Often, when I host open houses at my listings in Scarborough, potential buyers from all different parts of Toronto visit the property. Most people consider Scarborough the same as Toronto. In this blog, I will highlight why you should consider Scarborough a place to live. I’ll discuss key benefits, proximity to Toronto, transit options, affordable housing, and local lifestyle perks.
Where is Scarborough?
Scarborough is close to Toronto and conveniently located on the city’s east side. Most Scarborough neighbourhoods are within walking distance of many transit options, parks, and the waterfront.
Benefits of Living in Scarborough
Living in Scarborough gives you easy access to venues such as Scotiabank Arena and Rogers Centre if you enjoy attending sporting events or concerts. Do you like to visit the Christmas Market in the Distillery District? Maybe you enjoy meeting friends for brunch in the St. Lawrence Market area. Going for dinner on The Danforth is a great way to spend a night out. The Jazz Festival in The Beach community is a fun and well-attended summer event. Living in Scarborough offers you everything Toronto has to offer, and living there is less congested, quieter, and less expensive.
Are you a senior interested in living in Scarborough? Here are a few more posts you might find helpful:
- Is Scarborough Good For Seniors?
- What are Scarborough’s Best Neighbourhoods for Seniors?
- How to Find a Real Estate Agent for Seniors in Scarborough?
Does Scarborough Have Good Public Transit?
The variety of transit options makes Scarborough a practical and economical place to live. Every community has TTC bus stops, which connect you to subway lines or the GO Train if necessary. Some communities are within walking distance of the subway and GO Train. Once on the subway or the GO Train, you are as close as a 15 or 20-minute train ride into downtown Toronto’s Union Station.
Another transit option coming soon is the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (don’t laugh if you’re reading this in 2030, and it’s still under construction). It’s a 19-kilometre light rail rapid transit system running east to west, connecting Toronto neighbourhoods from Kennedy Station in Scarborough to Mt. Dennis on the west side of Toronto and everything in between.
The Ontario line, also under construction at this writing, will connect with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT at Don Mills Road. It offers further transit options and conveniences, connecting Scarborough residents to the rest of Toronto. This will increase the value of properties in Scarborough because transit is crucial for getting people around the city. Driving is becoming increasingly more challenging, and residents want good transit options.
If you like to travel or must travel for work, using UP Express is a game changer. It runs every 15 minutes from Union Station to Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1, with a link to Terminal 3, totaling four stations: Union, Bloor, Weston, and Pearson. The commute time from Union Station to Pearson is 25 minutes.
If you’re flying out of Billy Bishop Island Airport, you have an easy commute too. Just take the GO Train or TTC subway to Union Station. From Union Station, go outside onto Front Street, and there’s a shuttle, which runs every 15 minutes, free of charge, will pick you up in front of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel and take you to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
Does Scarborough Have Trails and Green Spaces?
If you like to commute by walking or riding a bicycle, Scarborough is close to some incredible trail systems, such as Taylor Creek and the Martin Goodman Trail. The Martin Goodman Trail has a primary access point at Balmy Beach at the bottom of Silverbirch Ave in The Beach. The trail spans 22 kilometers across Toronto’s waterfront. Going as far west as Sir Casimir Gzowski Park at Humber Bridge. Taylor Creek has a primary access point at Dawes Rd or Victoria Park Ave. This East York Park borders Scarborough’s Clairlea-Birchmount neighbourhood and is 7 kilometers long. This trail system runs between Victoria Park Ave and Don Mills Rd, connecting people to many central Toronto neighbourhoods.
Are you keeping your options open for retirement? If you’re on the fence about the best place in Ontario to retire, here are some posts you might find helpful:
- Should I Retire to the Suburbs?
- Best Small Towns for Retirees in North Durham Region
- Should You Retire in a Rural Area?
Is Living in Scarborough More Affordable than Toronto?
Living in Scarborough offers vibrant neighbourhoods at a fraction of the cost of living in Toronto. As of 2025, you can save 17% on average, equal to $216,000. Scarborough offers every type of housing, including detached, semi-detached, condos, and townhouses.
Shopping and Dining Options in Scarborough
Scarborough offers excellent amenities, such as Costco and the Scarborough Town Centre. Along Eglinton Ave East, there’s a long stretch of shopping plazas with all the big box stores. Also, you can find movie theatres and restaurants for entertainment. If you love to eat multicultural cuisine, Scarborough has so many options available. They might not be as fancy as in downtown Toronto, but it’s authentic—everything from Indian, Japanese, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Chinese, and Sri Lankan.
Before deciding where to retire, read this blog for some key considerations you should look at first.
Best Scarborough Neighbourhoods
What makes many Scarborough neighbourhoods special and unique is that many communities feel like you’re in a small town, close to parks and Lake Ontario, but with all the perks of living in a big city. Scarborough Bluffs, Bluffer’s Park Beach, Scarborough Heights Park, Sylvan Park, Guild Park & Gardens, East Point Park, Rouge Park, and Rouge Beach are great places to walk or cycle, and if you enjoy kayaking, Rouge Park is a must.
