August 2026 averages were $1,208,692 in Markham and $1,234,758 in Vaughan; the detached gap is $60,051. Here's who each city is for.
Updated with TRREB August 2026 data.
Vaughan averaged $1,234,758 and Markham $1,208,692 in August 2026, $26,066 apart, with a detached home $60,051 cheaper in Markham ($1,611,773 against $1,671,824) and a condo apartment $30,682 cheaper in Vaughan ($607,650 against $638,332). These averages describe the mix of homes sold, not what an equivalent home would cost in each city. Start with Markham real estate for the lower detached average, Highway 404 or the Stouffville line. Consider Vaughan real estate for the lower condo apartment average, shorter morning GO rides from Maple and Rutherford, or subway access.
How Do Markham and Vaughan Compare on Home Prices, Selling Conditions and Commutes?
The August comparison below separates prices from selling conditions, with older Census figures and dated train times labelled separately; SNLR Trend uses a 12-month moving average of sales to new listings.
| Metric | Markham | Vaughan |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price (Aug 2026) | $1,208,692 | $1,234,758 |
| Median Price | $1,095,000 | $1,148,750 |
| Detached Average | $1,611,773 | $1,671,824 |
| Townhouse Average | $1,031,119 | $1,055,000 |
| Condo Apartment Average | $638,332 | $607,650 |
| Year-over-Year Change (avg) | +6.4% | +2.0% |
| SNLR Trend | 40.3% | 36.8% |
| Avg Listing Days on Market | 33 | 33 |
| Sale-to-List Ratio | 98% | 97% |
| GO Station / Time to Union | Markham GO / 52 minutes* | Maple GO / 33 minutes* |
| Population (2021 Census) | 338,503 | 323,103 |
Source: TRREB Market Watch, August 2026, with year-over-year calculations against the August 2025 report; 2021 Census, Statistics Canada; GO Transit timetables (see note). SNLR Trend uses a 12-month moving average. *Weekday train 7709 (Markham GO 7:28 a.m., Union 8:20 a.m., Table 71 effective 5 and 8 September 2026) and train 6608 (Maple GO 7:26 a.m., Union 7:59 a.m., Table 65 effective 5 and 8 September 2026). Scheduled in-train examples only; check current schedules.
Sold listings averaged 33 days in Markham and 33 in Vaughan, so neither city sold faster on this measure, which excludes earlier exposure across relistings. Markham's sale-to-list ratio was 98%, against Vaughan's 97%, but those averages compare the sale with the listing price and don't promise a discount from a home's original asking price.
How Do Prices Compare, and What Do You Get for the Money?
The all-home-type averages were only $26,066 apart: $1,208,692 in Markham and $1,234,758 in Vaughan. Your preferred property type changes the comparison. August recorded 282 sales in Markham and 242 in Vaughan, but those totals don't make every segment equally reliable.
Detached homes averaged $1,611,773 across 137 Markham sales, against $1,671,824 across 122 Vaughan sales. That's a $60,051 lower average in Markham. It's a reason to include Markham in a detached search, not a promise that matching houses will have that price gap.
Average Price by Property Type, August 2026
| Property Type | Markham | Markham sales | Vaughan | Vaughan sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | $1,611,773 | 137 | $1,671,824 | 122 |
| Semi-Detached | $958,133 | 15 | $1,010,714 | 14 |
| Townhouse | $1,031,119 | 39 | $1,055,000 | 31 |
| Condo Townhouse | $812,567 | 28 | $774,669 | 9 |
| Condo Apartment | $638,332 | 57 | $607,650 | 63 |
Source: TRREB Market Watch, August 2026 (detached p. 7, semi-detached p. 9, townhouse p. 11, condo townhouse p. 13, condo apartment p. 15). Segments with fewer than 10 sales are thin and unreliable, shown for reference only.
Condo apartments reverse the price advantage. Markham averaged $638,332 on 57 sales; Vaughan averaged $607,650 on 63. Vaughan's average was $30,682 lower. Townhouses averaged $1,031,119 in Markham and $1,055,000 in Vaughan. Keep condo townhouses separate: Vaughan's 9 sales are a thin sample, unreliable for trends or a general verdict on townhouse affordability.
