Is East End Toronto a good place to live?
Yes. The east end is one of Toronto’s most loved areas for families and young professionals. It offers walkable main streets, Victorian and Edwardian homes, parks, the lake and quick streetcar and subway rides downtown. E01 (Leslieville and Riverdale) had a composite benchmark of about $1.03 million in September 2026.
- Best for: families who want character homes and walkability, young professionals, and lake lovers.
- Typical price (Sept 2026): E01 composite $1,032,000, detached $1,382,900; E02 composite $1,248,400, detached $1,605,100 (TRREB MLS® HPI).
- Getting downtown: about 15–30 minutes by Queen or King streetcar or Line 2; the Ontario Line will add stations in Leslieville.
- Neighbourhoods to know: Leslieville, Riverdale, the Danforth, Greenwood-Coxwell, Upper Beaches and The Beaches.
Updated October 2026 by the Thomas Team, Century 21 Percy Fulton Ltd., Brokerage.
About East End Toronto
Riverdale and Leslieville have Victorian and Edwardian semis and row houses on tree-lined streets, with cafés, restaurants and shops along Queen Street East, Gerrard and the Danforth.
The Danforth is Toronto’s Greektown, with Line 2 running underneath, while The Beaches has a boardwalk, sandy beaches and a small-town feel along Queen Street East.
The new Ontario Line, under construction, will add stations at Leslieville and Gerrard, making the east end even better connected to downtown.
| Fact | East End Toronto |
|---|---|
| TRREB districts | E01 and E02 |
| Region | City of Toronto |
| E01 composite benchmark (Sept 2026) | $1,032,000 |
| E01 detached benchmark (Sept 2026) | $1,382,900 |
| E02 composite benchmark (Sept 2026) | $1,248,400 |
| Transit | Line 2, Queen & King streetcars, Ontario Line coming |
| Waterfront | Woodbine Beach, Beaches boardwalk |
| Main streets | Queen East, Danforth, Gerrard |
📍 East End Toronto, City of Toronto, Ontario
East End Toronto Neighbourhood Guide
Leslieville
Leslieville has Queen Street East cafés, brunch spots and shops, Victorian homes and new mid-rise condos, plus a future Ontario Line station.
- Queen Street East shops
- Future Leslieville Ontario Line station
- Jonathan Ashbridge Park
- Victorian semis
Riverdale
Riverdale has big Victorian homes, Riverdale Park East with skyline views, Withrow Park and easy access to downtown and the Don Valley.
- Riverdale Park East
- Withrow Park
- Broadview and Danforth shops
- Close to downtown
The Danforth / Greektown
Along Danforth Avenue, Greektown has restaurants, shops and Line 2 stations, with family homes on the side streets.
- Line 2 stations
- Greek restaurants and Taste of the Danforth
- Family side streets
- Withrow and Monarch parks
Greenwood-Coxwell / Upper Beaches
Between Leslieville and The Beaches, these neighbourhoods offer more affordable semis and detached homes near Line 2 and Gerrard India Bazaar.
- Gerrard India Bazaar
- Monarch Park
- Line 2 stations
- More affordable homes
The Beaches
The Beaches has the boardwalk, Woodbine and Kew beaches, Queen Street East shops and a small-town feel, with the Queen streetcar to downtown.
- Beaches boardwalk
- Kew Gardens
- Queen Street East shops
- Balmy Beach
| Neighbourhood | Best for | Typical housing | Price point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leslieville | young families and foodies | Semis, row houses, lofts, condos | Upper |
| Riverdale | character homes near downtown | Victorian semis and detached | Upper to luxury |
| The Danforth / Greektown | transit and dining | Semis, detached, some condos | Upper |
| Greenwood-Coxwell / Upper Beaches | value in the east end | Semis, detached, row houses | Mid to upper |
| The Beaches | lake living | Detached, semis, some condos | Upper to luxury |
East End Toronto Demographics
Who lives in East End Toronto?
The east end attracts young families, creative professionals, people working downtown and buyers who want character homes and walkable main streets.
Growth and housing demand
Mid-rise condos are being added along Queen East, Gerrard and the Danforth, and the Ontario Line will bring new stations. Prices were down about 3–4% year over year in September 2026, less than the GTA average.
Schools in East End Toronto
Public and Catholic schools
Riverdale Collegiate Institute
Public secondary · RiverdaleConfirm catchment with TDSBMalvern Collegiate Institute
Public secondary · The BeachesConfirm catchment with TDSBDanforth Collegiate and Technical Institute
Public secondary · DanforthConfirm catchment with TDSBMonarch Park Collegiate
Public secondary · Greenwood-Coxwell · IB programConfirm catchment with TDSBNeil McNeil High School
Catholic secondary · Upper Beaches (boys)Confirm catchment with TCDSB| Board | System |
|---|---|
| Toronto District School Board (TDSB) | English public |
| Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) | English Catholic |
| Conseil scolaire Viamonde | French public |
| Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir | French Catholic |
Colleges and universities nearby
Downtown universities are 15–30 minutes away, and George Brown College’s campuses are close to the west end of the area.
