Oak Ridges Richmond Hill Neighbourhood Guide

Where is Oak Ridges Located in Richmond Hill?

Oak Ridges is at the northern edge of Richmond Hill. Bloomington Road is the border with Aurora to the north, and King Road marks the southern edge. Yonge Street is on the west side, and Leslie Street is on the east.

Lake Wilcox is in the eastern half of the neighbourhood, with the Jefferson Forest trail system running north and east from there. The community centre, parks, and lake-area streets all come together to form a natural hub around the water.

Since Oak Ridges is the northernmost neighbourhood in Richmond Hill, it’s also the farthest from Highway 407, the future subway line, and the city’s commercial centre near Highway 7. The commute is something to consider before you get attached to a house here.

Oak Ridges Market Trends

TRREB treats this area as two separate communities, and the numbers show two very different trends. Comparing both side by side is the best way to understand Oak Ridges right now.

Oak Ridges — All Home Types

*Months of inventory = active listings divided by monthly sales rate. Source: TRREB Q3 2025, Q4 2025, and Q1 2026 Community Reports, Oak Ridges.

Oak Ridges Lake Wilcox — All Home Types

*Months of inventory = active listings divided by monthly sales rate. Source: TRREB Q3 2025, Q4 2025, and Q1 2026 Community Reports, Oak Ridges Lake Wilcox.

Here’s what stands out: these two neighbouring communities moved in completely opposite directions during 2025, then swapped roles in Q1 2026.

Oak Ridges recovered in Q1. The average went from $1,204,426 in Q4 back up to $1,280,674, and the median jumped from $1,154,500 to $1,295,000. The Q4 dip was mostly compositional, more semis and townhouses in the mix, and Q1 confirmed it: the detached average came in around $1.48M, with 21 of the quarter’s 36 sales detached. Active inventory also fell from 117 to 72, the tightest this community has been in a year.

Lake Wilcox cooled off instead. After holding above $1.53M through the back half of 2025, the average slipped to $1,403,900 in Q1, sale-to-list dropped to 95%, and days on market stretched to 41, the slowest of the pair. Only 34 sales closed, and the premium lakefront addresses largely sat out the quarter. Demand for those streets has not disappeared; it just did not show up in the winter data.

Here is the current Richmond Hill Market Watch Update for May 2026.

What Kind of Homes Does Oak Ridges Have? 

Most of Oak Ridges, outside the Lake Wilcox area, is made up of subdivisions built in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This is an advantage over older areas, such as Mill Pond. You get modern ceiling heights, updated electrical, and open-concept layouts. Unlike homes from the 1970s or 1980s further south, you won’t be facing a $300,000 renovation.

What you will find on the market:

• The core of Oak Ridges consists of detached homes built from the late 1990s to the 2000s. These homes usually sit on 40-foot lots, have two-car garages, four bedrooms, and open-concept main floors. They’re structurally modern, with no old wiring surprises. Many have already had cosmetic updates and are move-in ready or nearly so.
• Oak Ridges also has more semi-detached and townhouse options than most Richmond Hill neighbourhoods, which helps lower the entry price. Some of the Q4 sales for these homes were well below the $1.28M average. If you want to live in Oak Ridges without paying detached home prices, there are good options.
• Near the lake, especially along Sunset Beach and nearby streets, you’ll find original bungalows from the 1950s and 60s. These are mostly land opportunities—older homes on valuable lots. If you’re considering one, make sure your inspector and contractor are on the same page before making an offer.

Lake Wilcox usually runs a price tier above. In Q1 2026, the average detached price was about $1.54M and the median about $1.49M, unusually close together, which tells you the premium lakefront homes mostly sat out the quarter. When they trade, as in Q4 2025 ($1,912,000 average against a $1,580,000 median), the high end pulls the average far above the median. If you’re looking at a typical street instead of a premium lot, the median gives a better idea of what homes are actually selling for.

What Schools Are in Oak Ridges?

Oak Ridges School Catchment

Oak Ridges Lake Wilcox School Catchment

Commute to Toronto From Oak Ridges

Being at the top of Richmond Hill means your commute south will take more time.

Yonge Street is on the west side, and you can reach Highway 404 to the east via Bloomington or 19th Avenue. Highway 407 is a short drive south. Off-peak, it takes about 45 to 65 minutes to get to downtown Toronto. During rush hour, expect a longer trip.

You can catch the GO Train at Richmond Hill GO, south on Major Mackenzie. However, the Richmond Hill line only runs in the peak direction on weekdays. If you commute outside regular hours or in the opposite direction, you’ll need to drive. Most Oak Ridges homes aren’t within walking distance of Richmond Hill GO, or Gormley GO to the east.

