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Why walkability should be on your “must-have” list
When buyers talk about “a good neighbourhood,” they’re usually talking about walkability without using the word:
In Toronto, that lifestyle also tends to line up with stronger long-term demand. Neighbourhoods with high Walk Scores – like the Annex, Trinity-Bellwoods, Leslieville, and parts of the east and west downtown – are repeatedly flagged as “walker’s paradises” where most daily errands can be done on foot.
So instead of asking, “Is this a nice area?” it helps to ask:
“What does it feel like to walk here… every single day?”
What walkability really means (beyond a Walk Score)
Walk Score is useful, but buyers feel walkability with their feet, not a number. Across our conversations, people consistently value:
The most walkable Toronto neighbourhoods combine those ingredients in different ways, depending on who you are:
Five lifestyle lenses for choosing a walkable area
1. Toronto neighbourhood walkers
These are people who treat the city as their gym and their social life. They care about:
- Continuous sidewalks, short blocks, and plenty of side-street options
- A mix of historic houses and local businesses (not just towers and traffic)
- Easy access to a ravine, park, or waterfront trail
Neighbourhoods like Roncesvalles, Leslieville, the Annex, the Beaches, and Davisville Village rank high here because you can do a full “errands + park + coffee” loop without thinking about your car.
2. Urban high-rise residents
If you’re buying a condo or loft downtown or at a transit hub, you’re looking for:
- A park or waterfront path within a 5–10 minute walk
- A grocery store / drugstore on the same or next major street
- Indoor or sheltered walking options in winter (PATH, malls, station concourses)
- Safe, well-lit streets late at night
Areas like Bay Street Corridor, Waterfront Communities, King West, and parts of Yonge & Eglinton / Davisville score extremely high for walkability, especially for errands and transit access.
3. Families
For families, “walkable” is really code for “does the everyday routine feel safe and easy?” That usually means:
- Sidewalks wide enough for strollers
- Safe school routes and traffic-calmed streets
- Parks with playgrounds, splash pads, and open fields
- Local libraries, community centres, and kid-friendly cafés
Neighbourhoods like Davisville Village, Leaside, Roncesvalles, and parts of Leslieville are often singled out as family-friendly because they pair strong schools with tree-lined streets and nearby parks/trails.
4. Dog walkers
For dog people, the decision is half about the house and half about the walk loop:
- Access to off-leash parks or large green spaces
- Interesting side streets and ravine/waterfront paths
- Pet-friendly cafés and shops on the main strip
Dog-friendly articles keep coming back to Leslieville, High Park / Roncesvalles, and the Beaches for exactly this reason: plenty of parks, off-leash areas, and local dog-friendly businesses.
5. Nightlife & café-culture walkers
If you picture evening walks more than school runs, your version of walkability leans toward:
- Streets with evening light: patios, restaurants, galleries
- Transport options to get home late (streetcar/subway)
- Enough activity to feel safe, but not so crowded that it’s chaos
Areas like Queen West / Trinity-Bellwoods, King West, Ossington, the Annex, and Leslieville are walkable in this social sense – you can go from dinner to gelato to a quiet side street stroll without needing a car.
Neighbourhoods that tick boxes across multiple lifestyles
Some areas punch above their weight because they work for almost everyone: families, dog owners, café people, and downtown commuters.
1. The Annex – historic, central, and genuinely walkable
Why buyers like it:
- Walkability: Frequently rated in the mid-90s to 100 for Walk Score – a “walker’s paradise” where almost all daily errands can be done on foot.
- Nearby parks: Queen’s Park, smaller parkettes, and easy access to the University of Toronto campus greens.
- Lifestyle: Mix of students, academics, families, and professionals; great for café culture and nightlife without feeling like a club district.
- Transit: Multiple subway stations (Spadina, St. George, Bathurst) and streetcars.
2. Roncesvalles – “village” feel plus High Park & the waterfront
Why buyers like it:
- Main street energy: Roncesvalles Avenue is lined with cafés, bakeries, Polish delis, indie shops and restaurants – you can build your entire weekend around one strip.
- Parks: High Park to the west (off-leash areas, sports fields, zoo), Sorauren Park to the east, and quick access to the Martin Goodman waterfront trail.
- Lifestyle mix: Young families, long-time residents, dog owners, and professionals.
- Transit: Streetcar straight downtown, GO/UP nearby via Bloor, and bike lanes.
3. Leslieville – east-end creativity with strong walk scores
Why buyers like it:
- Street life: Queen Street East is packed with cafés, brunch spots, craft breweries, and independent shops – ideal for people who love a local “strip” to stroll.
- Parks: Jimmie Simpson Park, Greenwood Park, and quick access to the Beaches boardwalk make it great for families and dog owners.
- Walkability: Often recorded in the high 80s/90s range; many consider it one of the east end’s most walkable zones.
4. The Beaches – boardwalk lifestyle inside the city
Why buyers like it:
- Destination walks: The boardwalk, Kew Gardens, and waterfront parks make a simple evening stroll feel like a mini vacation.
- Dog & family appeal: Off-leash areas, playgrounds, and beach access are big quality-of-life perks.
- Main street: Queen Street East in the Beaches has a village feel with local shops, bakeries, and patios.
5. Davisville Village – midtown balance of family life & convenience
Why buyers like it:
- Family focus: Strong school network, quiet side streets, and a reputation as one of Toronto’s sought-after family neighbourhoods.
- Parks & trails: Access to the Beltline Trail, local parks, and nearby Sherwood Park means strong everyday walking options.
- Walkability: Shops, cafés, and services along Yonge, Bayview, and Mount Pleasant are all close enough to be part of your daily loop.
How nearby parks shape everyday life
When you buy in a walkable neighbourhood, you’re also buying into a park ecosystem:
Street-level checklist for buyers
When you’re out on a showing, try this quick walkability test instead of only reading stats:
- Stand at the front door
- What can you realistically walk to in 5 minutes? 10 minutes? 15 minutes?
- Is there a café, grocery, or park on that list?
- Walk one block in every direction
- Are sidewalks continuous and in good condition?
- Do you feel comfortable crossing streets with kids or a dog?
- Look up, not just down
- Tree canopy or exposed concrete?
- Do balconies and porches look lived-in and cared-for?
- Notice who else is walking
- Families with strollers? Dog walkers? Teens going to transit?
- A mix of ages is usually a good sign of long-term liveability.
- Imagine your real week
- Monday: walking to transit.
- Wednesday: evening dog walk or kids at the park.
- Friday: dinner or dessert within walking distance.
Does this street make those scenarios easy?
Matching your lifestyle to the right walkable pocket
Very roughly:
Across all of these, the stand-out fact is that Roncesvalles, Leslieville, the Annex, the Beaches, and Davisville Village rank very high across lifestyle types – they naturally bundle together the things people value most when they go out for a walk:
Walkability, shade and greenery, a sense of safety, attractive streetscapes, interesting things to see and do, cared-for surroundings, and at least one daily destination like a park, café, boardwalk, or ravine trail.
