Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
The most expensive GTA cities for a detached home in 2026 were King Township ($1,850,000 median), Oakville ($1,625,000), Richmond Hill ($1,485,000), Markham ($1,420,000) and Vaughan ($1,415,000), based on January to October sales from TRREB MLS data via REALM. All five fell from 2025, and King and Oakville need 20% down.
This guide is for buyers and sellers who want to know where GTA homes cost the most going into 2027, and for anyone weighing a move to one of these cities. You get the five most expensive GTA municipalities for a detached house, how far prices have fallen since 2024, what each city offers, and the cash you need to buy there.
Which GTA city has the most expensive homes?
King Township is the most expensive place to buy a home in the GTA. From January to October 2026, its detached median was $1,850,000, and its median for all home types was $1,710,000, both the highest of any GTA municipality. Oakville is second, and the most expensive large city, with a detached median of $1,625,000.
I rank cities by the median price of a detached house, because that compares like with like. A city full of condos can look cheaper on an all-types average even if its houses are just as expensive. I also show the all-types figures from TRREB’s Market Watch, so you can see both views. The City of Toronto is a special case, and I deal with it in its own section below.
How do GTA cities compare on home prices in 2026?
| Rank | Municipality | Detached median 2026 | Change vs 2025 | Change vs 2024 | All types: average price | All types: median price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King | $1,850,000 | −9.1% | −12.7% | $1,944,186 | $1,710,000 |
| 2 | Oakville | $1,625,000 | −3.0% | −7.8% | $1,435,680 | $1,270,000 |
| 3 | Richmond Hill | $1,485,000 | −8.9% | −16.3% | $1,208,878 | $1,110,000 |
| 4 | Markham | $1,420,000 | −6.5% | −13.9% | $1,143,564 | $1,080,000 |
| 5 | Vaughan | $1,415,000 | −5.0% | −11.0% | $1,169,181 | $1,100,000 |
| 6 | Aurora | $1,370,000 | −2.0% | −12.2% | $1,195,942 | $1,110,000 |
| – | All TRREB areas | – | – | – | $1,025,156 | $870,000 |
Sources: detached medians from TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October of 2024, 2025 and 2026. All-types average and median prices from TRREB Market Watch, October 2026, year-to-date. GTA here means the City of Toronto and the Halton, Peel, York and Durham regions.
Two things stand out. First, every one of the top six fell in 2026, and Richmond Hill’s detached median is down 16.3% in two years. Second, on the all-types average, Whitchurch-Stouffville ($1,200,048) and Aurora would rank above Markham and Vaughan. Those two towns have fewer condos pulling their averages down: Aurora had 48 condo apartment sales and Whitchurch-Stouffville 11, against 582 in Markham and 664 in Vaughan. If you are comparing cities for a house, the detached column is the one to use. If you are comparing them for a condo, look at condo prices directly, because a city with expensive houses can still have mid-priced condos.
1. King Township
What it’s like: King is a rural township in York Region, with 27,333 people in 2021. It sits on the rolling hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine, is known for horse and cattle farms, and most residents live in King City, Nobleton or Schomberg.
What it costs: detached homes had a median of $1,850,000 across 150 sales, down 9.1%. In October 2026 alone, the detached median was $1,827,500. Freehold townhouses sold at a $1,200,000 median, but there were only 13 sales.
What to know: King is also the slowest market in the GTA. Homes of all types took 71 days on average to sell, counting relistings, and sold at 94% of list price. Buyers have room to negotiate. My King City buyer’s guide covers the estate market.
2. Oakville
What it’s like: Oakville is a town on Lake Ontario and the seat of Halton Region. With 213,759 people in 2021, it is Ontario’s largest town. GO trains on the Lakeshore West line stop at Oakville and Bronte stations.
What it costs: the detached median was $1,625,000 across 1,162 sales, down only 3.0%, the smallest drop of the top five. Semi-detached homes fell 13.2% to $985,000, freehold townhouses were $1,005,000, and condo apartments were $528,000.
What to know: demand held up: Oakville had 1,162 detached sales in the first ten months of 2026, up from 1,071 in the same period of 2025. For what your own home might sell for, see my guide to Oakville house prices.
3. Richmond Hill
What it’s like: Richmond Hill is a York Region city of 202,022 people (2021), between Markham and Vaughan, north of Thornhill and south of Aurora. About the northern third of the city lies on the Oak Ridges Moraine. GO trains on the Richmond Hill line serve four stations in the city.
