The quick answer
In the markham vs richmond hill comparison, neither city is simply "better": Markham generally offers more entry-level and mid-range detached inventory, while Richmond Hill leans toward established, higher-priced neighbourhoods along the Yonge Street corridor. Prices in the two cities can sit close together, with the ranking shifting depending on housing mix and the specific pocket you're looking at. The right fit comes down to your budget, commute and school catchment priorities.
The short answer
- Markham’s broader price range reflects both entry-tier townhouses in Wismer and Greensborough and estate homes in Unionville and Berczy.
- Richmond Hill trades on fewer sales but tends toward a more premium, established market, with neighbourhoods like Bayview Hill, Mill Pond and South Richvale commanding higher price floors.
- Richmond Hill’s commuting strength is the Yonge Street corridor, while Markham counters with a genuinely competitive GO Train network through Unionville GO and Mount Joy GO.
- Both cities are served by the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board, so school quality is decided at the catchment level, not the city level.
- Property tax rates differ by municipality even though the York Region and provincial education portions are shared, so carrying costs need to be checked city by city.
Markham vs Richmond Hill: how the two markets actually compare
Markham and Richmond Hill sit side by side in York Region and it’s common for buyers relocating to the GTA to cross-shop both without being entirely sure what separates them. Geographically, Markham occupies the northeastern part of the region, bounded by the Oak Ridges Moraine to the north and Rouge National Urban Park to the south and east. Richmond Hill sits more centrally, bordered by Markham to the east, Vaughan to the west, Aurora to the north and Toronto to the south.
Markham’s western communities, places like Angus Glen, Cachet and Berczy Village, actually border Richmond Hill directly, which is part of why the two markets get compared so often. If you’re shopping along that shared edge, the practical differences between the two cities can feel smaller than the map suggests. Further east in Markham, toward Cornell and Box Grove or further west in Richmond Hill, toward Oak Ridges, the character and price points diverge more noticeably.
Price comparison: where does the value sit?
Pricing is the question most buyers actually want answered and it’s also the one that shifts the most from quarter to quarter. Markham’s sales volume generally runs higher than Richmond Hill’s, while overall price levels in the two cities tend to sit close together. That’s why the “which city is cheaper” question really depends on the month, the housing type and the specific neighbourhood you’re comparing.
What does show consistently is that Richmond Hill’s smaller sales count points to a more curated, premium market. Buyers there skew toward established affluence in areas like Bayview Hill, Mill Pond and Oak Ridges. Markham’s wider price range, from entry-tier freehold townhouses up to estate properties in Unionville and Berczy, reflects a market that serves a broader range of budgets.
No price figure should be treated as fixed. Average and median prices move with the mix of homes sold in any given period, so a shift in the number isn’t always a shift in what any individual home is worth. Always pull current, sold comparables for the specific street and housing type you’re considering and ask your agent to walk you through how the MLS Home Price Index benchmark compares to the simple average for that area.
Commute and transit: Markham GO Train vs the Richmond Hill Yonge corridor
For buyers whose daily commute into downtown Toronto matters most, this is often the deciding factor between Markham and Richmond Hill. Richmond Hill’s long-standing advantage is its position along Yonge Street, which has always been one of the primary routes into the city, whether by car, bus or the Viva network.
Markham’s counter is its GO Train access. Unionville GO and Mount Joy GO both provide direct rail service into Union Station and that option has become increasingly competitive for commuters who want to avoid Yonge Street traffic. Neither commute is universally faster: it depends on which part of each city you live in, where you’re commuting to and whether you prefer transit over driving.
Schools in Markham and Richmond Hill
Both cities fall under the same two school boards, the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board, so there isn’t a meaningful “which city has better schools” answer at the municipal level. The differences that matter show up school by school and catchment by catchment.
If a specific school is a priority for your family, the practical step is to look up the catchment boundary for any address you’re seriously considering, rather than assuming one city has an edge over the other. This is true whether you’re comparing a home in Unionville to one in Mill Pond or anywhere else along the Markham-Richmond Hill boundary.
Housing stock: detached, semi-detached, townhouse and condo options
The type of home you want shapes this comparison as much as price does. Markham tends to have deeper inventory of detached homes in the mid-range, particularly in Cornell and Greensborough, which gives buyers who want a house rather than a condo more choice without stretching into the top of the market. Richmond Hill’s detached stock leans more toward established, higher-priced neighbourhoods along the Yonge corridor and in South Richvale.
Townhouses sit between detached homes and condo apartments. They’re often freehold, single-family units, but in newer developments they can carry co-ownership fees similar to a condo. Both cities have meaningful townhouse inventory and this is frequently where first-time buyers in either city end up landing.
