The boardwalk, the lake and a long commercial strip. Prices vary sharply north to south of Queen.
Written by Nick Ntoukas, Toronto realtor · Chestnut Park Real Estate · Updated August 2026
The Beaches is defined by the water — a long sand beach, the boardwalk and the Martin Goodman Trail running its full length — and it feels different from the rest of the city for it, more resort town than urban neighbourhood in summer. Queen Street East is the commercial spine, with independents and cafés along a strip that fills on warm weekends. Housing runs from small original cottages near the lake to substantial detached houses on the streets north of Queen, and the price gradient between the two is steep. It is a settled, family-heavy neighbourhood with a strong local identity and a long-standing debate about its own name.
Detached and semi-detached houses, original beach cottages, some low-rise condominiums.
Families, downsizers staying local, and buyers trading commute time for the waterfront.
The 501 Queen streetcar; Main Street and Woodbine stations to the north.
The commute downtown is long by streetcar. Test it at rush hour before committing.
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Straight-line distances from the centre of The Beaches. Proximity is not catchment — check the board locators or ask Nick. School locations: Statistics Canada, Open Database of Educational Facilities, adapted; contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence — Canada.
Worth a look if you like The Beaches — each has its own guide, live listings and schools.
Nick Ntoukas is a Toronto real estate agent with Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage — the exclusive Ontario affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate — working with buyers and sellers across the GTA, including The Beaches. A written valuation of your The Beaches home is free and arrives within 48 hours: call 647-208-8588 or request it online.