With hundreds of neighbourhoods to choose from in Canada’s largest city, what’s a Toronto renter to do when picking the perfect new home in the city?
Rentals.ca has done your homework for you, hitting the streets of TO to highlight a few of the hottest spots for apartment hunters in Toronto, whatever your needs are. Whether you prefer to work hard, play hard, or just relax, check out our recommendations to find the neighbourhood of your dreams.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- Top family and kid-friendly neighbourhoods in Toronto
- Top neighbourhoods in Toronto for singles and young professionals
- Safest neighbourhoods in Toronto
- Top places for students to live in Toronto
- Up-and-coming Toronto neighbourhoods to live in
Top family and kid-friendly neighbourhoods in Toronto
North Toronto encapsulates several neighbourhoods in uptown Toronto. From Bedford Park to Chaplin Estates to York Mills, uptown is veritable kid heaven, with strollers as far as the eye can see.
Although this area includes some of the city’s priciest real estate in Lawrence Park and Wanless Park, and the mega high-rises closer to the core of Yonge and Eglinton are probably not ideal for growing families, tucked amid the megamansions and young professional units are pockets of gorgeous detached, duplex, and converted houses for rent. A rarity in the city, in this area, there is also a variety of spacious older apartment buildings to be found, with plenty of room for parents and little ones.
Rents for these units are comparable to those of less posh postal codes in the city, and living here will put you in the catchment zones for some of the best schools in the city.
These areas are chock-full of daycares, tutor centres, and after-school activities for the young ones. Check out Lawrence Park and the neighbouring Alexander Muir Memorial Garden for some stunning play space, the former boasting a recently updated mega playground.
2. Riverdale
Well, you certainly won’t have any trouble moving your teen to this part of town! Riverdale, just east of downtown and bisected by Queen Street, has plenty to offer for hip parents and kids of all ages.
Riverdale offers conveniently located charming family homes that are large enough for families to live and grow. All of this is just steps from cute boutiques, an array of dining options, and even more daycares for your kids and dogs!
Sundays mean stroller-to-stroller traffic on the sidewalk as parents enjoy sunny days with their tots at playgroup, lessons, or kid-friendly meals. Neighbour Leslieville is also a top hotspot for families.
3. Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles, better known as Roncy to those who can’t pronounce it (which is secretly every single Torontonian … psst), is an up-and-coming kid haven. With proximity to High Park and the waterfront, there is no shortage of wholesome outdoor activities for Roncy city kids, and as a bonus, dogs are welcome in these pet-friendly green spaces.
Roncy is truly fun for the whole family! Shops for children selling books, toys, and clothes are sprouting up like little ones along Roncesvalles Avenue, and the ‘hood is filled with daycares and after-school services to accommodate the influx of new parents.
There is plenty of rental stock, with a mix of new condo developments, well-built older character apartments, and beautiful single-family homes along the side streets, some of which have been subdivided for rent, with some yet renting the whole house in all its original Victorian splendour. Check out Roncy if you want a kid-friendly neighbourhood close to all the action.
4. Richview
This Etobicoke neighbourhood was designed for families in the mid-century, and it has never strayed from its intended purpose. Families have called the Richview neighbourhood home for generations. If classic suburbia is what you seek, Richview is it.
With winding cul-de-sacs, mature trees, community hubs, and enough room in the yard for a pool and cabana, Richview offers it all. Though its original mid-century rancher-style homes are being demolished for megamansions, this charming family neighbourhood can’t lose its character or its close-knit community spirit. It’s also in a catchment area for some great high schools, including Stephen Harper’s alma mater of the same name.
5. Willowdale
At the centre of North York, bisected by Yonge Street, this neighbourhood is right on the edge of Toronto and is directly accessible via the Yonge subway line. If the fast pace of urban living isn’t for you and your family, check out this charming suburb that offers many of the amenities of city living.
Willowdale is steps from the Toronto Centre for the Arts, the skating rinks at Mel Lastman Square, speciality and budget grocers, the recently renovated landmark North York Public Library, and a plethora of green space for the pets and the kids. While rental stock is available, primarily in high-rise condos and apartments closer to the intersection of Yonge and Finch, the residential streets in either direction contain lovely cul-de-sacs full of charming homes built to accommodate families.