What it costs: the detached median was $1,485,000, down 8.9% in a year and 16.3% since 2024, the largest two-year drop in the top five. Freehold townhouses fell 9.4% to $1,040,000, condo townhouses 15.6% to $690,000, and condo apartments were $529,250.
What to know: the larger fall means a 2027 buyer may be paying well under 2024 prices. It also means a seller who bought in 2024 needs a realistic price.
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4. Markham
What it’s like: Markham is the largest city in York Region, with 338,503 people in 2021. It has more than 1,000 technology and life-sciences companies. The GO Stouffville line stops at Unionville, Centennial, Markham and Mount Joy stations.
What it costs: the detached median was $1,420,000, down 6.5%. Semi-detached homes fell 12.2% to $1,025,000, freehold townhouses fell 10.9% to $999,990, and condo apartments fell 13.2% to $558,000.
What to know: Markham detached homes sold in 29 days on average, faster than the other four. Prices are lower than in 2024, but well-priced houses still move. My Markham and Richmond Hill market outlook looks at 2027 in more depth.
5. Vaughan
What it’s like: Vaughan is a York Region city of 323,103 people (2021), just north of Toronto. It takes in the historic communities of Maple, Kleinburg, Thornhill and Woodbridge. Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station is the north-western end of Line 1, and Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital opened in 2021.
What it costs: the detached median was $1,415,000 across 1,193 sales, the most detached sales of the five. Semi-detached homes fell 9.2% to $1,040,000, freehold townhouses fell 9.3% to $1,014,500, and condo apartments fell 10.9% to $530,000.
What to know: Vaughan and Markham are almost tied on detached prices, only $5,000 apart at the median. For the full picture, see my Vaughan housing market outlook.
Where does the City of Toronto fit?
Toronto is not one market. Its most expensive district, C09 (Rosedale and Moore Park), had a detached median of $3,627,500 from January to October 2026, nearly double King’s. Its least expensive, E09 in Scarborough, was $866,500. Weighting each district by its number of sales, I get a typical Toronto detached price of about $1,417,000, down 4.7%. That is level with Markham and Vaughan. TRREB’s own October 2026 figure for the City of Toronto was a detached median of $1,260,000, below all five cities above.
So the honest answer is this: the most expensive districts in the GTA are in Toronto, but the most expensive cities to buy an average detached house in are King and Oakville. My guide to the most expensive Toronto districts covers the city’s top end.
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026, Toronto districts W01 to E11; the weighted figure is my calculation, not an official TRREB number. TRREB Market Watch, October 2026, detached, City of Toronto.
In the most expensive GTA cities, the 2026 drop has been real, from 7.8% in Oakville to 16.3% in Richmond Hill over two years. For a buyer with secure income and a large down payment, that is a better entry point than 2024. I would not try to call the bottom. The Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026 and said more increases could be needed, so I would buy only at a payment you could handle if rates rise again at renewal.
How much cash do you need to buy in the most expensive GTA cities?
At $1.5 million and above, mortgage default insurance is not available, so the minimum down payment is 20%. Below that, you can put down 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the rest, with insurance. Outside the City of Toronto, you pay only Ontario’s land transfer tax.
| City | Detached median | Minimum down payment | Ontario land transfer tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| King | $1,850,000 | $370,000 (20%) | $33,475 |
| Oakville | $1,625,000 | $325,000 (20%) | $28,975 |
| Richmond Hill | $1,485,000 | $123,500 | $26,175 |
| Markham | $1,420,000 | $117,000 | $24,875 |
| Vaughan | $1,415,000 | $116,500 | $24,775 |
Sources: medians from TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026; land transfer tax calculated with Ontario’s published rates for a home with one single-family residence. Minimum down payments follow federal rules. First-time buyer refunds not included.
The same $1,420,000 house inside the City of Toronto would also owe Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax of $24,875, for a total of $49,750. Toronto’s municipal rates also rise in steps above $3 million, to 4.40% on the portion from $3 million to $4 million under the rates in force since 1 April 2026.
Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan medians sit just under the $1.5 million line. A house at $1,499,000 needs a minimum of $124,900 down, but at $1,520,000 the minimum jumps to $304,000. Get a pre-approval that shows exactly which side of that line you can afford before you start bidding.
