A commute is the journey one takes from their home, to work, and then back home again.
For many people, this is a daily routine and a lifestyle that seems to be becoming more popular as property prices remain higher in city centres. Whether by car or transit, commuting to work in the city from a surrounding community has many benefits.
The Durham Region is a regional municipality in Southern Ontario. Located to the east of Toronto, the Durham Region covers more than 2500 square kilometres, with many large cities located within it as well, like Oshawa.
Living in a major city like Toronto has its advantages, but living in the Durham Region gives residents quick access to Toronto and so much more. Most families appreciate the quieter lifestyle, with safe streets, quality schools, and the open space. Homes for sale in the Durham Region are typically more affordable as well, even though they’re extremely impressive with plenty of different property types.
Every community in the Durham Region is a fantastic place to live for different reasons. Following the shoreline of beautiful Lake Ontario, each community has varying benefits and ways to commute to other areas, ideal for a comfortable lifestyle and career stability.
Here are the most popular Durham Region communities to live in, and what makes each one so suitable for a daily commute.
Oshawa
Oshawa gives the opportunity to live in a large, thriving city, but also have access to the entire Durham Region. The population is close to 200,000 people, and education and career opportunities are plentiful here, but with so many other options, it’s also a great commutable city. Many people who live in Oshawa commute to Toronto for work.
Toronto is only 50 minutes away from Oshawa by car, via the Ontario 401 Express. A great economical option to take would be the train, and it’s nearly just as quick at just over an hour ride time.
Along the way, between Toronto and Oshawa, are Ajax and Pickering, and to the east of Oshawa are Courtice, Bowmanville, and Clarington. All of these are great places to live and work, and Oshawa makes for a great home to open as many options as possible.
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Clarington
Clarington is a community in the Durham Region furthest away from Toronto to the east. This creates a small town lifestyle, even though the population is close to 100,000.
Living here presents it’s own opportunities, but working in any of the lakeside communities to the west is entirely possible by commute. Bowmanville is only 8 kilometres away, Courtice and Oshawa are 27 kilometres away, Ajax is just over 50 kilometres away, and Toronto is 82 kilometres away. That means Toronto to Clarington is one of the longest commutes in the Durham Region, and it’s still only an hour commute by car.
Travelling by car is typically the only way to commute from Clarington, as transit options aren’t great, but this makes Clarington have a more local spirit.
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Pickering
Pickering is in the unique location in that it is right in the middle of two incredible cities with amazing opportunities for work.
Toronto is 40 kilometres to the west and Oshawa is 20 kilometres to the east. All of the job opportunities in both cities are available to the residents of Pickering, all a short commute that amounts to close to 50 minutes in a car, there and back.
The real estate market in Pickering has waterfront luxury homes, single family homes, and more, but the most popular are the wonderful townhouses and condos for sale here. It’s a more affordable way of life, designed for families as well as singles and couples. Living in Pickering and commuting to another city is a popular and easy way of life.
It’s important to note that industries like film, agriculture, technology, energy, and more are booming right now, making Pickering an amazing place to find high paying work in its own right.
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Brooklin
Brooklin is one of the smaller popular communities in the Durham Region, and one located in the countryside opposed to along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. It still has a population of roughly 25,000 people, but it has a quaint charm with spacious living.
Commuting to other communities is very easy from Brooklin. There is a growing downtown, with many opportunities to work locally, but many residents appreciate the nearby communities to look for work.
Brooklin is technically a part of Whitby, just north of the downtown center, about 8 kilometers. It’s less than an hour drive to the rest of the Durham Region, and many choose Brooklin as a place to live because commuting is so easy. Working in the big city and living in a charming Ontario neighborhood is one of the best aspects of life in the Durham Region.
For home buyers that work in Oshawa, Toronto, Pickering, or otherwise, Brooklin is a very popular choice to look first. This is because of how commutable it is, but also because this rural community has been growing rapidly, presenting new opportunities and an amazing investment situation.
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For more information on the communities in the Durham Region check out our community guides today!
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