The Hunt Club
Take a neighborhood like The Hunt Club, which offers the best lifestyle. It’s a walkable community with many shops and restaurants along Kingston Road. It’s right beside the Beaches community. Being close to The Beach offers the same luxuries but less expensive housing. There are great parks, such as the RC Harris Water Treatment facility, and an incredible green space overlooking Lake Ontario. Or continue west along the boardwalk and take in The Beach. You can also run or cycle along the Martin Goodman Trail. The Hunt Club offers easy access to downtown Toronto.
Birchcliff
If you like small-town charm and simple living, you should consider Birchcliff. The neighbourhood is primarily composed of detached bungalows and two-story houses. However, it is experiencing a transition to new condos being built along Kingston Road. Residents in Birchcliff have pride in their community. If you enjoy walking to a local café for a coffee, you will love “The Birchcliff”, a local café on Kingston Road. Birchmount Community Centre is a hub of the community, offering programs for everyone when it comes to health and wellness.
Scarborough Bluffs
A neighbourhood like Scarborough Bluffs is serene. Mostly made up of detached houses on large lots. It’s a quiet community with lots of green space and excellent schools. When you drive down the streets, it’s like you’re in the country, but you have all the conveniences of a city. Along the stretch of Kingston Road, new condo developments are being built. The Bluffs, as it is affectionately known, is a highly desirable community. Some streets in the bluffs have direct views of Lake Ontario and are within walking distance of Bluffers Park Beach. The price point is higher than other Scarborough neighbourhoods but far less expensive than comparable luxury neighbourhoods in Toronto.
Guildwood (AKA The Guild)
I have clients who live in Guildwood. The Guild is in the east area of Scarborough and consists mainly of detached houses. There are some condo options on Guildwood Parkway and Dale Ave, though. The Guild has a tremendous history, community pride, and events. It is within walking distance of Lake Ontario. Homes are more secluded, and some streets offer extraordinary views of Lake Ontario. The dynamic in The Guild is families, but many of my retired clients love living there, too.
Want to learn more about downsizing in The Guild? Read our blog all about it right here.
For many of my clients, travel is a big part of their retirement plan. The Guildwood GO Train Station is a 10-minute walk from Guildwood. It’s a simple commute to Union Station. Once at Union Station, you can hop on the UP Express, which runs every 15 minutes, to Pearson in 25 minutes. The thought of driving your car in Toronto traffic and the cost of airport parking is easily avoided.
Cliffside
One of the best dollar-for-value communities in Scarborough is Cliffside. This community is filled with detached homes on good-sized lots. There are some semi-detached homes, too, but the trend of newly built condos is increasing along Kingston Rd. Of all the Scarborough neighborhoods, you will be hard-pressed to find one that offers more amenities than Cliffside. Cliffside is a short walk to Scarborough Bluffs. Multiple TTC routes are available within walking distance, and depending on where you are in the community, the Scarborough GO Train station is a 10-minute walk. The GO train from Scarborough Station will get you into Union Station in 20 minutes.
West Hill
West Hill is a community with a great history in Scarborough. The pockets of homes offer a variety of styles and price points. If you’re downsizing and want a simpler lifestyle, you can easily find a 1950s or 60s wartime detached bungalow. If you want something more significant, there are custom homes on massive lots towards the east end of West Hill. Consider the Tridel condo on Ling Road if you want something more cost-effective. West Hill also has many parks, shopping, and transit options. West Hill would be considered one of the most affordable communities in Scarborough.
Highland Creek
Highland Creek is a quaint village with incredible parks and recreation. This community also has a real sense of pride, and it shows. If you enjoy the outdoors, then you’ll love Highland Creek Valley. Highland Creek is also home to the Toronto Pan-Am Sports Centre, a world-class recreation facility. The University of Toronto has a Scarborough campus right in the heart of Highland Creek.
The type of housing available in Highland Creek is primarily large, detached homes. There are some townhome communities, and a condo is currently being built overlooking Highland Creek Valley at Military Trial and Kingston Road. The south-facing views will be spectacular. If you plan to live in Highland Creek, expect to own a car.
West Rouge
West Rouge is a community gem bordering Pickering in the east end of Scarborough. West Rouge is one of those communities that my clients often target as a destination to move to. You will mostly find mature properties on large lots. Some sections offer newer homes in planned subdivisions. If you want the convenience of a condo, then you can choose from a variety of condo townhomes at the bottom of Port Union Road next to the Rouge Hill GO Train Station. Since the GO Train is easily accessible from anywhere in West Rouge, getting to downtown Toronto is simple and takes about 40 minutes.
West Rouge is home to some excellent restaurants and pubs. A favourite place in the hood is the Black Dog. Is being outdoors for you? You’ll want to check out Rouge Beach & Park. If you enjoy walking with the dog or a summertime paddle, nothing beats summertime kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding at Rouge Beach. Maybe you have the Pickleball bug. You can play Pickleball at the Port Union Community Recreation Centre. This is a community where you will want to have a car.
Buying or Selling a Home in Scarborough? Work with a Local Real Estate Agent
As a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), I bring knowledge and experience to help you make informed decisions tailored to your lifestyle and goals. Whether you’re downsizing, relocating, or exploring new neighborhoods, I’m here to guide you through navigating your next chapter. Contact me to start your journey to find the perfect home.
Thinking about making a move in Scarborough? I can help! Give me a call at 647.283.2127 or email stuart@stuartnodell.com to get in touch.
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