Central West (Ajax)

Around the Neighbourhood

Cultural landmarks: this is a residential quadrant rather than a landmark district, so day-to-day life centres on the local schools, parks and plazas rather than a historic core, with downtown Ajax and Pat Bayly Square a short drive east.

Hot local spots: dining and shopping lean on the plazas along Westney Road and Kingston Road, plus the Harwood strip to the east.

Parks & green space: neighbourhood parks throughout, with Greenwood Conservation Area and its Duffins Creek trails a short drive north, off the Westney Road exit of the 401.

Your Typical Neighbour

Central West is family-heavy and settled, a mix of established owners in the mature streets and younger families in the infill and townhome pockets. 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 balance. You get mature, established streets with decent-sized detached homes, quick access to the 401 and the Pickering border for commuting, and parks and schools without paying the premium of the brand-new north end. For families who want space and stability over shine, it’s a sensible buy.

What We Don't

There’s no signature draw here: no lake, no historic main street, no marquee amenity. It’s car-dependent, and shopping and dining mean a drive to Harwood or the nearby plazas. Prices have crept above the town midpoint, so it’s no longer the bargain it once was.

Real Estate

Mostly detached houses, from mature two-storeys and backsplits to newer infill, with a supporting mix of semis and townhomes. It’s a step up in price from the south end but short of the north-end premium, which puts it in the practical middle of the Ajax market. 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

Car country with good highway access. Ajax GO on the Lakeshore East line runs about 50 to 60 minutes to Union, with Pickering GO also within reach given the border location. Durham Region Transit covers local routes, and the 401 plus the toll-free 412 (which links to the 407) handle the rest by car.

Schools

Central West Ajax is served by the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board. Ajax options include Ontario Street, 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 school rankings and Fraser Institute scores, see our interactive Durham Region School Map.