What to do next
- Decide whether your budget is above or below $1.5 million, because it changes your down payment and mortgage options.
- Compare the type of home you need, not just detached medians: freehold townhouses in Oakville, Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan had medians close to $1 million.
- Ask for sales from the last three to six months on your target streets, since prices have moved since 2024.
- Get a written mortgage pre-approval and stress-test your payment at a higher renewal rate.
- If you are selling, price from 2026 sales, not from what your neighbour got in 2024.
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
What is the most expensive city in the GTA?
King Township is the most expensive place to buy a home in the GTA. From January to October 2026, King’s detached median was $1,850,000 based on TRREB MLS data via REALM, and its all-types median was $1,710,000 in TRREB’s Market Watch, both the highest in the GTA. Oakville was second, with a $1,625,000 detached median, heading into 2027.
What are the most expensive places to live near Toronto?
The most expensive places near Toronto for a detached house in 2026 were King Township ($1,850,000), Oakville ($1,625,000), Richmond Hill ($1,485,000), Markham ($1,420,000) and Vaughan ($1,415,000), based on January to October medians from TRREB MLS data via REALM. Aurora was next at $1,370,000. All six fell in price compared with 2025.
Is Oakville more expensive than Toronto?
For a typical detached house, yes. Oakville’s detached median was $1,625,000 from January to October 2026, based on TRREB MLS data via REALM, while TRREB’s October 2026 detached median for the City of Toronto was $1,260,000. But Toronto’s top districts cost far more: C09, Rosedale and Moore Park, had a $3,627,500 detached median. Toronto buyers also pay a second land transfer tax.
Are home prices falling in the most expensive GTA cities?
Yes. Detached medians in the five most expensive GTA cities all fell from January to October 2026 compared with 2025, by 3.0% in Oakville to 9.1% in King, based on TRREB MLS data via REALM. Over two years, Richmond Hill fell 16.3% and Markham 13.9%. Nobody can promise what prices will do in 2027 after the October 2026 rate hike.
How much do you need to make to buy a house in Oakville?
There is no single income figure, but the cash needed is clear. Oakville’s 2026 detached median was $1,625,000, above the $1.5 million limit for mortgage default insurance, so the minimum down payment is 20%, or $325,000. Ontario land transfer tax adds about $28,975. Your income must then pass the stress test at the higher of 5.25% or your contract rate plus 2 points.
Which is more expensive, Markham or Vaughan?
Markham and Vaughan are almost tied. From January to October 2026, Markham’s detached median was $1,420,000 and Vaughan’s was $1,415,000, based on TRREB MLS data via REALM. On TRREB’s all-types average, Vaughan was higher at $1,169,181 against Markham’s $1,143,564. Markham detached homes sold slightly faster, in 29 days on average against 30.
What is the average home price in Richmond Hill in 2026?
The average price for all home types in Richmond Hill was $1,208,878 from January to October 2026, with a median of $1,110,000, according to TRREB’s October 2026 Market Watch. The detached median was $1,485,000, down 8.9% from 2025 and 16.3% from 2024, based on TRREB MLS data via REALM. That gives 2027 buyers more room than in recent years.
Do you pay land transfer tax twice in the GTA?
Only inside the City of Toronto. Toronto buyers pay both Ontario’s land transfer tax and Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax. On a $1,420,000 home that is $24,875 each, or $49,750 in total. In King, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan you pay only the Ontario tax. First-time buyers can get partial refunds of both taxes in 2027.
Where can I buy a cheaper detached house near Richmond Hill and Aurora?
Newmarket is the main lower-priced option in York Region near these cities. Its detached median was $1,070,000 from January to October 2026, down 10.1%, based on TRREB MLS data via REALM, compared with $1,370,000 in neighbouring Aurora and $1,485,000 in Richmond Hill. Newmarket homes also sold in 27 days on average, faster than all five of the GTA’s priciest cities.
Sources
- TRREB Market Watch, October 2026
- Ontario: Calculating land transfer tax
- City of Toronto: Municipal land transfer tax rates and fees
- King, Ontario (population and geography)
- Oakville, Ontario (population and GO stations)
- Richmond Hill, Ontario (population, Oak Ridges Moraine, GO stations)
- Markham, Ontario (population, employers, GO stations)
- Vaughan (population, communities, subway, hospital)
Related reading
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Mississauga in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Brampton in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Markham in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Oakville in 2027
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.