What are the best neighbourhoods in Toronto? If you’re considering a move to, or within, this great city, this is definitely something you’ll want to know more about. If city living isn’t for you, you may also find this article about the best neighbourhoods in Durham Region interesting.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city, known for its vibrant neighborhoods, each with their own unique charm and character. In this article, we will explore the top 10 best neighborhoods in Toronto, highlighting their distinct features, amenities, and why they are considered exceptional places to live.
Top Ten Best Neighbourhoods in Toronto
BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS IN TORONTO | THE ANNEX
Kicking off the list is “The Annex:, located near the University of Toronto. The boundaries cover north to Dupont, south to Bloor St. west to Bathurst and east to Avenue Rd. Since this spot is home to UofT, it’s also home to many fraternity houses and members of the school’s faculty.
The Annex has a dynamic population, and is popular with highly educated people, predominantly ranging from 20-50 years of age. Bordering the University of Toronto, the Annex has long been a student quarter and is also home to members of the university’s faculty.
This area is primarily residential, with many tree-lined one way streets. The houses are a mix of Victoria and Edwardian homes and mansions, many built between 1880 and the early 1900’s. These are often known as Annex style houses. They tend to feature large rounded Romanesque arches along with Queen Anne style decorative items such as turrets. The eastern edge of the neighbourhood includes the Yorkville area which has a wide variety of businesses and condos. The western edge encompasses the area of Seaton Village which contains primarily detached homes.
Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood offers a lively atmosphere with its bustling streets lined with eclectic shops, restaurants, and cafes. This historic area is renowned for its Victorian-style homes, tree-lined streets, and proximity to cultural institutions such as the Royal Ontario Museum. Its trendy community and convenient access to public transit make it a highly sought-after neighborhood.
BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS IN TORONTO | BRIDLE PATH, SUNNYBROOK, YORK MILLS
Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills is a higher income neighbourhood in Toronto with highly educated residents ranging primarily from 20-60 years old. The Bridle Path, in particular, is characterized by large multi million dollar mansions and estates, some 2-4 acres in size. This is known as THE most affluent neighbourhood, not only in Toronto, but also across Canada. Few roads pass through the area, adding to it’s exclusivity.
This area in Toronto was formerly part of North York, but is now part of Toronto. It is a secluded neighbourhood, surrounded by the Don River Valley and lush parklands. Hoggs Hollow, also in this area, and is named after Joseph Hogg, a Scotsman who settled in the area in 1824. Subdivision of the present day Hoggs Hollow neighbourhood began in the 1920s with the creation of lots, layout of roads, and design of homes reflecting the aesthetic of the English countryside.
BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS IN TORONTO | HIGH PARK
As one of Toronto’s largest and most beloved green spaces, High Park (Swansea as well as North) is a haven for nature lovers. This Toronto neighborhood is home to a vast parkland with walking trails, gardens, a zoo, and even a picturesque lake. High Park also offers a diverse range of housing options, including stunning heritage homes and spacious apartments.
High Park-Swansea has a consistent population, and is popular with highly educated people from 20-50 years of age, like the Annex. The High Park neighbourhood is mainly residential, with many semi-detached homes built in the early 20th century.
The park after which this neighbourhood is named after covers a whopping 400 acres, mixed with both recreational and natural parkland. There are sporting facilities, cultural facilities, educational facilities, gardens, playgrounds and a zoo. North of the park, the neighbourhood has several high-rise apartment buildings, built after the construction of the Bloor-Danforth subway.
BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS IN TORONTO | LEASIDE
The Leaside neighbourhood in Toronto is located in Northeast downtown Toronto in the vicinity of Eglinton Ave. East and Bayview Ave. It was initially a township of York, but amalgamated into Toronto in 1998.
The Leaside neighbouroood’s population is fairly consistent. Residents in this Toronto neighbourood have a higher than average income and is popular with families, as well as people into their 40’s and 50’s. Although Leaside is right in the centre of the city, it feels like a village. It is a great shopping destination with boutique shops and unique restaurants. In terms of the homes themselves, they are mostly single-family homes housing upper-middle-class families. The southern tip of the neighbourhood is known as Bennington Heights.
BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS IN TORONTO | FOREST HILL
Forest Hill North and South both have consistent populations, very popular with educated residents between the ages of 20-50 years old. Residents comprise of prominent entrepreneurs, celebrities, engineers, doctors, and lawyers based on census data.
It’s known as one of the wealthier areas in Toronto with most homes built in the 1920’s and 1930’s. At that time, it was required that each home was planned by an architect and also that each property had a tree planted at the facade.
It goes without saying that this neighbourhood in Toronto is one of the cities most picturesque. There are many parkettes, gently sloping hills, and winding roads, providing the neighbourhood with a special appeal. This part of Toronto can be found in midtown.
BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS IN TORONTO | CORSO ITALIA-DAVENPORT
Known for its vibrant cultural scene and delectable cuisine, Corso Italia-Davenport is more commonly known as “Little Italy”. This neighbourhood in Toronto is an ethnic enclave, primarily populated by people of Italian heritage. The main strip along College Street is filled with trattorias, cafes, gelato shops, and a wide variety of trendy boutiques.
This Toronto hosts annual street festivals, such as the Taste of Little Italy, which attracts both locals and visitors. In terms of population, it is consistent with people ranging from 20-50 years old. There is also a significant Latin American and Portuguese community in the area. The community is the eastern half of what was earlier known as Earlscourt. Earlscourt was originally settled by British immigrants in 1906, and was annexed by the City of Toronto in 1910.
Fun Fact! In my past career as an event planner, my company was responsible for organizing annual performances at the annual CHIN Picnic from 2004-2015.
BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS IN TORONTO | RONCESVALLES
Roncesvalles is a culturally rich neighborhood known for its European charm and strong sense of community. This area is lined with charming shops, cafes, and restaurants, offering a unique blend of international cuisines. Residents of Roncesvalles enjoy the neighborhood’s close-knit community, beautiful tree-lined streets, and its convenient access to High Park.
This Roncesvalles Toronto neighbourhood has a consistent population primarily 20-50 years of age. Roncesvalles (aka “Ronces”) street has been known as the commercial and cultural centre of Toronto’s Polish Community for years. There are a plenty of small businesses, many independently owned and operated. Roncesvalles is very well known for the large number of small restaurants, cafés and specialty food shops of various cuisines.
BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS IN TORONTO | ROSEDALE
Rosedale is one of Toronto’s most prestigious neighborhoods, renowned for its stately homes, tree-lined streets, and serene surroundings. Located just north of downtown, Rosedale offers a tranquil escape from the city’s hustle and bustle while still providing convenient access to amenities, upscale shops, and esteemed private schools.
This Toronto neighbourhood is located in Central Toronto and was formerly the estate of William Botsford Jarvis. It was well known for the abundance of roses that grew there. It’s located north of the downtown core and is one of the cities oldest suburbs. Residents have a higher than average income and many are well educated. The average age spans 20-60 years.
Rosedale is one of the wealthiest and most highly priced neighbourhoods in Canada. Built among three ravines, preserved as parkland, Rosedale is full of cul de sacs. There are also many convoluted routes through the neighbourhood, which coupled with other physical boundaries (such as the ravines and bridges) leads to low levels of vehicular traffic.
Moore Park, located in Rosedale, is one of Toronto’s most affluent neighbourhoods. The neighbourhood takes its name from its developer, John T. Moore. It is surrounded by ravines and parklands. The northern boundary is Mount Pleasant Cemetery and the southern the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks.
BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS IN TORONTO | THE BEACHES
Located along the shores of Lake Ontario, The Beaches (aka The Beach) is a picturesque neighborhood that offers a tranquil escape from the bustling city. This beautiful community features charming beach boardwalks, parks, and a wide range of recreational activities. The Beaches also boasts a thriving arts and music scene, along with a variety of shops and restaurants.
Located east of downtown Toronto, the Beaches is considered to be within the “Old” City of Toronto. The general boundaries span Victoria Park Ave. along Kingston Rd. then Dundas St. to Coxwell Ave. on the west.
This neighbourhood is densely populated and is popular with highly educated people 30-60 years old. There are four beaches found in this area including Woodbine Beach, Cherry Beach, Bluffer’s Beach and Kew-Balmy Beach. The commercial district is very popular in this area, the heart of the community. It includes a large number of independent specialty stores. The side streets are predominantly lined with semi-detached and large-scale Victorian, Edwardian and new-style houses. There are also some low-rise apartment buildings and row-houses.
BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS IN TORONTO | YONGE & EGLINTON
Yonge–Eglinton is a neighbourhood is central to the area of Midtown Toronto, one of four central business districts outside Downtown Toronto. The City of Toronto defines its boundaries as Briar Hill Avenue to the north, Yonge Street to the east, Frobisher Avenue and a line in that direction west to Elmsthorpe Avenue, then north to Eglinton Avenue, east to Avenue Road and north to Briar Hill.
According to a survey conducted in 2017 by Toronto Life, it was the highest-ranked neighbourhood in Greater Toronto in terms of housing, crime rate, transit, health, entertainment, people and employment. It is geographically central to the city of Toronto and surrounded by a number of the country’s highly affluent neighbourhoods, including Forest Hill, Lytton Park and Lawrence Park.
Yonge-Eglinton has a high population largely ranging from 20-50 years old. This neighbourhood in Toronto is a hub of activity with plenty of restaurants, boutiques and shops dotted along the streets. A number of businesses have their corporate headquarters at the intersection. The southern part of the area is also known as Chaplin Estates and contains plenty of single-family detached homes.
Other notable neighbourhoods include Liberty Village, Leslieville, Yorkville, Willowdale
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