Introduction
Chaplin Estates is a small, quiet neighbourhood in mid-town Toronto. It's bordered by Eglinton to the north, Chaplin Crescent to the south, Yonge to the east and Avenue Road to the west. Chaplin Estates was developed and marketed as an upscale residential neighbourhood, and the developers introduced many building and zoning restrictions to ensure the area kept that high-class tone and feel.
Lifestyle
Chaplin Estates is very much a place for families to live — it feels like a place to return to after a night out rather than the night’s destination. There is plenty of shopping, action, and night-life nearby on Eglinton and Yonge, but the streets of Chaplin Estates itself are quiet and peaceful and you generally need to venture outside the neighbourhood boundaries for excitement.
The Vibe
Chaplin Estates is a quiet, affluent and family-friendly neighbourhood. The streets are green, with lots of trees and large lawns. Sidewalks make it a safe area to walk. There's shopping on Yonge Street and just west of the neighbourhood on Eglinton and the Oriole Parkway can be a busy traffic corridor, but for the most part the streets are quiet.
Meet the Neighbours
There are lots of families in Chaplin Estates, with roughly equal numbers of couples with and without children. Most area residents have post-secondary education, and 39 per cent have a household income over $80,000 after tax. Most area residents were born in Canada and trace their ethnic origins to the UK.
In the Area
The Canada Square mall is on the southwest corner of Yonge and Eglinton and the Yonge-Eglinton Centre is just opposite it. There are public and private schools within an easy walk of Chaplin Estates, as well as the Forest Hill branch of the Toronto Public Library and the North York Community Centre and Eglinton Park. The Beltline Trail lies just on the south side of Chaplin Crescent.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Chaplin Estates is convenient to transit, with two subway stops on Yonge at the northern and southern boundaries of the neighbourhood and buses running on Yonge, Eglinton and Avenue Road. Drivers have easy access to the Oriole Parkway to go downtown. Houses have driveways and street parking is available on the main streets, though it can be tough to find a spot.
The Good, the Bad & the Rest
Chaplin Estates is quiet, friendly, and family-oriented, with easy access to transit, shopping, schools and parks. Houses and properties are often beautiful, and it’s a lovely area to stroll through. This is a great place to live, but it’s also an expensive one — both in terms of buying and renting property and the cost of living.
Dollars & Sense
Chaplin Estates is a wealthy neighbourhood and the housing prices reflect it. Although buying property here is expensive renting is more variable, with prices of rental units ranging from average to well above average. The shops and restaurants in the area also tend to be higher priced, although there's a range of prices here as well.
Gallery
Neighbourhood Hotspots
Jaipur Grille
The Jaipur Grille serves quality Indian food in a quiet and classy setting. A flexible fixed-price menu is available for lunches and multi-person meals are available at both dinner and lunch.
more infoMysteriously Yours
Dinner and a show, all rolled into one. Mysteriously Yours produces interactive plays that allow the audience to participate and help solve the mystery. Tickets can include a meal or not, as you prefer.
more infoNorth Toronto Memorial Community Centre
Right next door to Eglinton Park, the North Toronto Community Centre has indoor and outdoor pools (including water slides), a gym and meeting rooms. It also offers programs for people of all ages.
more infoPoor Little Rich Girl
This fashionable boutique clothing store specializes in dresses, with a wide variety of designers and styles —everything from gowns and evening wear to casual summer dresses. Skits, tops, pants, and jewellery are also available.
more infoWater Sports
Water Sports sells equipment for swimming and pools, but their main focus is on scuba diving. You can learn to dive, buy gear, or go on trips with other divers. Staff are knowledgable and friendly.
more infoZucca Trattoria
This dinner-only Italian restaurant has a menu that changes with the seasons and makes its own fresh pasta in-house. There is a good selection of both red and white wines.
more info