Markham, Ontario
Living in Markham Village, Markham
The original Markham. A working main street, deep lots and housing stock that spans well over a century, all within a short walk of a GO station.
Markham Village at a glance
| Price range | TODO: entry to upper range, TRREB, month and year |
|---|---|
| Property types | Century homes near Main Street, 1960s to 1990s detached and bungalows, some newer infill and townhomes |
| Schools | Markham District High School, plus YRDSB and YCDSB elementary options |
| Transit | Markham GO on the Stouffville line, YRT routes on Highway 7 and Markham Road |
| Commute downtown | TODO: scheduled train time from Markham GO to Union Station |
Price bands in Markham Village
| Band | Range | What it buys |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | TODO | Townhomes and the smallest bungalows on the outer streets |
| Mid | TODO | Post war and 1970s detached, often on larger than average lots |
| Upper | TODO | Renovated detached close to Main Street and larger newer builds |
| Premium | TODO | Century homes on Main Street and custom rebuilds on oversized lots |
Figures are general information for the period stated and are not an appraisal of any specific property.
The short answer
Markham Village is where the city started. Main Street Markham still functions as a real main street rather than a weekend destination, the housing stock runs from century homes to 1990s builds and the lots in the older core are often deeper than anything you will find in newer north Markham.
If Unionville is the postcard, Markham Village is the working version. You give up some of the polish and you get more land and a lower entry point.
The pockets that matter
The historic core sits along and around Main Street Markham North and South. Century houses, some converted to commercial use, mixed with post war infill.
The mature belt spreads east and north from the core. This is the bulk of the market: 1960s through 1990s detached homes and bungalows, mature trees, wide streets.
The newer edges toward Ninth Line and north toward Wismer bring later subdivisions and townhomes, with smaller lots and newer mechanicals.
What homes cost
TODO: fill the price band table in this file’s frontmatter with TRREB figures for a stated month and yearThe reason to pay attention here is the rebuild premium. A tired bungalow on a deep lot in the older core is not priced as a house. It is priced as land and it competes with builders. If you are buying to live in rather than to rebuild, look slightly outside the core and the maths improves quickly.
Schools
Markham District High School is the main YRDSB secondary school for much of the neighbourhood. Elementary options include both public boards. Boundaries are reviewed periodically and they do change, so confirm the catchment for the exact address rather than for the area.
Parks, amenities and daily life
Main Street carries independent restaurants, a few long established shops and the civic buildings. Day to day shopping happens along Highway 7 and Markham Road. The Markham Fairgrounds sit on the north edge of the neighbourhood and bring one busy week a year with them.
Parks and the Rouge tributary trails run through the area and the older streets have the tree canopy to match their age.
The honest trade-off: older housing means older systems. Budget for it. The other trade-off is Highway 7 and Markham Road traffic, which is real and which shapes where you will and will not want to be on a corner lot.
Transit and the commute
Markham GO sits on the Stouffville line into Union Station. YRT routes run along Highway 7 and Markham Road, connecting to Viva bus rapid transit on the Highway 7 corridor. Highway 407 access is a short drive.
TODO: confirm the current scheduled train time from Markham GO to Union StationWho Markham Village suits
It suits buyers who want land and are willing to renovate. It suits downsizers who have lived in the area for decades and want to stay. It suits first time buyers who need a central location at a lower entry point than Unionville.
It does not suit buyers who want everything new and finished. For that, look at Cornell, Greensborough or Wismer.
Markham Village questions
How is Markham Village different from Unionville?
Both have a historic main street, but Markham Village is less of a tourist destination and the housing stock is more varied. Lots are often deeper, prices are usually lower and the streets are quieter on weekends.
Are the lots really bigger here?
In much of the older core, yes. Frontages and depths from the 1960s and 1970s tend to beat what newer north Markham subdivisions offer, which is why rebuilders keep looking here.
What should I watch for in the older houses?
Knob and tube wiring, galvanised or older copper plumbing, aluminium wiring in some 1970s builds and original windows. None of these are deal breakers but they belong in your budget.
Is it walkable to the GO station?
From a good portion of the older core, yes. From the newer pockets north and east it is a drive or a bus. Always check the specific address.
What is the high school?
Markham District High School is the main YRDSB secondary option for much of the area. Catchments are reviewed periodically, so confirm the boundary for your address.
Is this a good area for a first purchase?
Often yes. Townhomes and smaller bungalows here tend to be more attainable than comparable stock in Unionville or Angus Glen and the location is central.
Market data. Price information on this page is general information drawn from Toronto Regional Real Estate Board data for the period stated. It is not an appraisal, not an opinion of value for any specific property and not guaranteed.
Not advice. Nothing here is legal, tax, mortgage or investment advice. School catchments are set by the school boards and are reviewed periodically. Confirm the boundary for any specific address with the board directly.
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