Is it better to buy in Markham or Richmond Hill?Average prices are almost the same: about $1.21 million in both cities in August 2026. Markham is the busier, tighter market with more homes selling. Richmond Hill gives buyers more choice right now, especially for detached homes.
Markham and Richmond Hill sit side by side in York Region, and many buyers search in both. On paper they look alike: similar prices, similar highways, similar family neighbourhoods. On the ground, they feel quite different.
Michael John Lau and the Kaizen Real Estate Team, one of the most active teams in Markham and York Region, compare these two cities with buyers almost every week. This guide puts the latest numbers side by side and explains the differences that do not show up in the data.
Markham vs Richmond Hill: the numbers
| August 2026 | Markham | Richmond Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Average sold price, all homes | $1,208,692 | $1,205,777 |
| Median sold price, all homes | $1,095,000 | $1,068,888 |
| Homes sold | 282 | 161 |
| New listings | 584 | 449 |
| Active listings | 1,091 | 933 |
| Months of inventory (12-month trend) | 4.1 | 5.6 |
| Sales-to-new-listings ratio (12-month trend) | 40.3% | 33.1% |
Source: TRREB Market Watch, August 2026.
The headline prices are almost identical. The difference is pace. Markham sold 282 homes in August, compared with 161 in Richmond Hill, and has less inventory relative to sales. In plain terms, Markham is closer to a seller's market, while Richmond Hill leans toward buyers.
Prices by home type
| August 2026 average sold price | Markham | Richmond Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | $1,611,773 (137 sold) | $1,667,913 (74 sold) |
| Freehold townhouse | $1,031,119 (39 sold) | $1,030,927 (38 sold) |
| Condo townhouse | $812,567 (28 sold) | $716,839 (9 sold) |
| Condo apartment | $638,332 (57 sold) | $538,509 (33 sold) |
Source: TRREB Market Watch, August 2026. Small sample sizes, such as Richmond Hill condo townhouses, can swing from month to month.
What stands out
- Detached homes: Richmond Hill averaged slightly more, but it also had 518 detached homes for sale against only 74 sales. Markham had 449 for sale and 137 sales. Detached buyers in Richmond Hill have more room to negotiate.
- Townhouses: Freehold townhouse prices were essentially the same in both cities, around $1.03 million.
- Condos: Condo apartments averaged about $100,000 less in Richmond Hill in August, which can matter for first-time buyers and investors.
Lifestyle: how the two cities feel
Markham
Markham is larger, with about 338,500 residents in the 2021 census. It is known for heritage villages like Unionville and Markham Village, planned communities like Cornell, and a large tech and business corridor along Highway 7 and Highway 404. Rouge National Urban Park runs along its eastern side.
Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, with about 202,000 residents in 2021, sits between Markham and Vaughan. Its identity is built around Yonge Street, the historic village core and the Oak Ridges Moraine in the north, including Lake Wilcox. Established luxury pockets such as Bayview Hill and Mill Pond draw move-up buyers.
Transit and commuting
| Markham | Richmond Hill | |
|---|---|---|
| GO train | Stouffville line: Milliken, Unionville, Centennial, Markham and Mount Joy stations | Richmond Hill line, with more limited service than the Stouffville line |
| Rapid bus | Viva along Highway 7 | Viva along Yonge Street and Highway 7 |
| Highways | 404, 407 and Highway 48 | 404, 407 and Yonge Street corridor |
| Subway | No line planned through most of the city | Yonge North Subway Extension planned to reach the Highway 7 and Yonge area |
If you commute downtown by train, check the actual GO Transit schedule for your station before you choose. Service levels differ by line and time of day. For drivers, both cities share Highway 404 and Highway 407, so the right answer often comes down to which side of the 404 your workplace sits on.
Weighing Markham against Richmond Hill?
Michael John Lau can put both cities side by side for your budget, home type and commute, using this month's sales.
Search homes in MarkhamBook a buyer consultationPrefer to talk? Call the Kaizen Real Estate Team at (647) 370-8885.
Which city fits you?
| Choose Markham if you want | Choose Richmond Hill if you want |
|---|---|
| A wide range of neighbourhoods, from heritage villages to new planned communities | A Yonge Street lifestyle and future subway access on the west side |
| GO Stouffville line access and a large local job base | Oak Ridges Moraine trails and lakes close to home |
| A faster market where well-priced homes sell quickly | More choice and negotiating room, especially for detached homes |
| Rouge National Urban Park on your doorstep | Established luxury pockets like Bayview Hill and Mill Pond |
If you are selling in one city and buying in the other
Many families sell in one of these cities and buy in the other. Because Markham is moving faster right now, a Markham seller may sell sooner and then buy in Richmond Hill with more choice and time. The reverse move needs more planning, because Richmond Hill homes may take longer to sell. A free home valuation is the best starting point for either plan, and selling your home in Markham explains how the Kaizen Real Estate Team prepares a home for market.
Frequently asked questions
Is Markham more expensive than Richmond Hill?
Not by much. In August 2026 the average home sold for $1,208,692 in Markham and $1,205,777 in Richmond Hill, based on TRREB data. Richmond Hill detached homes averaged slightly more, while Markham condo apartments averaged more.
Which is a better market for buyers right now, Markham or Richmond Hill?
Richmond Hill gives buyers more choice, with about 5.6 months of inventory compared with 4.1 in Markham. Markham homes that are priced well tend to sell faster.
Will the subway come to Markham or Richmond Hill?
The planned Yonge North Subway Extension follows Yonge Street toward Highway 7, which mainly benefits Richmond Hill and the Thornhill area on Markham's western edge. Most Markham neighbourhoods rely on GO trains and Viva buses.
Michael John Lau and Neeraj Moolchandani are licensed REALTORS® with the Kaizen Real Estate Team, eXp Realty, Brokerage, 9763 Markham Rd, Markham, ON L6E 1A4. Licence #4784577. Market figures are approximate, drawn from TRREB MLS® data and other sources noted in the article, and can change. This article is general information only and is not financial, legal or tax advice. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract with another brokerage.
