Where to Live in Ottawa: The Ex-Torontonian’s Guide to Ottawa Neighbourhoods

Moving from Toronto to Ottawa is rarely just about affordability; it’s about finding the best neighbourhoods in Ottawa that offer a true lifestyle upgrade.

For many Torontonians, it’s about shorter commutes, more livable neighbourhoods, and a city that feels manageable without sacrificing opportunity.

But one question always comes first: Moving to Ottawa, where to live?

Ottawa doesn’t work like Toronto, and neighbourhoods aren’t defined by prestige or price alone. They’re shaped by lifestyle, work patterns, transit habits, and long-term plans.

Choosing the right neighbourhood can completely change how the city feels.

This guide is built specifically for Torontonians making that transition, cutting through assumptions and helping you understand the best neighbourhoods in Ottawa from a Toronto-to-Ottawa perspective.

Toronto vs Ottawa: The Lifestyle Reset Most Movers Don’t Expect

Understanding living in Ottawa vs Toronto starts with recognizing how daily life changes,  often faster than expected.

What changes immediately

• Commutes shrink: A 25–35-minute commute in Ottawa is normal and consistent
  
• Neighbourhoods feel quieter: Even central areas slow down after work hours
  
• Time feels reclaimed: Less congestion = more usable personal time
  
• Space becomes realistic: Storage, parking, and larger homes aren’t luxuries

What Surprises Toronto Movers

• Suburbs operate as complete cities.

• Business rules the downtown core.

• Culture thrives in the outer districts.

This is why neighbourhood choice matters more in Ottawa. The city rewards alignment when your neighbourhood matches your routines, not just your budget.

How to Choose an Ottawa Neighbourhood That Fits Your Lifestyle

Before looking at neighbourhood names or home prices in Ottawa, reset your decision-making.

For Torontonians choosing where to live in Ottawa, the best outcomes start with lifestyle intent, not listings.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want walkability or space when living in Ottawa?
• Is my work downtown Ottawa, hybrid, or remote?
• Am I choosing a place for now or the next 5–10 years?
• Do I prefer community energy or calm, predictable neighbourhood living?

The best neighbourhoods in Ottawa perform exceptionally well for specific lifestyles, which is why this guide is organized by how you live, not just what you can afford.

Match Your Lifestyle to an Ottawa Neighbourhood

Use this guide to find your perfect fit:

• Choose The Glebe, Hintonburg, or Centretown for walkable, café-lined living.

• Pick Westboro if you crave an active, outdoors-focused lifestyle.

• Target Kanata North for a tech-driven career and extra family space.

• Select Barrhaven or Riverside South for newer homes and future stability.

Best Areas to Live in Ottawa for Young Professionals & Hybrid Workers

If you’re searching for the best area to live in Ottawa for young professionals, focus on neighbourhoods that balance commute efficiency, transit access, and daily convenience.

The Glebe Best for: 

• Walkable daily routines.
• Community-driven living.
• Central access without high-rise congestion.
  

Why do Torontonians like it

• Comparable to Leslieville or Riverdale.
• Independent shops, cafés, and local services.
• Direct access to the Rideau Canal year-round.
  

Housing snapshot

• Character homes, semis, low-rise condos.
• Limited inventory with sustained long-term demand.
  

Westboro Best for: 

• Active, health-focused lifestyles.
• Polished urban, suburban balance.
• Hybrid or flexible work schedules.
  

Why it works

• Ottawa River pathways for cycling and running.
• Fitness studios and curated dining along Richmond Road.
• Reliable LRT access.
  

Toronto parallel

• Roncesvalles meets High Park.
  

Hintonburg & Wellington West Best for:

• Creative professionals and entrepreneurs.
• Buyers who value local culture.
• Transit-accessible urban living.
  

Highlights

• Strong neighbourhood identity.
• Independent cafés, galleries, and boutiques.
• Century homes, infills, and condos.
  

Comparable to

• The Junction or Ossington corridor.
  

Centretown Best for: 

• Car-free or car-light living.
• Government and downtown professionals.
• Renters and first-time buyers.
  

What to expect

• Walkable access to offices and amenities.
• Condos and heritage walk-ups.
• Consistently strong rental demand in Ottawa.

Key Insight for Toronto Professionals: For Toronto professionals moving to Ottawa, Hintonburg, Westboro, Centretown, and Little Italy offer walkability, transit access, flexible housing, and lifestyle-driven daily routines.

Best Family Neighbourhoods in Ottawa (Toronto Mover  Lens)

Families relocating from Toronto aren’t just upsizing, they’re restructuring routines around schools, commutes, and long-term livability.

These areas consistently rank among the best family neighbourhoods in Ottawa because they balance all of that.

Kanata North Best for

• Tech professionals working locally or hybrid environment.
• Families needing space without long commutes.

Why it stands out

• One of Canada’s largest tech employment hubs.
• Extensive trail systems, parks, and greenbelt access.
• Well-planned residential pockets with schools nearby.

Housing profile

• Detached homes, townhomes, and newer subdivisions.
• Strong resale demand driven by employment stability.

Toronto comparison

Markham’s tech corridor, but calmer, greener, and easier to navigate.

Barrhaven Best for

• Growing families.
• Value-conscious buyers leaving GTA pricing behind.

Key benefits

• Newer housing stock with practical family layouts.
• Integrated schools, retail centres, and recreation facilities.
• Predictable commute patterns compared to GTA suburbs.

Housing profile

• Townhomes and detached homes dominate.
• Popular for first-time family buyers and move-up buyers.

Comparable to

Milton or Vaughan, with less congestion and more day-to-day convenience.

