Condos in Ontario Are Getting Smaller While Detached Homes Are Getting Bigger

Ontario condominiums are 35% smaller on average than they were 25 years ago, while the average detached home is 25% larger. In the mid-1990s, the average condominium in Ontario peaked at approximately 1,100 sq. ft. The most recent MPAC data shows the average condo today is about 700 sq. ft. 

“As land values increase, we see more units on a single property, which means many of those individual units are smaller,” says Greg Martino, MPAC Vice-President and Chief Valuation and Standards Officer. “Because condos are traditionally a major entry point for first-time home buyers and investors, the market for the smaller units has remained quite strong.” 

A similar trend toward smaller units is also evident in the townhouse market, with stacked townhouses – multiple units constructed vertically on a single lot – being built instead of traditional row townhouses.

In markets where land is relatively affordable, larger family detached homes are being developed. For example, single family detached homes were approximately 2,000 sq. ft. in the mid-90s and today a typical single-family home is around 2,500 sq. ft. 

“These are long-standing trends that will likely continue,” Martino says. “It will be interesting to see whether the change in consumer preferences and behaviours over the last couple of years, coupled with recent economic drivers, like inflation and rising interest rates, will alter the pattern,” he continued. 

For those seeking more living space, Barrie, Burlington and Oakville are all municipalities with some of the largest average condominium sizes, at more than 1,000 sq. ft.

Average Size of Single Family Detached Homes by Municipality

Municipality Avg size home built in the 90s Avg size home built since 2017 % Change
Innisfil 1,666 2,704 62%
Lasalle 1,801 2,923 62%
Woodstock 1,521 2,395 57%
Mississauga 2,489 3,906 57%
Guelph 1,661 2,585 56%
Brantford 1,488 2,284 54%
Kitchener 1,662 2,541 53%
Georgina 1,623 2,447 51%
Oshawa 1,815 2,703 49%
Waterloo 1,884 2,798 48%
Bradford 1,899 2,789 47%
Windsor 1,461 2,128 46%


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Size of High-rise/Mid-rise Condominiums by Municipality

Municipality Avg size unit built in the 90s Avg size unit built since 2017 % Change
Markham 1,401 772 -45%
Vaughan 1,244 716 -42%
Hamilton 1,231 744 -40%
Toronto 1,010 659 -35%
Kingston 911 627 -31%
Waterloo 1,098 766 -30%
Mississauga 1,016 758 -25%
Kitchener 979 750 -23%
Oakville 1,024 799 -22%
Burlington 1,018 821 -19%
Ottawa 1,104 891 -19%