Sales mix also helps explain the headline. Detached homes represented 48.6% of Markham sales and 50.4% of Vaughan sales. Markham's share was 36.7% a year earlier, so more of its sales came from an expensive property category this August. Overall averages rose 6.4% and 2.0% year over year, respectively. Those increases don't measure appreciation in every home, and even detached averages change with the properties sold. The Vaughan August 2026 market update explores Vaughan's August figures in more detail.
How Do Markham and Vaughan Neighbourhoods Differ in Location and Price?
These community figures all cover Q1 2026. They combine home types, so compare them as starting points for a search, not detached benchmarks or August prices.
Unionville centres the Markham comparison on its heritage Main Street at Kennedy and Highway 7. Its Q1 2026 average was $960,767 across 110 sales. Explore it if that main-street setting appeals to you; the average doesn't price a particular style of home.
Cornell is east of Markham Road around 16th Avenue, near Markham Stouffville Hospital. It averaged $971,202 across 40 sales in Q1 2026. That location makes it a useful place to start if proximity to the hospital matters to your household.
Berczy sits north of 16th Avenue between Kennedy and McCowan. Its Q1 2026 average was $1,274,993 on 31 sales. The location gives you a distinct Markham search area, but the higher average alone doesn't tell you what a comparable home would cost.
Kleinburg has its village core at Islington and Major Mackenzie. Its Q1 2026 average was $1,726,770 across 37 sales, the highest of these Vaughan examples. Explore the village setting first, then check prices for the home type you want.
Maple, around Major Mackenzie and Keele, puts Maple GO into the location comparison. Its Q1 2026 average was $1,051,624 on 64 sales. Start here if access to that station is a priority, then assess the trip from each property.
Patterson lies between Bathurst and Dufferin north of Rutherford. It averaged $1,477,624 across 86 sales in Q1 2026. Compare it with Maple if these Vaughan locations suit you; the different sold-home mixes matter. Detailed neighbourhood guides are coming, and one quarter doesn't establish a price trend.
How Do Schools Compare in Markham and Vaughan?
The Fraser Institute's 2025 elementary school report uses 2023/24 performance results. In Markham, Castlemore Public School scored 9.2 out of 10, ranked 88, and Stonebridge Public School scored 9.1, ranked 97. Vaughan's Maple examples are Michael Cranny Elementary School at 9.0, ranked 110, and Herbert H. Carnegie Public School at 8.4, ranked 231.
Those are individual school results, and tied schools share a rank. They don't establish a city-wide winner or guarantee admission. If a school matters to your purchase, use the school board's locator for the exact property address before you make an offer. A neighbourhood name won't confirm the assignment. Treat the ratings as one part of your research, alongside the school's programs and your child's needs. These are 2023/24 results, not a measure of a future classroom experience.
Which Has the Better Commute to Toronto?
Vaughan has the shorter GO rides in these weekday morning services from the September 2026 timetables. Barrie line train 6608 leaves Maple GO at 7:26 a.m. and reaches Union at 7:59 a.m., a 33-minute ride. From Rutherford GO, that train takes 29 minutes.
Stouffville line train 7709 leaves Markham GO at 7:28 a.m. and arrives at Union at 8:20 a.m., a 52-minute ride. From Unionville GO, the same train takes 41 minutes. These are in-train durations for named services. Add station access, waiting and your trip beyond Union; check current schedules before relying on them.
Vaughan also has the TTC Line 1 terminus at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, opened December 17, 2017. For driving, Markham has Highways 404 and 407; Vaughan has Highways 400, 407 and 427. The shorter train ride makes Vaughan worth exploring for a Union commute, but your property's station access can change the overall trip.
Which One Fits the Way You Want to Live?
If a heritage main street is what you want to spend time around, start with Unionville in Markham. Main Street Unionville gives you that specific setting. Kleinburg offers a Vaughan alternative around its village core at Islington and Major Mackenzie. Both belong on a village-setting shortlist; their locations and Q1 price profiles give you different places to explore.
Choose Markham if your daily destinations include its employment and shopping locations: IBM Canada's head office, AMD, Downtown Markham at Highway 7 and Warden, or Pacific Mall at Steeles and Kennedy. If Markham Stouffville Hospital is central to your routine, Cornell is a practical starting point because it's nearby.
