Urmi Desai in Top Ten Neighbourhoods, Toronto Schools, Home Buying
Introducing the latest innovation from our data-loving team at Realosophy – a monthly top ten list that tells home buyers and sellers what you really want to know about Toronto neighbourhoods. Instead of telling you about the city’s richest neighbourhoods or where CBC personalities live (OMG!), we show you which neighbourhoods give you the most school power for your housing buck, have the greatest potential for downsizers or the highest density of dog parks. And okay, if we can get around to it without being arrested (OMG!), we’ll try to pin down Strombo’s postal code for you too.
Realosophy Schools for Home Buyers Workshop - Starts Again Sept 2012
If you’re buying a home, schools are likely important to you. To help you make better buying decisions, Realosophy is now drilling down to give you stats on house price appreciation and EQAO score changes at the school district level. Join our free workshop to understand latest trends, get our top neighbourhood picks and ask your own questions in a friendly atmosphere. Our popular workshops take place on the first Saturday of each month. Scroll to the bottom of this post to sign up for the next one. (Learn more about workshop)
This Week's List
Realosophy Top Ten Neighbourhoods: Best Toronto Schools on a $500K Budget
Map: Click on any shaded neighbourhood above. Click on green tab beside "Layers" title to shrink box. Unshaded neighbourhoods do not meet criteria (see below).
Anyone with some data and an agenda can make a top ten school list, but the results are rarely surprising. The city’s richest neighbourhoods tend to have the best schools. While this insight is enough to fuel a 10-page Toronto Life cover story, we know you need more. So our kick-off list is dedicated to all those Toronto parents hoping to turn little Chloe or Ethan into a genius without the benefit of a Rosedale inheritance or a Bay Street lifestyle.
Criteria: Only Toronto neighbourhoods with three-bedroom houses that sold under $500K in 2010 need apply.
Ranking: Each neighbourhood is assigned an average score for all elementary and high school EQAO results (including Catholic schools).
1. York Mills (Central)
You're probably surprised to see this neighbourhood on our list. York Mills (@Bayview) is a high-end neighbourhood known for its multi-million dollar homes, but it’s also a good example of a high-end neighbourhood with a small number of houses under $500K, pulling some of the city’s finest schools within reach.
Top schools: Harrison Public School, Owen Public School, York Mills Collegiate
House Type That Will Get You In: Condo Townhouse
Likelihood of You Getting In: Low (7 Houses Sold Under $500K in 2010)
See all houses for sale in York Mills
2. Don Valley Village (Central)
While not as high-end as York Mills (#1), you can’t get a detached house under $500K in this Finch and Don Mills neighbourhood either – but plenty of semis and condo towns get you solid access to great schools.
Top Schools: Seneca Hill Public School, Arbor Glen Public School, Hillmount Public School
House Type That Will Get You In: Condo Townhouse, Semi-Detached
Likelihood of You Getting In: High (278 Houses Sold Under $500K in 2010)
See all houses for sale in Don Valley Village
3. Princess-Rosethorn (West)
A high-end neighbourhood in the west-end (Kipling south of Eglinton) with a handful of bungalows selling under $500K each year.
Top Schools: Princess Margaret Junior School, St. George’s Junior School, John G. Althouse Middle School
House Type That Will Get You In: Bungalow
Likelihood of You Getting In: Low (7 Houses Sold Under $500K in 2010)
See all houses for sale in Princess-Rosethorn
4. West Deane Park (West)
Just west of Princess-Rosethorn (#3), West Deane Park (Martin Grove south of Eglinton) offers more affordable homes and good quality schools.
Top Schools: Josyf Cardinal Slipyj Separate School, Martin Grove Collegiate Institute
House Type That Will Get You In: Bungalow, Townhouse
Likelihood of You Getting In: Low (15 Houses Sold Under $500K in 2010)
See all houses for sale in West Deane Park
5. The Beach (East)
The first east-end neighbourhood (Queen Street east of Woodbine) to appear on our list, a few buyers get into this blue-chip neighbourhood for under $500K each month.
Top Schools: Kew Beach Junior Public School, St. Denis Separate School, Malvern Collegiate Institute
House Type That Will Get You In: Semi-Detached
Likelihood of You Getting In: Medium (24 Houses Sold Under $500K in 2010)
See all houses for sale in The Beach
6. Humber Valley Village (West)
Another luxury neighbourhood in the city’s west-end, Humber Valley Village (Eglinton and Royal York) sees a few houses selling under $500K each year.
Top Schools: Humber Valley Village Junior Middle School, Richview Collegiate Institute, Etobicoke Collegiate Institute
House Type That Will Get You In: Bungalow
Likelihood of You Getting In: Low (8 Houses Sold Under $500K in 2010)
See all houses for sale in Humber Valley Village
7. West Rouge (East)
At the easternmost end of the city, West Rouge (east of Port Union) offers plenty of affordable housing options, including that rarity – a detached house under $500K.
Top Schools: West Rouge Junior Public School, William G Davis Junior Public School, Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute
House Type That Will Get You In: Detached
Likelihood of You Getting In: High (81 Houses Sold Under $500K in 2010)
See all houses for sale in West Rouge
8. Milliken (East)
Milliken (Kennedy and Steeles) borders Markham and offers buyers plenty of affordable housing options and access to particularly good Catholic schools.
Top Schools: Prince of Peace Catholic School, St Rene Groupil Separate School, The Divine Infant
House Type That Will Get You In: Townhouse, Semi-Detached
Likelihood of You Getting In: High (205 Houses Sold Under $500K in 2010)
See all houses for sale in Milliken
9. The Queensway (West)
The Queensway (east of Kipling) is an arts hub featuring the Karen Kain School of the Arts and the Etobicoke School of the Arts with a good number of houses under $500K (though admittedly still a stretch for the average artist's budget).
Top Schools: Karen Kain School of the Arts, Holy Angels Separate School, Etobicoke School of the Arts
House Type That Will Get You In: Townhouse, Bungalow
Likelihood of You Getting In: Medium (51 Houses Sold Under $500K in 2010)
See all houses for sale in The Queensway
10. Pleasant View (East)
Plenty of more affordable housing options in this neighbourhood at the city’s northern boundary (south of Finch and east of the 404). Popular with recent immigrants hoping to get the kids off to a great start.
Top Schools: Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Separate School, Pleasant View Junior High School, Sir John A Macdonald Collegiate Institute
House Type That Will Get You In: Semi-Detached, Condo Townhouse
Likelihood of You Getting In: High (84 Houses Sold Under $500K in 2010)
See all houses for sale in Pleasant View
Urmi Desai is editor of the Move Smartly blog and is responsible for Realosophy’s strategy and marketing. Realosophy Realty Inc. Brokerage researches Toronto neighbourhoods to help our clients make smarter real estate decisions. Email Urmi
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