Renting in
Unionville.
Markham's heritage gem — Main Street charm, top-rated schools, and a walkable village core surrounded by one of the GTA's most desirable family communities. If you're looking to rent in Unionville, Markham, this is where heritage character meets suburban convenience — and where smart renters get access to some of Ontario's best schools without the downtown premium.
Unionville is the neighbourhood that makes people fall in love with the suburbs. At its heart is Historic Main Street Unionville — one of Ontario's best-preserved heritage streetscapes, lined with 19th-century buildings housing independent shops, art galleries, cafes, and restaurants. It's the kind of walkable, human-scale main street that most suburban communities can only dream of.
Beyond Main Street, the neighbourhood fans out into a mix of heritage homes near the village core and newer subdivisions to the north and east. Toogood Pond anchors the green space, Markham Theatre provides world-class performing arts, and the annual Unionville Festival draws tens of thousands every June.
Schools are the other headline. Unionville High School consistently ranks among Ontario's top public secondary schools — and that reputation drives much of the demand in this area. Add in the Unionville GO station for downtown commuters and a large, well-established Chinese-Canadian and South Asian community that has shaped the neighbourhood's dining, culture, and commerce, and you have one of the GTA's most complete suburban packages.
| Unit Type | Avg. Monthly Rent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / Bachelor | $1,450–$1,750 | Limited supply — mostly newer condo builds |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,850–$2,350 | Markham avg: ~$2,100 (Q4 2025) |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,350–$2,850 | Markham avg: ~$2,600 (Q4 2025) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,800–$3,500 | High demand near top schools |
Source: TRREB Rental Market Report Q4 2025 (Markham, leased apartments). Ranges reflect Unionville-area variation by unit type, age, condition, and inclusions. Average rents across the GTA were down year-over-year in 2025 — renters have real negotiating power right now.
What Your Dollar Gets You
Unionville commands a premium relative to other Markham neighbourhoods — you're paying for the school catchment, the heritage village walkability, and the GO station proximity. A $2,600 budget gets you a solid 2-bedroom with parking, though units near Unionville HS or Main Street move fastest.
The rental mix includes condo apartments along Highway 7 and Kennedy Road, townhouses in newer subdivisions, and basement suites in detached homes near the village core. Landlords in this area tend to be individual investors rather than institutional — flexibility on lease terms is possible.
Most rentals include one parking spot. Units within walking distance of Main Street or Unionville GO carry a slight premium but save on daily commute costs.
Transit & Roads
Unionville's transit anchor is Unionville GO Station on the Stouffville Line — roughly 40 minutes into Union Station during peak hours. The station has substantial parking and is walkable from much of the neighbourhood core, which is a genuine advantage over many GTA suburbs where you need to drive to the GO station.
York Region Transit (YRT) serves the area with routes along Highway 7, Kennedy Road, and McCowan Road, connecting to Markham-Stouffville Hospital, Downtown Markham, and the broader YRT network. The Viva rapidway on Highway 7 provides fast east-west service.
By car, Highway 407 is minutes south and provides fast east-west connectivity across the GTA. Highway 404 runs north-south just to the west. Downtown Toronto is approximately 35–45 minutes by car in normal traffic. Be realistic though: while Unionville has better transit than most suburbs, a car still makes daily life significantly easier for errands, kids' activities, and weekend outings.
What This Means for Renters
Unionville skews upper-income — median household income sits around $112,000, well above both the Markham and national medians. This is a neighbourhood of established professionals, dual-income families, and successful business owners. The income profile reflects the desirability of the school catchment and the heritage village lifestyle.
For landlords, that income profile means they expect strong, well-documented rental applications. Come prepared with your full document package — employment letters, credit reports, references. Competition for quality units is real, especially for 3-bedroom homes near Unionville HS in the $3,000–$3,500 range where school-focused families drive demand.
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Unionville is one of the most desirable rental areas in the GTA for families. You get heritage village charm, top-ranked schools like Unionville High School, walkable Main Street, and Unionville GO for a 40-minute ride into Union Station. The trade-off is that premium units move fast and rents reflect the neighbourhood's reputation — but you're getting real quality of life for the price. The 2025–2026 market softening has made this an especially good time to negotiate.
Schools are Unionville's headline feature. Unionville High School consistently ranks among Ontario's top public secondary schools, known for its arts programs (particularly visual arts and music) and strong academics across the board. The area also has excellent elementary schools across the York Region District School Board and York Catholic District School Board, plus private school alternatives nearby. Many families specifically target Unionville for the school catchment — it's a genuine driver of demand and property values in the area.
Main Street Unionville is one of Ontario's best-preserved heritage streetscapes — a walkable stretch of independent shops, cafes, art galleries, and restaurants housed in beautifully maintained 19th-century buildings. It hosts the annual Unionville Festival each June (one of Ontario's largest outdoor arts festivals) and draws visitors year-round for its seasonal charm. Living within walking distance of Main Street is a genuine lifestyle advantage that few GTA suburbs can match. It's the kind of main street that makes Unionville feel like a small town within a big city.
Unionville GO Station is on the Stouffville Line and gets you into Union Station in approximately 40 minutes during peak hours. Trains run frequently during rush hour with expanded midday service. The station has ample parking, and many residents in the surrounding area can walk or bike to it — a real advantage over suburban GO stations that require a drive. Door-to-door commute to downtown Toronto is realistically 50–60 minutes depending on your final destination. For a suburb with this quality of schools and lifestyle, that's a very competitive commute time.
Unionville and greater Markham have one of the largest Chinese-Canadian communities in Canada — it's a well-established, multigenerational community that shapes much of the neighbourhood's character. This is reflected in the outstanding Asian dining along the Highway 7 corridor (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Taiwanese), cultural events, community organizations, and supermarkets like T&T and Foody Mart. There's also a significant South Asian community contributing to the area's diversity. For newcomers from East or South Asia, Unionville offers a welcoming, culturally familiar environment with all the services and community connections you'd need.
Unionville's rental market is competitive, particularly for family-sized units near top schools. About 30% of residents are renters, which is higher than many GTA suburbs, giving you more inventory to work with. However, quality units in prime locations — near Main Street, within the Unionville HS catchment, or walking distance to the GO station — move quickly. The 2025–2026 GTA market softening has given tenants more negotiating power on price and terms, but come prepared with a complete, well-documented application package. Landlords in this area expect strong applications, and first impressions matter.