Where to find the biggest homes and smallest condos in Ontario

From the tiniest condo to a monster mansion, housing sizes have changed in Ontario.

In the 1950s, about 95 per cent of new homes build were single-detached houses in Ontario, according to a new report from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. MPAC administers property assessments and determines the assessed value for all properties across Ontario.

But in the 1960s, mid- and high-rise condominium development activity began to rise, and then intensify in the 1990s.

By 2020, condo development had surpassed single-detached houses, with approximately 41 per cent of new residential builds being condos and around 38 per cent being single-detached homes.

“While new single-detached houses still make up a significant portion of new builds across Ontario, construction of this residential form has declined, especially in urban areas like the GTA,” said Greg Martino, vice president and chief valuation and standards officer for MPAC. “This shift reflects evolving market dynamics, affordability challenges and the rise of higher-density urban centres.”

These days, houses are getting bigger and condos smaller.

Single-detached houses have grown from a median size of 1,317 square feet in the 1970s to 2,383 square feet in the 2020s, MPAC stated. The most significant growth occurred between the 1970s and 1980s, with a 44 per cent increase, and continued steadily through the 2000s and 2010s.

This trend highlights the ongoing desire for larger single-family homes over the decades, MPAC notes.

At the same time, median condo size has decreased by 32 per cent, shrinking from 965 square feet in the 1970s to 658 square feet today.

MPAC suggests rising costs of construction, land acquisition costs and the appeal of condos as investment properties are reasons why modern condominiums are now significantly smaller than they were 50 years ago.

“Based on our observations and the data available to us, it really reflects shifts as a result of evolving consumer preferences balance with broader economic factors such as overall demand, the availability and the cost of land,” Martino told INsauga.com.

The report also looks at the types of housing in different communities across the province.

The variability in housing development is driven by several factors, including market demand, affordability concerns and local planning policies, MPAC noted in the report.

The largest homes these days are in the suburbs of the GTA with the biggest single-detached houses in King Township. King has the largest new home builds from 2020 to 2024 followed my North York and Mississauga.

The data presented above pertains to new single-detached units constructed between 2020 and 2024, where at least 50 units have been built during the period.

The market drives home sizes, David Amborski, professor at Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning, and professional urban planner, told INsauga.com.

King City has the largest homes because developers build what people will buy.

“So if in that market, single-family homes in that area are large, and the people who live there are going live in larger units, they’re going to build to that market,” Amborski said.

Median income tends to be higher in the areas with the largest homes, Amborski noted.

Medium income in King City $141,000, Vaughn $124,000, Oakville $128,000, Mississauga $102,000, Brampton $111,000, Oshawa $86,000 and Toronto $84,000, according to 2021 Canada census data. 

“People who have those incomes go to those areas where those (larger) houses are available,” he said.

Planning policies and a community’s official plan also play a role in what can be built, Martino noted.

On the other side of the coin, there are pockets of Ontario where condo sizes are smaller. Cities and towns with the smallest median square footage for new condos include:

The data presented above pertains to new condominium apartment units constructed between 2020 and 2024, where at least 50 units have been built during the period.

The factors behind the small condos in Kingston could be due to the university student population, Amborski noted.

In areas closer to the GTA, the condo market is driven by investors, he said. People will rent a one-bedroom apartment for roughly the same price whether it’s 500 or 600 square feet.

“So they’re pitching the condos to the investor market,” Amborski said. “The more units they can squeeze onto a site, the greater return.”

The population density is a factor as well, Martino said. Cities with larger condos tend to have more land and less density.

Cities and towns with the largest median square footage for new condos include:

The data presented above pertains to new condominium apartment units constructed between 2020 and 2024, where at least 50 units have been built during the period.

In the near future, Amborski predicts a move away from condo development.

“There is a bit of a glut right now of condos on the market,” he said.

There could be a shift toward more single-family detached housing in Canada and away from rental apartments over the coming decade, the Toronto Metropolitan University’s Centre for Urban Research and Land Development said in a recent post.

In high-density areas, however, more duplexes, stacked townhouses, low-rise garden apartment buildings, as well as single-detached houses on small lots and townhouses are expected.

MPAC hopes the report on housing trends will help Ontario residents make informed decisions.

“As Ontario continues to grow and evolve, it’s important to recognize how changing market factors and consumer preferences will impact housing needs,” says Martino. “Tracking housing trends helps municipalities create strategies that address both current and future demands.”

MPAC is an independent, not-for-profit corporation funded by all Ontario municipalities, accountable to the province, municipalities and property taxpayers through its 13-member board of directors. For additional information, visit mpac.ca.

Lead photo: Aakash Makwana