A quick side-by-side
| Factor | Markham | Richmond Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Typical sales volume | Higher, broader buyer pool | Lower, more curated market |
| Price range | Wide, from entry-tier townhouses to multi-million-dollar estates | Narrower, skewed toward established, higher-priced areas |
| Detached home value | More mid-range options (Cornell, Greensborough) | Fewer entry points, premium pockets (South Richvale, Bayview Hill) |
| Commute strength | GO Train (Unionville GO, Mount Joy GO) | Yonge Street corridor |
| School boards | YRDSB, York Catholic DSB | YRDSB, York Catholic DSB |
Property taxes and carrying costs
It’s a common assumption that nearby cities in the same region share a tax rate. They don’t. Every York Region municipality, including Markham and Richmond Hill, sets its own municipal tax rate. That municipal rate is then combined with a York Region rate and a provincial education rate and only those last two portions are shared across the region.
This means two homes of similar value in Markham and Richmond Hill can carry different annual tax bills and the gap can matter when you’re comparing total carrying costs rather than just the purchase price. Before you commit to either city, confirm the current municipal rate directly with that city’s finance department for the tax year you’re buying in, rather than relying on a figure from a previous year or a third-party estimate.
What to do next
Start by narrowing your must-haves: commute mode, school catchment and whether you need a detached home or are open to a townhouse or condo. That alone will usually point you toward one city or at least one corridor within either city, more clearly than a general price comparison can.
From there, pull current sold data, not just asking prices, for two or three specific neighbourhoods in each city that match your criteria. Ask about the MLS Home Price Index benchmark for those areas as well as the simple average, since the benchmark strips out some of the distortion caused by an unusually expensive or unusually cheap sale. Finally, get an actual tax estimate for any specific property you’re seriously considering, rather than assuming it will match a number you saw for a different address.
If you’d like help putting real numbers behind this comparison for your own situation, reach out. I’m Kirby Chan of Kirby Chan & Co. Real Estate Team and I work with buyers across Markham and Richmond Hill every week. I can pull current comparables for the specific streets and housing types you’re weighing, walk you through the commute and school catchment details that matter for your life and help you figure out which city actually fits your budget and your plans. Get in touch whenever you’re ready to talk it through.
Common questions
Is Markham or Richmond Hill more expensive?
They sit close together and the ranking shifts depending on the quarter and the mix of homes that sold. Richmond Hill has premium pockets like South Richvale and Bayview Hill, while Markham has estate properties in Unionville and Berczy and both pull the averages around. Always compare the same housing type and the same months before drawing a conclusion.
Which city has a better commute to downtown Toronto?
Richmond Hill's advantage is the Yonge Street corridor, which has long been its commuting spine into the city. Markham counters with its GO Train network, including Unionville GO and Mount Joy GO, which has become a genuinely competitive route into Union Station. The better commute really depends on which neighbourhood you're in and whether you prefer transit or Yonge Street traffic.
Are the schools better in Markham or Richmond Hill?
Both cities are served by the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board, so the overall quality is strong in both places. The real differences show up at the individual school and catchment level, not at the city level. If schools matter to your decision, look up the specific catchment for any address you're considering rather than relying on the city's reputation.
Where can I find cheaper detached homes, Markham or Richmond Hill?
Markham tends to offer more detached options in the mid range, particularly in Cornell and Greensborough, which makes it a reasonable starting point for buyers who want a house rather than a condo without stretching into the top of the market. Richmond Hill's detached stock skews toward established, higher-priced neighbourhoods. Either way, pull current sold data for the specific streets you're considering.
Do Markham and Richmond Hill have the same property tax rate?
No. Every York Region municipality sets its own municipal tax rate, which is combined with a York Region rate and a provincial education rate to produce your final bill. Only the regional and education portions are shared between the two cities, so the totals are not identical. Confirm the current rate directly with each city's finance department before comparing carrying costs.
Is Markham or Richmond Hill better for a first-time buyer?
Markham generally has more entry-level inventory, including freehold townhouses in areas like Wismer and Greensborough, which gives first-time buyers more to choose from at the lower end. Richmond Hill's market leans toward established, higher-priced neighbourhoods with fewer entry-tier options. That said, a first-time buyer's best fit also depends on commute needs and family circumstances, not price alone.
Which city has higher rental yields, Markham or Richmond Hill?
Rental yield depends on both purchase price and achievable rent and both shift constantly in these markets. Rather than quoting a single yield figure, work it out for the specific property: take the expected annual rent, subtract typical costs and divide by the purchase price. Comparing a few active listings in each city against recent rental comparables will give a more honest answer than any general rule of thumb.
Keep exploring
- Markham Village neighbourhood guide The original town centre, with older housing and genuinely deep lots.
- Relocation Choosing a neighbourhood you have never lived in, usually on a deadline.
- First-Time Buyers A real budget, a realistic neighbourhood list and no surprises at closing.
- Mortgage calculator Monthly payment, minimum down payment and the stress test.
- Land transfer tax calculator Ontario tax on any price, with the first-time buyer refund.
Sources
Figures and rules were checked against these sources on the date this post was published or last updated.
Not advice. This post is general information only. It is not legal, tax, mortgage or investment advice. Rules and figures change, so confirm the details for your own situation with a qualified professional before acting.
Market data. Any prices quoted are general information for the period stated. They are not an appraisal or an opinion of value for any specific property.