October 28, 2026 | Buying
Pickering vs Ajax: Which Is Better to Buy In? (2026)
Updated October 2026 · By Xerxes Bharucha, Broker · Team Rajpal, Re/Max Key2 Real Estate., Brokerage, Seaton, Pickering
Quick answer: Pickering vs Ajax: on average, homes cost more in Pickering. From January to September 2026, the average Pickering home sold for $920,590 and the average Ajax home for $866,666, about $54,000 less. The gap is biggest for detached homes, about $130,000 at benchmark prices, while townhouses cost about the same in both towns. What you get for the extra in Pickering: more new construction, the Highway 407, and the schools many buyers move there for.
Our take: Pickering is much bigger than Ajax and is really a set of distinct pockets, each with its own age of homes, mix of people and types of homes. Ajax is more consistent from one end to the other. Most of our buyers look at both, and about 7 in 10 choose Pickering.
What did homes actually sell for in Pickering and Ajax in 2026?
Our own count of every home sold through the MLS® from January to September:
| Pickering | Ajax | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes sold, Jan to Sept 2026 | 946 | 788 |
| Average sale price, Jan to Sept 2026 | $920,590 | $866,666 |
| Average sale price, Jan to Sept 2025 | $968,666 | $919,539 |
| Change from last year | Down 5.0% | Down 5.7% |
| Average sale price, September 2026 | $893,842 | $828,835 |
| Homes for sale at the end of September | 412 | 312 |
| Months to sell everything for sale, at September’s pace | About 4.5 | About 4.1 |
So the average Pickering home sold for about $54,000 more than the average Ajax home this year. Both towns are in a balanced market: buyers have choices, but homes that are priced right still sell.
Source: Team Rajpal analysis of TRREB MLS® sold data, January to September 2025 and 2026.
How do Pickering and Ajax prices compare by home type?
TRREB MLS® Home Price Index, September 2026. The benchmark is the price of a typical home of each type.
| Home type | Pickering | Ajax | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All homes | $866,800 | $846,900 | Pickering $19,900 more |
| Detached | $1,061,300 | $929,400 | Pickering $131,900 more |
| Townhouse | $603,300 | $617,000 | Ajax $13,700 more |
| Condo apartment | $465,500 | $433,900 | Pickering $31,600 more |
Why do detached homes cost more in Pickering?
Because Pickering’s mix is so different. It has whole pockets of newer, larger homes, like Seaton and Duffin Heights, plus lakefront and ravine areas that pull its prices up. Ajax’s neighbourhoods are more alike in the age and type of their homes, so prices are more even across town.
Which is better for commuting to Toronto, Pickering or Ajax?
Both towns are on the Lakeshore East GO line and Highway 401. The big difference is the 407.
| Pickering | Ajax | |
|---|---|---|
| GO station | Pickering GO (Lakeshore East) | Ajax GO (Lakeshore East) |
| Train to Union Station | About 35 to 45 minutes | A few minutes longer: Ajax is one stop further east |
| Highway 401 | Yes | Yes |
| Highway 407 on-ramps | Yes, at Brock Road and Whites Road | None in Ajax. The nearest are in Pickering, or through the 412 in Whitby |
If you drive north or west for work, the 407 on-ramps alone can make the decision for you. More on the train in our guide to commuting from Pickering to Toronto by GO train.
What are the best neighbourhoods in Pickering?
- Seaton: Pickering’s new community, planned for about 61,000 residents. Mostly new towns, semis and detached homes from nine builders. Our office is here, at 2460 Brock Road. See our Seaton guide.
- Duffin Heights: Newer homes near Brock Road and Taunton Road, close to Seaton.
- Amberlea and Rosebank: Established family areas with mature trees, close to the 401 and schools.
- Bay Ridges: By the lake and Frenchman’s Bay, close to Pickering GO.
What are the best neighbourhoods in Ajax?
- Northeast Ajax: Newer subdivisions, popular with young families.
- South Ajax: Close to the waterfront trail and Ajax’s lakefront parks.
- Central Ajax: Older, more affordable homes close to shopping and the 401.
Looking at Ajax? See our guide to the best neighbourhoods in Ajax for families.
Is Pickering or Ajax better for new construction?
Pickering, by a wide margin. Seaton is the largest new community in Durham, with nine builders selling in 2026. New homes also come with HST rebates of up to $130,000 for buyers who qualify, and a 30-year amortization for any buyer with less than 20% down. Our Seaton Whitevale Mattamy homes guide shows one example.
How big are Pickering and Ajax?
Ajax had 126,666 people in the 2021 census, and Pickering had 99,186. But Pickering covers far more land, and it’s the one growing faster now, because of Seaton.
Why do buyers choose Pickering over Ajax?
Most of our buyers, especially first-time buyers, look at both towns before they decide. In our experience, about 7 in 10 end up choosing Pickering, for the type of home they can get there and for the schools.
Pickering has more pockets. It’s significantly larger than Ajax, and its pockets differ by the age of the homes, the people who live there and the types of homes. Ajax is more consistent throughout on all three. Pickering in general does have better schools, and that’s one of the main reasons people choose Pickering over Ajax. Pickering also has more new-build options, and it’s closer to the 407, with on-ramps that Ajax doesn’t have.
Xerxes Bharucha, Broker, Team Rajpal
So which should you choose?
- Choose Pickering if schools are high on your list, you want a brand-new home, or you commute on the 407. Its pockets also let you be specific: an older home on a big lot, a home by the lake, or a new build in Seaton.
- Choose Ajax if you want neighbourhoods that are more alike from one end of town to the other, and more detached home for your money.
- Buying a townhouse? Prices are almost the same in both, so let your commute and the schools decide.
Pickering vs Ajax: FAQ
Is Pickering more expensive than Ajax?
Yes, on average. From January to September 2026, the average home sold for $920,590 in Pickering and $866,666 in Ajax. For a detached home, the gap is about $130,000.
Do more buyers choose Pickering or Ajax?
Most of our buyers, especially first-time buyers, look at both. About 7 in 10 choose Pickering, for the type of home they can get and for the schools.
Is Ajax a good place to live?
Yes, for families who want consistent, established neighbourhoods, a long waterfront and lower detached prices than Pickering.
Is Pickering a good place to live?
Yes, especially if you want good schools, a new home, a shorter GO train ride to Toronto, or access to the 407.
Does Ajax have access to Highway 407?
Not directly. There are no 407 on-ramps in Ajax. The nearest are in Pickering at Brock Road, or through Highway 412 in Whitby.
Which has better transit, Pickering or Ajax?
Both are on the Lakeshore East GO line. Pickering is one stop closer to Union Station, about 35 to 45 minutes away.
Do Pickering and Ajax have a city land transfer tax?
No. Only Toronto charges one. You pay the Ontario land transfer tax only. See our guide to closing costs in Ontario.
Are townhouses cheaper in Pickering or Ajax?
About the same. The September 2026 benchmark was $603,300 in Pickering and $617,000 in Ajax.
Looking in Pickering or Ajax?
We live and work in Seaton, and we sell homes in both towns every month. Tell us your budget, your commute and your must-haves, and we’ll show you where your money goes furthest. Browse homes for sale in Pickering and Ajax, or talk to a realtor in Pickering.
Call or text Team Rajpal · 647.372.2997
Sources: Team Rajpal analysis of TRREB MLS® sold data (January to September 2025 and 2026); TRREB MLS® Home Price Index, September 2026; population from Statistics Canada’s 2021 census.
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