Riverside South Best for

• Long-term planners.
• Buyers entering newer developments with future upside.

Why it’s gaining attention

• Rideau River access and expanding trail networks.
• Planned and expanding transit access (future LRT connection).
• Strong appreciation potential as infrastructure builds out.
  

Housing profile

• New-build townhomes and detached homes.
• Designed with families in mind from the ground up.

Key Insight for Families Moving from Toronto: For Toronto families relocating to Ottawa, neighbourhoods like Kanata North, Barrhaven, and Riverside South stand out for access to schools, space, proximity to healthcare, and long-term livability.

Ottawa Neighbourhood Comparison (Toronto Reference)

Is It Better to Live Downtown Ottawa or in the Suburbs?

For anyone moving to Ottawa, this is usually the first major decision. And for Torontonians, the instinct is familiar: downtown for lifestyle, suburbs for space.

In Ottawa, however, urban vs suburban living works a little differently.

Living downtown Ottawa tends to suit professionals who prioritize walkability, transit access, and proximity to employment hubs.

By contrast, Ottawa suburbs vs downtown living often appeals to families and remote or hybrid workers seeking space, consistency, and quieter neighbourhood routines.

The right choice depends on:

• Daily commute patterns in Ottawa.
• Housing budget and home type.
• Household size and long-term plans.

For deeper planning around costs, lifestyle trade-offs, and whether the move makes sense in the long term, explore: Moving from Toronto to Ottawa 2026: Costs, Lifestyle Changes & Is It Worth It?

Is Downtown Ottawa a Good Place to Live?

Yes, downtown Ottawa is a good place to live for people who value car-optional living, shorter commutes, and easy access to walkable neighbourhoods.

Why downtown Ottawa living works well:

• Centretown and The Glebe are among the most walkable neighbourhoods in Ottawa.
• Direct access to government offices, Ottawa public transit, and cultural venues.
  
• Strong rental demand in downtown Ottawa, especially from professionals and students.

That said, downtown Ottawa is more administrative than social.

Many Toronto movers expect late-night energy similar to that in the GTA core, but Ottawa’s lifestyle hubs are spread across nearby neighbourhoods rather than concentrated in a single downtown zone.

Are Ottawa Suburbs a Good Choice for Families?

For many households, yes, Ottawa suburbs are often the best choice for families relocating from Toronto.

Neighbourhoods such as Kanata, Barrhaven, Riverside South, and Orleans consistently rank among the best family neighbourhoods in Ottawa because they offer:

• Newer homes with functional family layouts.
  
• Access to schools, parks, healthcare, and recreation.
  
• Community planning focused on long-term livability.

These areas are especially well-suited for families seeking:

• Housing stability in Ottawa.
  
• More space without extreme commute tradeoffs.
  

• Predictable routines rather than short-term proximity to downtown offices.

Key Insight for Toronto Movers: In Ottawa, choosing between downtown and suburban living is less about distance and more about daily rhythm. Both offer manageable commutes, but lead to very different lifestyles. 

Once you’ve narrowed down the right family neighbourhood, working with experienced Ottawa residential moving services helps keep the transition organized, on schedule, and low-stress, especially for moves involving schools and fixed timelines.

Do You Need a Car If You Live in Ottawa?

Whether you need a car in Ottawa depends largely on the neighbourhood you choose.

• In central Ottawa neighbourhoods like Downtown Ottawa, Centretown, The Glebe, Hintonburg, and Westboro, many residents rely on walking, cycling, and public transit, making car-optional living a realistic option.
• In Ottawa suburbs such as Kanata, Barrhaven, Riverside South, and Orleans, daily life is more car-dependent due to the distance between amenities.
  

Essential Point: Living in central Ottawa often means you can get by without a car, while suburban living usually requires owning at least one.

Common Neighbourhood Mistakes Toronto Movers Make

These patterns recur, and they’re avoidable.

1. Assuming downtown equals lifestyle
   Ottawa’s vibrancy often exists just outside the core. 
2. Choosing based only on price
   Mid-priced neighbourhoods often deliver better daily satisfaction. 
3. Ignoring seasonal living
   Winter walkability, indoor amenities, and trail access matter. 
4. Transplanting Toronto habits
   Ottawa rewards balance, not constant motion.

Understanding these helps buyers choose neighbourhoods they’ll still enjoy years later. 

Key Takeaways: Choosing the Best Neighbourhood in Ottawa

Ottawa isn’t about chasing status neighbourhoods; it’s about choosing places that support how you actually live.

Whether you’re early in your career, raising a family, or planning for long-term stability, Ottawa becomes easier to navigate once you understand how its neighbourhoods are structured.

If you’re still deciding where to live in Ottawa, start with lifestyle first, then align location, commute, and housing around it.

When the move begins, Professional Movers supports structured, well-planned relocations designed to reduce stress and protect timelines, so your transition to Ottawa feels intentional, not rushed.

Frequently Asked Questions: Moving to Ottawa & Where to Live

Where should I live when moving to Ottawa?

When moving to Ottawa, choose where to live based on lifestyle fit, not price alone. Work location, transit access, family plans, and long-term housing goals should guide neighbourhood choice.

What are the best neighbourhoods in Ottawa?

The best neighbourhoods in Ottawa depend on lifestyle, commute, and housing needs. The Glebe, Westboro, Hintonburg, and Centretown suit professionals, while Kanata, Barrhaven, Riverside South, and Orleans offer space, schools, and long-term stability. 

Is it better to live downtown Ottawa or in the suburbs?

Living downtown Ottawa suits those who value walkability, transit, and proximity to work. Ottawa suburbs are better for families and remote workers seeking space, newer homes, and quieter, fully serviced neighbourhoods.