is also expensive. In August 2026 the median detached house sold for $1,488,000 and the median condo apartment for $563,800, a gap of about $924,200 before costs. 18.3% of residents were 65 or older in 2021. Seniors ride YRT for $2.60 with PRESTO. Markham suits homeowners who want to stay near family with good services, less so anyone looking for a cheap place to retire.
Markham at a glance
Retiring in Markham usually means staying in the family house, or selling it and moving to a condo or townhouse nearby so you keep your doctor, friends and routine. Both are reasonable. For how Markham compares with the rest of the region, see my GTA retirement comparison.
| Markham | Figure |
|---|---|
| Residents 65+ (2021) | 62,055 (18.3%) |
| Median detached, Aug 2026 | $1,488,000 (137 sales) |
| Median condo apartment, Aug 2026 | $563,800 (57 sales) |
| 2026 total residential tax rate | 0.722889% |
| Senior bus fare (YRT, PRESTO) | $2.60 |
| Hospital | Markham Stouffville Hospital |
What homes cost, by type
TRREB figures for one month, August 2026. The median is the middle sale and closer to a typical home than the average.
| Home type (Aug 2026) | Sales | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | 137 | $1,611,773 | $1,488,000 |
| Semi-detached | 15 | $958,133 | $945,000 |
| Freehold townhouse | 39 | $1,031,119 | $995,000 |
| Condo townhouse | 28 | $812,567 | $750,000 |
| Condo apartment | 57 | $638,332 | $563,800 |
| All home types | 282 | $1,208,692 | $1,095,000 |
Markham has more choice in the middle than its York neighbours: 28 condo townhouse sales in August against nine each in Vaughan and Richmond Hill. For many people in their late sixties that is the right halfway step, with no roof or snow to worry about but your own front door. Check the stairs, though. A three-level townhouse with the bedroom on top is the same problem you are leaving.
Property tax and seniors’ relief
Markham’s 2026 total residential rate is 0.722889% (City 0.177477%, York Region 0.392412%, education 0.153000%), applied to your MPAC assessed value, not the market price. The City’s example: the average 2026 assessment of $822,671 pays $5,947.
- Low-Income Seniors Property Tax Assistance: owners 65 or older on GIS who live in the home; late charges forgiven and an interest-free repayment plan. The 2026 deadline was 30 March.
- Seniors and Low-Income Tax Deferral: owners 65 and older on GIS; deferred plus outstanding taxes capped at 75% of assessed value. Apply by 30 September, the day after this guide was published, so most readers should plan for 2027.
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
From 1 July 2026, York Region Transit charges seniors $2.60 with PRESTO or $4.65 in cash, credit or debit, with no senior monthly pass on the fare chart. Markham has several stations on GO’s Stouffville line to Union, and seniors 65 and older save 55% on GO with the Seniors fare type on PRESTO or a senior e-ticket. For people who cannot use a regular bus because of a disability, York Region’s Mobility On-Request offers door-to-door shared rides.
Healthcare and retirement homes
Markham’s hospital is Markham Stouffville Hospital, 381 Church Street, run by Oak Valley Health, which also operates Uxbridge Hospital.
Be careful with retirement home rents you see quoted. CMHC discontinued its Seniors’ Housing Survey; its last survey (2021) put the Toronto-area average for a studio or private room with meals at $4,016 a month, with 22.4% vacancy. That is not a current rent, so ask each home for its price list. My retirement home vs long-term care guide explains the difference in cost and care.
Daily life
Unionville’s historic Main Street is the postcard; Thornhill’s older streets straddle the Vaughan border; newer neighbourhoods spread north and east, and Rouge National Urban Park lies along the city’s eastern side. Most of Markham was built for the car, and condo buildings vary a lot in how walkable they are. Before choosing a unit, walk the route to groceries and a bus stop at the pace you expect to walk in ten years.
Who Markham suits, and who it doesn’t
Markham’s 65+ share, 18.3% in 2021, is close to Ontario’s 18.5% and above Vaughan’s 16.3%. It suits you if your family is here, you want a hospital and GO trains in your own city, a condo townhouse appeals as a middle step, and you own a house with substantial equity. It suits you less well if your main goal is to cut your cost of living sharply. Next door, see retiring in Vaughan or Richmond Hill; for lower prices by the lake, retiring in Pickering, Ajax or Whitby.
The money: what a Markham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached to condo apartment | $1,488,000 | $563,800 | $924,200 |
| Detached to condo townhouse | $1,488,000 | $750,000 | $738,000 |
| Detached to freehold townhouse | $1,488,000 | $995,000 | $493,000 |
Markham buyers pay only Ontario land transfer tax, no municipal tax as in Toronto. By my arithmetic on the provincial brackets, a $563,800 purchase carries about $7,751 and a $750,000 purchase about $11,475; repeat buyers get no first-time refund. Put your own figures into the downsizing money planner below, and check local prices on my Markham home values page.
Next steps
- Get a realistic range for your house from recent nearby sales.
- Decide what you are moving towards: condo, townhouse or retirement home.
- If you receive GIS, diarise the March and September deadlines for 2027.
- Set your PRESTO card to the Seniors fare type.
- Read the status certificate of any condo before you firm up.
If it would help to talk it through, 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 Markham a good place for seniors to live?
For many people, yes. Markham has its own hospital, GO trains on the Stouffville line, a 2026 tax rate of 0.722889% and more condo townhouses for sale than its York neighbours. It is expensive and mostly car-oriented, so location within the city matters.
How much does a condo cost in Markham?
TRREB recorded a median of $563,800 for condo apartments (57 sales) and $750,000 for condo townhouses (28 sales) in August 2026. That is one month of data, a guide rather than a price for a specific unit; fees, floor and building age all move the number.
What property tax relief is there for seniors in Markham?
Owners 65 and over on the Guaranteed Income Supplement can apply for Low-Income Seniors Property Tax Assistance (by 30 March) and the Seniors and Low-Income Tax Deferral (by 30 September). The Ontario grant adds up to $500 a year for eligible owners.
How much is a retirement home in Markham?
There is no current official figure. CMHC’s last survey, in 2021, put the Toronto-area average for a studio or private room with meals at $4,016 a month, and CMHC has since discontinued it. Ask each home for its current rates and exactly which care services are included.
What hospital is in Markham?
Markham Stouffville Hospital, at 381 Church Street, run by Oak Valley Health, which also operates Uxbridge Hospital. If you are choosing between condos, check how easily you could reach Church Street by bus or taxi once you stop driving.
Sources
- TRREB — Market Watch, August 2026 — prices by home type and municipality
- City of Markham — About your tax bill — 2026 rate
- City of Markham — Tax relief and rebates — seniors’ programs
- Government of Ontario — Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant — up to $500 a year
- York Region Transit — Fare chart — senior fares from 1 July 2026
- York Region Transit — Mobility On-Request — specialized transit
- GO Transit — Seniors — 55% senior discount
- Oak Valley Health — Markham Stouffville Hospital
- York Region — 2021 Census Release Report: Age — residents 65+
- CMHC — Seniors Housing Survey data tables — survey discontinued
- CMHC — Seniors’ vacancy rate and average rent by CMA, Ontario (2021) — 2021 rents
- Government of Ontario — Calculating land transfer tax — provincial brackets
Related reading
- Best Places to Retire in the GTA (2026)
- Retiring in Vaughan or Richmond Hill
- Retiring in Pickering, Ajax or Whitby
- Markham home values
- Retirement Home vs Long-Term Care in Ontario
- What Your House Buys When You Downsize
- Capital gains when downsizing in Ontario
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.