Hamilton Home Prices by School Boundary [Infographic]

What’s the next real estate hot spot for growing families? Look across the Golden Horseshoe – as detached home prices remain stubbornly high in the Greater Toronto Area, buyers who want greater square footage, backyard lots, and private driveways are turning to neighbouring cities.

Hamilton, in particular, has become a popular buying destination for those looking to stretch their budgets. Not only is it within reasonable commuting distance to Toronto’s downtown core, the city is also home to vibrant communities with growing dining, retail, and entertainment scenes. That’s important to millennial buyers, who value walkable neighbourhoods, local businesses, and reliable transit.

Related Read: The Most Affordable Place to Buy a Home along the GO Transit Line

Hamilton: An Affordable Alternative for House Buyers

While real estate in Hamilton has surged alongside the rest of the Golden Horseshoe – the city was forecasted to be the “hottest market” of 2017 after experiencing 20-per-cent year-over-year price growth over the previous two years – freehold home affordability is very comparable to that of the 416.

The average freehold (non-condo) home price in the city was $587,348 in August, reports the Real Estate Board of Hamilton-Burlington. That’s an over-$600,000 difference compared to the average detached home price of $1,191,052 in the City of Toronto. As well, the cooling effects of the Ontario Home Buyer’s Plan have also been felt in the Hammer, improving market balance.

“The tendency toward a more balanced market that we have seen over the last few months has continued into August, said RAHB CEO George O’Neill in the board’s August report. “The sales to new listings ratio is at just over 65 per cent, which is still in the low end of a seller’s market, but much closer to balance than earlier this year.”

The Search for Top Ranked Hamilton Schools

As Hamilton houses are becoming increasingly popular with families, finding a home close to great schools is top of mind for many Steeltown home buyers. The good news is, unlike other cities where school rankings and home price are closely correlated, great schools and real estate deals can often be found in the same neighbourhood.

In fact, according to a Zoocasa analysis of average 2017 home prices within the boundaries of 97 Hamilton elementary and secondary schools, the most expensive elementary school boundary had a lower average EQAO score compared to schools in boundaries where average home prices were up to $440,000 cheaper.

Hamilton Average Home Price and EQAO Rating by School Boundary

For example, take the average price for homes close to Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary, a school with a 2.92 EQAO rating. Located in Ancaster, the average nearby home price is $838,337. Parents looking for a deal, however, will find it in nearby East Hamilton, which has an average home price of $396,964, and Sacred Heart Separate School, which boasts an EQAO rating of 2.97. That’s a difference of nearly $450,000 in average home price near very similarly ranked educational institutions.

Check out our table below to view the average home price for Hamilton school boundaries.

To view all Hamilton properties for sale by school boundary, visit our Hamilton real estate listings page, click on “View all listings on map” and then click the “graduation cap” icon on the map.