Best neighbourhoods in Ottawa for families
Ottawa's best neighbourhoods for families favor houses over apartments. About 46% of homes here are single-detached, and 68% of residents own rather than rent. The typical resident is 42, and kids under 15 make up 16% of the population.
Kanata Lakes, The Orchard, and Mahogany lead the list, with median incomes from $150,000 to $172,000 and most residents established homeowners. About 18% of households citywide spend 30% or more of income on housing, so it's worth checking that figure against any one area before you commit.
What matters for families in Ottawa
Bars are the Ottawaaggregate's percentile rank vs Ontario's 20,000+ census areas on the metrics that drive this persona.
Top neighbourhoods
| Neighbourhood | Median income | Median age | University-educated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The Orchard · Ottawa | $150,000 | 40.8 | 59.6% |
| 2. Marchwood Lakeside · Ottawa | $143,000 | 38.0 | 63.2% |
| 3. Mahogany · Ottawa | $154,000 | 43.2 | 56.7% |
| 4. Stonebridge · Ottawa | $134,000 | 40.0 | 52.1% |
| 5. Nepean · Ottawa | $125,000 | 40.8 | 58.2% |
| 6. Kanata North · Ottawa | $145,000 | 36.8 | 49.1% |
| 7. Greenbelt · Ottawa | $127,000 | 34.8 | 52.0% |
| 8. South March · Ottawa | $124,000 | 37.6 | 53.5% |
| 9. Westboro · Ottawa | $119,000 | 36.8 | 67.2% |
| 10. Havenlea · Ottawa | $129,000 | 39.2 | 49.3% |
| 11. Limebank & Spratt · Ottawa | $138,000 | 37.6 | 45.0% |
| 12. Central Park · Ottawa | $117,000 | 36.8 | 58.6% |
| 13. Summerhill Village · Ottawa | $122,000 | 32.8 | 49.9% |
| 14. Notting Hill · Ottawa | $142,000 | 37.2 | 43.6% |
| 15. Greely · Ottawa | $154,000 | 46.8 | 41.0% |
| 16. Stittsville · Ottawa | $122,000 | 36.0 | 46.7% |
| 17. Centretown · Ottawa | $106,000 | 32.4 | 69.5% |
| 18. Edenwylde · Ottawa | $123,000 | 32.4 | 44.4% |
| 19. Riverside South-Findlay Creek · Ottawa | $127,000 | 33.6 | 42.6% |
| 20. Centrepointe · Ottawa | $111,000 | 56.8 | 55.9% |
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Layer the families filters on the live map and refine by 125+ other metrics.
Common questions
What are the best neighbourhoods in Ottawa for families?
Kanata Lakes, The Orchard, and Mahogany top the list. They combine strong incomes, over $150,000 typically, with a housing mix that's about 46% single-detached homes citywide.
Is Ottawa good for raising kids?
Kids under 15 make up about 16% of Ottawa's population, and 68% of residents own their home rather than rent. Both point to a fairly settled, family-oriented mix.
What's the average age in Ottawa's family neighbourhoods?
The typical resident is about 42 years old citywide. That skews a bit older than a young-professional area, which fits neighbourhoods built around houses rather than apartments.
How much of Ottawa is single-family homes?
About 46% of homes in Ottawa are single-detached, and 68% of residents own their home. That mix is common in the neighbourhoods that rank highest for families.