Choose Vaughan if subway access is a priority, and start around Vaughan Metropolitan Centre at Highway 7 and Jane. Maple is the alternative to explore for Maple GO. Vaughan Mills, Canada's Wonderland and Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital are other reasons your household may prefer Vaughan. Let the destinations you actually use guide the area you explore, then compare the homes there.
What Does the Market Look Like Right Now in August 2026?
Markham's SNLR Trend was 40.3%, against Vaughan's 36.8%. Months of Inventory Trend was 4.1 in Markham and 4.9 in Vaughan. Both measures use 12-month moving averages: the first compares sales with new listings, while the second compares active listings with sales.
Together, they suggest tighter conditions in Markham. With less inventory relative to sales, buyers may have fewer alternatives and less negotiating room on comparable homes. That remains conditional: listing days were 33 in both cities, and the sale-to-list ratios were 98% and 97%. Neither measure predicts your offer's outcome.
For your search, see Markham real estate; for the dated breakdown behind Vaughan's figures, read the Vaughan August 2026 market update. These August results don't forecast the next month.
What Are the Most Common Questions About Markham vs. Vaughan?
Is Markham or Vaughan more expensive?
Vaughan's August 2026 all-home-type average was $1,234,758, versus Markham's $1,208,692. Markham's detached average was $60,051 lower, while its condo apartment average was $30,682 higher. The answer changes with the property type. Each average also reflects which homes sold, so it won't tell you the price difference between otherwise equivalent properties in the cities.
Which has the faster commute to downtown Toronto?
The September 2026 morning GO services compared here take 29 minutes from Rutherford and 33 from Maple, against 41 from Unionville and 52 from Markham GO. Vaughan also has the Line 1 terminus at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Add station access, waiting and onward travel before choosing a home around those in-train times; other services can differ.
Is Markham or Vaughan better for families?
Neither wins for every family. Detached homes made up 48.6% of Markham's August sales and 50.4% of Vaughan's. Elementary examples are Castlemore Public School (9.2/10, rank 88), Stonebridge Public School (9.1/10, rank 97), Michael Cranny Elementary School (9.0/10, rank 110) and Herbert H. Carnegie Public School (8.4/10, rank 231), using the Fraser Institute 2025 report's 2023/24 results. Confirm exact-address school assignments. Consider access to Markham Stouffville Hospital or Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital alongside the home and school that suit your family.
Which market is tighter right now?
Markham looks tighter on the August 2026 smoothed measures: SNLR Trend was 40.3% versus Vaughan's 36.8%, and Months of Inventory Trend was 4.1 versus 4.9. Both use 12-month moving averages. Sold listings averaged 33 days in each city. Markham buyers may have less negotiating room for comparable homes, but these figures don't guarantee competition or predict prices.
What about Richmond Hill?
Richmond Hill sits geographically between Markham and Vaughan and averaged $1,205,777 across all home types in August 2026, below both cities' averages, so if you're considering that location too, our Aurora vs Richmond Hill comparison provides a separate starting point for exploring how Richmond Hill compares with another municipality.
Also check out: Richmond Hill vs Vaughan
Are property taxes higher in Markham or Vaughan?
Vaughan's 2026 total residential rate is higher at 0.749217%, compared with Markham's 0.722889%. The regional and education portions are identical; the difference is the local share. These rates apply to MPAC assessed value using the January 1, 2016 valuation basis, not the purchase price. Compare the properties' assessments and tax bills before deciding which home costs more to carry.
So, Should You Buy in Markham or Vaughan?
I'd start a detached search in Markham if its Highway 404 access or Stouffville line suits your commute. I'd start in Vaughan for a condo apartment search, Maple or Rutherford GO access, or the subway. The August averages give you a direction; the specific home still has to justify its price.
If Unionville, Kleinburg or Maple is on your shortlist, compare two actual homes in Markham real estate and Vaughan real estate. Look at their condition, location and recent comparable sales. When you're ready, talk to Team Zold and we'll work through that comparison together.
Shawn Zigelstein, Broker
Team Zold, Royal LePage Signature Realty
š (416) 855-5525
š www.teamzold.com