Richmond Hill, ON apartments for rent

Richmond Hill is mostly car dependent. Limited services and amenities are within walking distance, so a car is needed for most errands. The area has limited public transportation options, making it less ideal for those who rely on transit. Richmond Hill is a somewhat bikeable area with minimal cycling infrastructure available for use.

Walkability data provided by Walk Score®

Think bigger. Search wider

Renter’s City Guide to Richmond-Hill

CITY GUIDE
RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO

Richmond Hill is nestled between the communities of Toronto in the southern section of the province. Over 195,000 people reside in the city’s more than 101 square kilometre area. There are many lakes here, including the larger Bond Lake, Phillips Lake, Wilcox Lake, St. George Lake, Haynes Lake, and Swan Lake, most of which are located in the northern area of the city. Several golf courses can be found in Richmond Hill, as can walking and biking trails and numerous parks.

Real Estate Market
Rental Market
Employment
Transportation

Schools
Family Life

Real Estate Market Overview

Richmond Hill is known as an affluent city, and housing prices reflect this, with averages ranging from $800,000 to $1,500,000. In the city’s northern section, you can find many high-priced, luxury homes, many of which are on sprawling lots. Vacant land and office/retail space can also be expensive, and there are few condo options in this section.The central area offers condo options, and a mix of newer and older single-family homes, as well as some commercial space. Plenty of office space and condos can be found in the southern section, as well as high-priced single-family homes.

Rental Market

Richmond Hill’s vacancy rate has remained almost unchanged for the past several years, sitting at or below 2%. With such a low vacancy rate, demand often exceeds supply, which is reflected in the increase in rent costs over the past couple of years. Most of the newest rental units tend to be in rented condominiums rather than traditional apartment buildings, and these are often found in the suburban areas. Smaller apartment buildings have had higher vacancy rates than larger buildings, while rent costs for larger buildings are often higher. The average costs for rent in Richmond Hill range from $900 for a bachelor apartment to around $1,500 for an apartment with three bedrooms or more. Rent in newer buildings is normally around $200 to $300 more than rent in older buildings, and vacancy rates for older buildings tend to be higher than those for newer buildings.

Useful Links:Houses for Rent

Employment

Richmond Hill’s reputation for affluence means that the unemployment rate in the city is significantly lower than the national average, at around 4%. Major industries include business, finance and administration, management, and information technology, and most businesses in the area are small businesses that are locally owned. Other important industries in Richmond Hill include health and education, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and construction, and agriculture/natural resources. The city’s largest employers include Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, Rogers Cable, the Town of Richmond Hill, and Apotex.

Transportation

Public transit (bus) is operated by York Region Transit and includes numerous routes running throughout the city, with stops easily accessible from residences and businesses. Many routes also provide access to other nearby communities in the York Region.The agency also operates Viva, a rapid transit option that connects Richmond Hill and surrounding communities with Toronto. Residents can also travel via GO Transit train (links to Toronto) and VIA Rail (train).

Schools

Richmond Hill’s public schools (primary and secondary) are operated by the York Region District School Board and include Oak Ridges Public School, Redstone Public School, Bayview Hill Elementary School, Silver Pines Public School, Richmond Hill High School, Bayview Secondary School, and Langstaff Secondary School. Catholic schools (primary and secondary) are operated by the York Catholic District School Board, and the city also has a number of private school options for residents. In Richmond Hill, post-secondary options include Academy of Learning College, with programs in business, accounting, event planning, marketing, healthcare, and information technology; and KLC College, offering courses in technology, business, education, and healthcare. Other post-secondary options can be found in the nearby communities of Markham, Vaughan, and Toronto.

Family Life

The David Dunlap Observatory is an astronomical observatory operated by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Toronto Centre). It houses Canada’s largest reflector telescope (74 inches), as well as several other telescopes. The observatory and nearby administration building were constructed in the 1930s and were once owned and operated by the University of Toronto. The Richmond Hill Heritage Centre, a Regency-style cottage built in the 1840s, provides displays and programs related to the cultural history of the area. The cottage has two galleries and several rooms, as well as a patio in the garden area.

73-0-city