There are some great public schools in the area, and accessing private schools in the city is a cinch via public transit.
Top neighbourhoods in Toronto for singles and young professionals
Without exaggeration, you can’t throw a Huawei in Liberty Village without hitting a young professional. Bordered by King Street West to the north, Dufferin Street to the west, the Gardiner Expressway to the south, and Strachan Avenue and the CP railway track to the northeast, this new ‘hood is a hotbed of tech startups and communications firms, potentially making the office just steps away from the luxe condo you call home.
This area is a driver’s paradise, and with quick access to the Gardiner, as well as access to the King streetcar and Bloor subway line via the Dufferin bus, work/life balance is a breeze for those working in the core.
This neighbourhood skews younger than average for Toronto, and on the weekends, it’s a local tradition for the area’s rise-and-grinders to hit up the Liberty Village Goodlife gym, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen for brunch, or nearby Trinity Bellwoods Park to chill at the dog park.
For singles, Liberty Village offers plenty of nightlife, and trendy West Queen West is right around the corner.
Like its cousin to the southwest, Davisville Village is a go-to for young professionals in Toronto. Davisville Village is a more established neighbourhood than Liberty Village, and its acres of high rise towers close to the subway have been the stomping grounds of the young professional crowd for generations.
This midtown location has it all: all the amenities of uptown Yonge and Eglinton are just steps to the north, and immediate access to transit on the Yonge line will have you in the downtown core in under 10 minutes.
Rent prices here skew lower than other trendy areas of the city, and you get real bang for your buck here: many of these older buildings are solidly constructed, beautifully maintained, and offer tons of space, natural light, and city views. Some come with great amenities like tennis courts, gyms, and outdoor pools. Davisville Village is a classic for a reason — just ask any one of the many young singles who call Davisville home.
If playing it straight isn’t for you, check out Brockton Village, a hotspot for the queer community of Toronto.
Conveniently located on the Bloor subway line as well as the College and Dundas streetcars, and just a hop and a skip away from the UP Express to Pearson Airport, moving to Brockton will allow you to play hard in your downtime without having to set your alarm too early to commute to the core the next morning.
The community here skews younger than the queer community in the Church-Wellesley Village, where rising prices closer to downtown have displaced younger folks who are getting established in their careers.
This diverse neighbourhood offers great nightlife, coffee, and eats, and all at more reasonable prices than other Toronto neighbourhoods. West Queen West is just south of the neighbourhood for nights when you want to break the bank.
Safest neighbourhoods in Toronto
1. Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills
This posh uptown enclave is as picturesque as it looks.
If you are looking for a safe neighbourhood, this area boasts some of the city’s lowest crime rates across the board. Living here is pricey, but if you can make it work, you will be plentifully rewarded with beautiful garden views, winding cul-de-sacs, access to some of the best schools, hospitals, and green spaces in the city, and you can take it all in breathing a sigh of relief.
Head uptown to de-stress from the hectic pace of the city.
2. Milliken
You don’t have to take out a second mortgage to live in a safe neighbourhood in Toronto. Located on the border of Scarborough and Markham, Milliken is true to its suburban roots. Violent and nonviolent crime rates are consistently reported to be among the lowest in the city here.
As a bonus, prices here are considerably lower than other low-crime areas of the city, and living here, you have easy access to downtown Markham and Scarborough Town Centre, as well as a quick commute downtown when these quaint suburban streets have you craving city life.
3. Yonge-St. Clair (Deer Park)
Looking for all the conveniences of downtown living without being in the thick of the urban jungle? Head a few blocks north to Yonge and St. Clair, also known as Deer Park.
This area, which has been home to families and office towers for generations, is a neighbourhood rapidly on the rise. While it strives to maintain its low-key uptown feel, new boutique condos, destination dining, and recreation are slated for development in this prime location right on the Yonge line.
If you weren’t convinced that this urban professional paradise has plenty to offer already, consider that it has consistently boasted some of the city’s lowest crime rates for years. Also, this renter-friendly area usually has plenty of stock available to suit most budgets.
4. The Beach
While no Torontonian can decide if it’s called The Beaches or The Beach, whatever this place is called, it’s your go-to if you want to live close to downtown and the waterfront without compromising safety.
