Welcome To Central Ajax
Central Ajax is the heart of town, built around Harwood Avenue and anchored by Pat Bayly Square, Durham Region’s largest mixed-use development and its civic gathering spot. This is the most walkable, most urban-feeling part of Ajax. Shops, the library, restaurants, the GO bus and outdoor events are all close, wrapped in a mix of established postwar streets and newer condo and townhome development along the Harwood corridor.
It isn’t downtown Toronto and it won’t be mistaken for it, but for a Durham community it comes closest to a real, do-your-errands-on-foot core. The trade-off is that you’re buying convenience and location rather than lake views or big new-build lots.
Properties For Sale
Central Ajax FAQs
The town core, running along Harwood Avenue and centred on Pat Bayly Square at Harwood and Bayly, north of the 401 and inland from the lake.
In Q1 2026, homes here averaged about $843,000, with a median near $820,000 (TRREB, Q1 2026 figures). Condos and townhomes along Harwood pull the entry point lower than the detached average suggests.
Central is the best-placed part of Ajax for transit. Ajax GO on the Lakeshore East line is a short hop and runs about 50 to 60 minutes to Union, with trains roughly every 30 minutes, and the GO bus and Durham Region Transit routes converge downtown. The 401 is just south for drivers.
Yes, with a caveat: it’s more urban than the new subdivisions, so lots are smaller and streets busier. In return you get walkability, the community centre, the library and schools close at hand.
If you want to walk to shops, transit and events and don’t need a big lot, yes. If you’re after a quiet cul-de-sac or a brand-new build, look to the north end of town.
Around the Neighbourhood
Cultural landmarks: Pat Bayly Square at Harwood and Bayly, Durham Region’s largest mixed-use development, with an outdoor skating rink and reflecting pool, a stage and year-round events, plus the McLean Community Centre on Magill Drive.
Hot local spots: the restaurants and cafes clustered around Pat Bayly Square and up Harwood Avenue South, the town’s main dining strip.
Parks & green space: neighbourhood parks throughout the core, with the Lake Ontario waterfront and the William A. Parish Waterfront Trail a short drive south.
Your Typical Neighbour
Central skews to a broad mix: downsizers and first-time buyers in the Harwood condos and towns, alongside established families in the surrounding postwar streets. Ajax is one of the more diverse municipalities in the GTA, with a median household income around $119,000, above the provincial figure. StatCan doesn’t publish these at the community level, so these are Ajax municipality numbers.
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, Ajax (Town), income year 2020
What We Love
The walkability. Pat Bayly Square gave downtown Ajax a genuine centre of gravity, and being able to walk to groceries, dinner, the library and the GO bus is rare in Durham. For buyers, the condo and townhome supply here is one of the more affordable ways into Ajax.
What We Don't Love
It’s the busiest, densest part of town, so expect traffic on Harwood and Bayly and smaller lots than the subdivisions offer. The Harwood corridor is still filling in with mid-rise development, which means ongoing construction and the disruption that comes with it. And while the dining has improved, this is not a nightlife destination.
Real Estate
A real mix: postwar detached and semi-detached streets, plus a growing stock of condo apartments and freehold and condo townhomes along Harwood. That range makes Central one of the more accessible entry points into Ajax, particularly for first-time buyers and downsizers. New to the market? Start with our First-Time Buyer guide.
(Current prices and days on market appear in the live statistics block below, updated quarterly.)
Transit
The strongest transit position in Ajax. Ajax GO on the Lakeshore East line runs about 50 to 60 minutes to Union, the GO bus and Durham Region Transit routes meet downtown, and the 401 plus the toll-free 412 (which links to the 407) cover the rest by car.
Schools
Central Ajax is served by the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board. Ajax options include Lord Elgin, Applecroft and Bolton C. Falby public schools, J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate and Pickering High School, plus Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. Confirm the exact catchment for any given address. For rankings, see the Fraser Institute’s Ontario school report cards.
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