Compare
Markham vs Toronto: where to buy
Toronto’s median price looks lower than Markham’s, but that number mostly reflects what sells there. About 46% of Toronto’s sales in September 2026 were condo apartments. Compare like with like, then add Toronto’s second land transfer tax.
At a glance, September 2026
| TRREB, September 2026 | Markham | Toronto |
|---|---|---|
| Sales, all property types | 245 | 1,937 |
| Median price, all property types | $1,051,000 | $810,000 |
| Average price, all property types | $1,125,353 | $1,034,320 |
| Detached sales | 108 | 640 |
| Average detached price | $1,534,139 | $1,562,966 |
| Condo apartment sales | 55 | 884 |
| Average condo apartment price | $574,612 | $640,248 |
| Land transfer tax at the median | $17,495 | $25,350 |
| Municipal land transfer tax | No | Yes |
One month of sales moves around, especially in smaller categories, so treat these as a snapshot rather than a trend. Our Markham market reports follow the numbers month by month.
What Toronto’s median measures
TRREB recorded a median of $810,000 in the City of Toronto in September 2026 against $1,051,000 in Markham. But 884 of Toronto’s 1,937 sales were condo apartments, compared with 55 of Markham’s 245. A median drawn mostly from condos will sit well below one drawn mostly from houses.
Like for like, the picture is different. The average detached sale was $1,562,966 in Toronto and $1,534,139 in Markham and the average condo apartment was $640,248 in Toronto and $574,612 in Markham.
Toronto charges a second land transfer tax
A Toronto buyer pays Ontario land transfer tax and the City of Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax on top. A Markham buyer pays the Ontario tax only. On most prices that means the tax on a Toronto purchase is roughly double.
Toronto’s municipal rates also rise steeply on homes over $3 million, from April 1, 2026. Try any price in our land transfer tax calculator.
Commuting from Markham to downtown
Markham has four GO stations on the Stouffville line, Mount Joy, Markham, Centennial and Unionville, with trains to Union Station. Our Markham GO train guide lists the scheduled times from each.
Buying in Toronto instead?
If a home in Toronto itself is on your list, our team works there too. See our Toronto neighbourhood guides on kirbychantoronto.com for home types, prices and transit by neighbourhood.
Choosing within Markham
Markham itself varies a great deal from one neighbourhood to the next, from condo towers in Downtown Markham to heritage streets in Unionville and family crescents in Berczy Village. Our Markham neighbourhood guides compare all twelve and the relocating to Markham guide covers the move itself.
Run your own numbers
Use the land transfer tax calculator and the mortgage calculator on a specific price, read the Markham GO train commute guide or ask us to compare two homes you are considering.