This family-friendly neighbourhood with TTC access and great schools is a known haven for parents and their little ones. Unlike the water levels, crime rates are consistently low here. It would be criminal not to live right next to the beach!
This modest, suburban-style neighbourhood that borders York Region is another family haven offering reasonable home prices in a safe, homey, and community-oriented neighbourhood with low crime.
Residents here know their neighbours and keep their eye on their beloved community, which families have called home for generations. With TTC and highway access, it’s a snap to get from Bathurst Manor to downtown Toronto or anywhere in the GTA.
Top places for students to live in Toronto
You thought we were going to start with The Annex, didn’t you? While undeniably a great location for the University of Toronto and George Brown students, scarcity has caused Annex rents to skyrocket recently, pricing many budget-conscious students out.
While there are still gems to be hunted here, we suggest you head east to Seaton Village, also known as Koreatown. Just east of the Annex between Bloor and Harbord to Christie Pits, this tiny little ‘hood is packed with great student apartments at reasonable prices, many of which are in newly renovated homes with all the bells and whistles.
TTC access at Christie station and bike lanes on Bloor and Harbord make getting to class a breeze, and you’ll be close enough to campus that you’ll have no reason to hit that snooze button.
Can you guess who lives here? York University Heights is a great little ‘hood catering to York students.
Cheap eats (and pints) are everywhere, and housing is optimized to share with roommates, although you can find good deals on bachelor units here if Rez life has traumatized you permanently.
With easy access to the York University GO station, it’s never been so simple to visit your folks or party downtown while living and working steps from class.
Students attending downtown universities will love the sticker prices that come with a place in the Garden District. This up-and-coming neighbourhood steps from Ryerson has been transformed lately, with many, shiny new condos. Many of these slick buildings are privately owned student residences, which offer all-inclusive meal plans, laundry, Internet, and social activities, among other amenities.
Allan Gardens is a relaxing space for plant lovers to chill when stressing out between exams, and close proximity to transit, cheap eats, and the bright lights of Yonge and Dundas make the Garden District a unique neighbourhood to call home.
4. Bloordale/Bloorcourt
It has come to this writer’s attention that the area around Bloor Street West between Dovercourt and Lansdowne may house the world’s highest concentration of grad students. Perhaps this is because rent is cheaper farther out from the core. Perhaps it’s because TAs would rather drop dead than end up having a beer next to one of their students at Sneaky Dee’s.
We can’t explain it, this area simply attracts postdocs like moths to a flame. Perhaps it’s all the bike lanes. Whatever it is, check out Bloordale/Bloorcourt if you’re looking to live near school without living at it.
Up-and-coming Toronto neighbourhoods to live in
1. Regent Park
This neighbourhood, which once consisted solely of social housing development, began plans for revitalization in 2005.
Today, the neighbourhood is lively and vibrant. It’s a self-sufficient, mixed-income, multi-use community that houses many young professionals and students who want quick bike or streetcar commutes to their daily grinds while saving piles on rent. Thanks to the redevelopment, many of the housing options in Regent Park are brand-spanking-new, with all of the bells and whistles.
Condos here boast gorgeous skyline views and have amenities like balconies and in-suite laundry. Arts hubs thrive here to keep the community’s original spirit alive. Crime is still higher here than other neighbourhoods of Toronto, but the area has seen a significant reduction in recent years.
2. Mimico
This gem of a community tucked away on Etobicoke’s lakeshore has been on the up-and-up for years. Once considered isolated from Etobicoke and Toronto, as development has spread like wildfire in all directions, Mimico is coming up in a major way.
Brand new lakefront condos are selling for as low as $400,000 — unheard of closer to the core. Rents in these buildings reflect these lower market prices.
Mimico also offers plenty in the way of low-, mid-, and high-rise apartment buildings, as well as rancher-style mid-century homes, as the neighbourhood began as a postwar suburb. If you’re looking for all the conveniences of Toronto at a fraction of the cost, get into the Mimico market while you still can.
Now we’ve highlighted a few of the hot spots to live in Toronto it’s your job to pack up and plan a move to this wonderful city. Here’s a list of the top five top moving companies in Toronto.
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