Transit and Getting Around East End Toronto
Line 2
Line 2 runs under Danforth Avenue with stations from Broadview to Main Street.
Streetcars
The 501 Queen, 504 King, 505 Dundas and 506 Carlton streetcars connect the east end to downtown.
Ontario Line
The Ontario Line will add stations at East Harbour, Leslieville, Gerrard and Pape, connecting to Line 2.
Approximate commute times from East End Toronto
| Destination | Typical time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Union Station | 15–30 min | Streetcar or Line 2 + Line 1 |
| Downtown Toronto (drive) | 15–25 min | Lake Shore / DVP |
| Yorkdale | 35–45 min | Line 2 + Line 1 |
| Pearson Airport | 35–50 min | UP Express from Union / drive |
| Scarborough Town Centre | 25–30 min | Line 2 + bus / drive |
Things to Do and Local Amenities in East End Toronto
Parks & Waterfront
- Beaches boardwalk
- Woodbine Beach
- Riverdale Park East
- Withrow Park
- Tommy Thompson Park nearby
Shopping & Food
- Queen Street East
- The Danforth
- Gerrard India Bazaar
- Leslieville farmers’ market
- Beaches shops
Recreation
- Ashbridges Bay
- Donald D. Summerville pool
- Don Valley trails
- Riverdale Farm nearby
- Woodbine Park
Culture & Events
- Taste of the Danforth
- Beaches Jazz Festival
- Leslieville Flea
- Danforth Music Hall
- Beaches Easter Parade
East End Toronto Real Estate Market (September 2026)
| Property type | Benchmark price |
|---|---|
| Composite (all home types) | $1,032,000 |
| Detached | $1,382,900 |
| Semi-detached | $1,185,200 |
| Townhouse | $769,700 |
| Condo apartment | $595,300 |
| Year-over-year change (composite) | -4.26% |
Source: TRREB MLS® Home Price Index, September 2026. Headline figures are for district E01 (Leslieville and Riverdale); see the table for E02. Benchmark prices describe a typical home, not an average sale price. Ask us for current sold data on any street.
| TRREB district | Areas | All homes | Detached | Condo apt | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E01 | Leslieville, Riverdale, Blake-Jones, Greenwood-Coxwell | $1,032,000 | $1,382,900 | $595,300 | -4.26% |
| E02 | The Beaches, East End-Danforth, Woodbine Corridor | $1,248,400 | $1,605,100 | $679,800 | -2.65% |
Riverdale and The Beaches have the highest prices, while Greenwood-Coxwell and the Upper Beaches offer more affordable semis.
New mid-rise condos along Queen East and the Danforth are the main entry point.
Pros and cons of living in East End Toronto
Pros
- Walkable main streets
- Character Victorian and Edwardian homes
- Beaches, parks and the Don Valley
- Quick commute downtown
- Ontario Line coming
Cons
- High prices for freehold homes
- Older homes may need updates
- Limited parking
- Ontario Line construction disruption
Buying or selling in East End Toronto? Here’s what our clients say
5-star Google reviews“Desemal is friendly, extremely reliable and results oriented. Always goes above and beyond the service she provides, exceeding our expectations each time!”
“It is a pleasure working with Damali and Desemal of Thomas Team. They are very professional and tenacious in the services they provide for their clients. Another satisfied client, highly recommend for your real estate needs!”
“As a first time homebuyer, I was so pleased with the service that was provided to us by Desemal. She was very friendly and knowledgeable about the entire process. Des was very patient with us and was very understanding about our concerns as she guided us through everything. … It took a while but in the end we found our dream home at the right price.”
Frequently Asked Questions About East End Toronto
Yes. The east end is one of Toronto’s most popular areas, with walkable main streets, character homes, parks, beaches and quick transit downtown.
TRREB reports Toronto prices by district. In September 2026, MLS® HPI composite benchmarks were $1,032,000 in E01, $1,248,400 in E02. Condo apartment benchmarks ranged from $595,300 to $679,800 (TRREB).
Leslieville for young families and food, Riverdale for character homes, the Danforth for transit, Greenwood-Coxwell for value and The Beaches for lake living.
The Ontario Line is under construction, with stations planned in Leslieville and at Gerrard. Check Metrolinx for the latest opening date.
About 15 to 25 minutes on the Queen or King streetcar.
The east end is mainly E01 (Leslieville, Riverdale) and E02 (The Beaches, East End-Danforth).
Yes. In September 2026 E02’s detached benchmark was $1,605,100, above the City of Toronto’s $1,417,600.
Yes. Riverdale Collegiate, Malvern Collegiate and Monarch Park Collegiate (IB) are popular public high schools. Confirm catchments with TDSB.
Last updated October 2026. Written by Damali Thomas and Desemal Thomas, Realtors, and Jermaine Whyte, Mortgage Agent Level 2, at the Thomas Team, Century 21 Percy Fulton Ltd., Brokerage. Data: Statistics Canada 2021 Census; TRREB MLS® HPI; Metrolinx; local school boards.
