Is Markham a Good Place to Retire? What the City Offers

The short answer

People asking whether Markham is a good place to retire are usually asking something more practical: where is the hospital, what does the bus cost, what is there to do and what kind of home could I move into. This post answers those questions with what the City of Markham, York Region Transit, GO Transit, Markham Public Library and Oak Valley Health publish today. It describes what is here. Whether it suits you depends on your own health, budget and plans.

If you are coming from outside the city, our guide to relocating to Markham covers the first year step by step. If you already live here and are thinking about a smaller home, our Markham downsizing guide covers the move itself.

Hospital access

Markham Stouffville Hospital is at 381 Church Street, Markham. It is part of Oak Valley Health, which also runs Uxbridge Hospital at 4 Campbell Drive in Uxbridge. Oak Valley Health lists an Emergency Department at the Markham site.

Distance to the hospital is one of the things worth checking for any specific address you are considering. Drive it or plan the transit trip at the time of day you would actually travel.

Getting around: YRT for riders 65 and over

York Region Transit, including Viva, runs the local buses in Markham. YRT defines a senior as anyone aged 65 or over and may ask for any government issued identification to confirm age.

YRT senior fare (65+)	From July 1, 2026
PRESTO	$2.60
Cash, credit or debit	$4.65

YRT announced the PRESTO senior fare rose from $2.52 to $2.60 on July 1, 2026.

Two YRT programs matter for regular riders:

• Fare Capping Program. A senior paying with PRESTO or PRESTO in a mobile wallet rides free after 28 trips in a calendar month. The count resets each month.
• On-Request 65+. A door to door service in smaller accessible vehicles for riders 65 or older, for trips within 5 kilometres of the starting point such as home. It runs weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is booked on the same day through the YRT On-Request app, online or by phone at 1-888-762-2950, starting at 7 a.m. The fare is the regular senior fare.

The City of Markham also lists Mobility On-Request Paratransit, which the City describes as door to door, shared ride, accessible public transit for people with disabilities. Eligibility for that service is assessed separately, so check with YRT directly.

GO Transit and the transit tax credit

For trips into Toronto or across the region, GO Transit says riders 65 or older save 55 percent with a PRESTO card or GO E-ticket. You can set the Seniors fare type on your PRESTO card at Union Station or a Customer Service Outlet, after which the discount applies automatically. Our post on commuting from Markham by GO train covers the stations and lines.

Ontario also offers the Ontario Seniors’ Public Transit Tax Credit. According to ontario.ca, you must be 65 or older on the last day of the tax year you are claiming for and live in Ontario at the end of that year. You can claim up to $3,000 in eligible transit expenses and receive up to $450 a year. Fares on municipal transit and Metrolinx services count. If you pay with PRESTO, a usage report that shows your name serves as proof. The credit is claimed on your personal income tax return, so confirm your own eligibility with your accountant or tax preparer.

Older adults clubs and community centres

The City of Markham describes itself as an age friendly community and works in partnership with five volunteer based older adults clubs. Each runs its own programs and membership.

Club	Where it meets
Angus Glen Older Adults Club	Angus Glen Community Centre, 3990 Major Mackenzie Drive
Armadale Older Adults Club	Armadale Community Centre, 2401 Denison Street
Older Adults in Action	Markham Seniors Activity Centre, 22 Water Street
Milliken on the Move	Milliken Mills Community Centre, 7600 Kennedy Road
Thornhill Seniors Club	Thornhill Seniors Centre, 7755 Bayview Avenue

The activities the City lists for these clubs include bridge, line dancing, table tennis, badminton, yoga, Zumba, snooker, karaoke, Tai Chi, Mah Jong, Chinese calligraphy and pickleball, with each club offering its own mix. The Angus Glen club and the Markham Seniors Activity Centre list membership from age 55. The Markham Seniors Activity Centre officially opened in 1991 and is home to Older Adults in Action, a volunteer run not for profit incorporated in 1988.

Because these are volunteer clubs, fees, schedules and waitlists are set by each club. Contact the one nearest the address you are considering before you assume a spot is available.

Markham Public Library

Markham Public Library has eight branches: Aaniin, Angus Glen, Cornell, Markham Village, Milliken Mills, Thornhill Community Centre, Thornhill Village and Unionville. For older adults, the library lists:

• large print books, audiobooks and eAudiobooks
• Dementia Care Kits with books, games and puzzles
• English Conversation Circle programs at several branches
• workshops on AI and scam safety offered in Mandarin and Cantonese
• alternative format books through the Centre for Equitable Library Access

The library also offers homebound service, with several delivery options. It asks readers to contact their preferred branch to find out which option fits.

City services that help at home

Two City of Markham services are worth knowing about if you plan to stay in a house with a driveway:

• Snow Windrow Removal Assistance Program. Everyone in the household must be 60 or older, with proof of age. Household members aged 12 to 60 need a doctor’s certificate confirming they cannot clear snow. Crews clear one car width of the windrow after a 7.5 centimetre snowfall, within 4 hours of the road being plowed. Homes with rear lanes and homes on private roads, including condominiums, do not qualify. Approved seniors are renewed automatically each winter.
• Assisted Collection Service. For residents who cannot get recycling and garbage to the curb because of a temporary or permanent physical disability. Eligibility is based on physical ability rather than age, a physician’s certification is required and the application is reviewed every 12 months.

Property tax is the other ongoing cost of staying in a house. Our post on Markham property tax relief programs for seniors covers what the City and the province offer. Our Markham property tax post explains how the bill is set.

Language access

The City of Markham says its Contact Centre, at 905.477.5530, can help you ask about City services in more than 200 languages. As noted above, Markham Public Library also runs some programs in Mandarin and Cantonese alongside its English Conversation Circles.

Housing options if you are downsizing

Many people planning retirement in Markham are also deciding whether to stay in the family home or move to something smaller. Markham’s housing stock offers several types to compare:

• Bungalows and bungalofts, which put the main bedroom on the ground floor. Our page of Markham bungalows for sale shows what is listed now.
• Condo apartments, which usually mean an elevator, no exterior maintenance and monthly fees. See Markham condos for sale. Note that homes on private roads, including condominiums, fall outside the City’s windrow program, because snow clearing is handled differently there.
• Townhouses, freehold or condominium, which come in a range of sizes.

Our Markham neighbourhoods for downsizing page looks at areas by housing type and our post comparing a bungalow, condo or townhouse for downsizing sets out the tradeoffs. The downsizing guide walks through timing the sale and the purchase.

What to check before you decide

1. Plan the trip from the address you are considering to Markham Stouffville Hospital and to your own doctor.
2. Set the Seniors fare type on your PRESTO card if you are 65 or over. Keep your usage report for the transit tax credit.
3. Contact the older adults club and the library branch nearest the address to confirm current programs and membership.
4. If you are staying in a house, check whether it qualifies for the windrow program before winter.
5. Confirm any tax credit or property tax program with your accountant or the City before you count on it.

If you would like to talk through housing options for a move within Markham, contact us.