Stouffville a prized location with a price to match
February 20, 2021
It’s no secret some buyers are looking to move outside the downtown core, or even out of Toronto altogether, in search of bigger homes and more space. Stouffville – or more specifically, Whitchurch-Stouffville, as it is officially known – is one of those locales on their radar. As are Markham and even Unionville, as all of these desired destinations are adjacent to each other.
Indeed, population in all of these areas has long been on the rise, and Stouffville is now the second fastest growing municipality in York Region. The town had projected a total population of 55,800 by 2021 – prior to COVID – and 60,600 in 2031, with 97 per cent of the growth within the urban boundaries of the community.
Nearby Markham is the fourth most populous community in the GTA – after Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton – and has been a hotbed for economic growth and development for years.
Residence has its price
Buying a home in the Markham-Stouffville area may cost you, though, as it has also become one of the GTA’s hottest housing markets.
According to the Royal LePage Home Price Index for the fourth quarter of 2020, aggregate home prices grew 13.9 per cent year-over-year to $1.06 million. Standard two-storey prices also rose, by 14.2 per cent to $1.23 million.
Not only does residence have its price in terms of home costs – average household income is well above the provincial average, which is necessary to support living here – it is also testing local ambitions for growth. The Town aims to facilitate more varied and lower-cost types of housing development to attract newcomers and widen the demographic profile, to support expanding local businesses.
A large portion of Whitchurch–Stouffville lies on the Oak Ridges Moraine, an environmentally sensitive, geological landform stretching 160 kms from the Trent River in the east to the Niagara Escarpment in the west.
Proximity to nature is an obvious appeal here, as more than 1,140 hectares of the 20 York Regional Forest tracts are found within Whitchurch–Stouffville, with the Whitchurch Conservation Area alone covering 10 hectares.
The area also boasts dozens of parks, baseball diamonds, soccer pitches and children’s play zones, and kilometres of scenic pathways with bridges that provide recreational activity for runners and cyclists.
Getting around Stouffville is facilitated by easy access to Hwys. 404 and 407 and the DVP, and for public transit, York Region Transit/Viva connects with all nine York Region municipalities, and GO Transit provides regular train and bus service.
Location, location, location
Population of 45,837, located in the Regional Municipality of York in the GTA; about 50 km from downtown Toronto
Key landmarks
• Angus Glen Golf Club
• Flato Markham Theatre
• Latcham Art Centre
• The Lebovic Centre for Arts & Entertainment
• Milne Dam Conservation Park
• Spring Lakes Golf Club
• Varley Art Gallery
Select housing developments
BlueSky
By Fieldgate Homes
fieldgatehomes.com
Cityside
By Fieldgate Homes
fieldgatehomes.com
Main & Co.
By StateView Homes
stateviewhomes.com
NAO Towns
By StateView Homes
stateviewhomes.com
Pace on Main
By Geranium
geranium.com
Springwater
By Mattamy Homes
mattamyhomes.com
NOTABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS
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• Aileen Willow Brook
• Angus Glen
• Berczy
• Cardinal Point
• Cornell
• Wheler’s Mill
• Unionville
About Wayne Karl
Wayne Karl is an award-winning writer and editor with experience in real estate and business. Wayne explores the basics – such as economic fundamentals – you need to examine when buying property. wayne.karl@nexthome.ca