What It's Like to Live in Oak Ridges

The lake is the main attraction here. Lake Wilcox Park is a true waterfront destination, with a beach, boardwalk, splash pad, playground, pavilion, and seasonal events. The park was upgraded recently and is now Richmond Hill’s top waterfront spot. People walk, bike, paddle, and spend whole afternoons here from spring to fall.

There are also plenty of trails. The Oak Ridges Moraine trail system runs through the neighbourhood, perfect for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. You can access the trails from several spots without needing to drive. Bond Lake Conservation Area is close by, too, offering fishing and nature walks if you want a quieter option than the lake on weekends.
Families bike to the lake after school and hit the trails on weekends. The green spaces are the main places for recreation. Richmond Hill is known for its outdoor activities, and Oak Ridges is where you experience that the most.

What you won’t find here is a full retail strip. There’s a small commercial area along Yonge near King Road with some local shops and restaurants, but it’s limited. For weekly errands, big-box stores, and most dining, you’ll need to drive. In Oak Ridges, you can walk to the lake, trails, and parks, but everything else is a short drive away.

To learn more, check out our Richmond Hill community post.

What to Consider Before Buying a Home in Oak Ridges, Richmond Hill?

In Q1 2026, Oak Ridges homes sold for 98% of list while Lake Wilcox closed at 95%, so the negotiating room depends on which side of the line you are on: roughly $30,000 on a $1.4M Oak Ridges listing, and closer to $70,000 in Lake Wilcox. Homes are averaging 31 to 41 days on market, giving you time for due diligence, inspections, and careful consideration. That is a big change from mid-2025, when Lake Wilcox homes were selling over asking.

A few things worth thinking through before you commit:

• If you are looking at listings and mixing up Oak Ridges and Oak Ridges Lake Wilcox data, your price comparisons are wrong. A $1.2M offer looks very different when the correct comparable set is $1.5M. Make sure you know which side of the line the address sits on.
• The commute is a real factor. Oak Ridges offers the best outdoor access in Richmond Hill, but also the longest drive downtown. If you work in Toronto five days a week and don’t love driving, make sure to consider the full commute before falling in love with a property here.
• Not all homes are equally close to the lake. A house ten minutes from the water is valued differently than one with lake views or direct trail access. The premium is mostly in Lake Wilcox.

Inside Tip

If you want the lake lifestyle but Lake Wilcox prices are out of reach, consider Oak Ridges streets within walking distance of the trails and lake access. Q1 2026 flipped the usual pattern: Oak Ridges firmed up while Lake Wilcox cooled, and the detached price gap narrowed to about $60,000, the closest the two have been in years. If lakeside proximity matters to you, a narrow-gap quarter is exactly when to shop the Lake Wilcox side.

Similar Neighbourhoods to Consider

If you’re considering Oak Ridges, here are three other Richmond Hill areas that might interest you:

• Jefferson offers a similar location in North Richmond Hill, with newer homes and strong sales. In Q1 2026, the average price was $1,288,062 on 31 sales. Sales volume there now runs just below Oak Ridges levels, and prices are almost identical. Jefferson also has trail access into the moraine.
• Devonsleigh features homes built in the late 1990s to 2000s and is a bit more central. The Q1 2026 average was $1,281,547 on 17 sales. It’s a quieter neighbourhood without a lake, but it offers shorter commutes and is closer to the Yonge Street corridor.
• Rouge Woods is a good choice if you want the Bayview Secondary IB catchment and a newer, established neighbourhood feel. The Q1 2026 average was $1,432,257, and it was the only Richmond Hill neighbourhood to sell above asking, at 102% of list price. Be prepared for competition here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Oak Ridges and Oak Ridges Lake Wilcox?

Sitting side by side in the northern part of Richmond Hill. The Lake Wilcox community covers the streets closest to the lake and runs a significantly higher price point. Q1 2026 detached average in Lake Wilcox was about $1.54M versus $1.48M in the broader Oak Ridges community, though the gap widens sharply in quarters when premium lakefront homes trade: in Q4 2025 it was $1,912,000 versus $1,426,000. They also have different school catchments: Lake Wilcox feeds Richmond Green S.S., while Oak Ridges feeds Alexander MacKenzie H.S., and the two markets moved in opposite directions through 2025.

Is Oak Ridges a good neighbourhood for families?

It’s one of the best neighbourhoods in Richmond Hill for families who want outdoor space and access. Lake Wilcox Park offers a beach, boardwalk, splash pad, and trails into the moraine. Most homes are newer, built from the 1990s to the 2010s, on larger lots than you’ll find south of Major Mackenzie. The trade-off is a longer commute and more reliance on cars compared to central Richmond Hill. But for families who love spending weekends on the trails, at the lake, and outdoors, it’s hard to beat.