Centretown, Ottawa: 40 questions about living and buying here, answered | centretown.homes

Question 1

Is Centretown a good place to live?

Accepted Answer

Whether Centretown suits you depends on what you want from a home, and the facts describe a compact, apartment-heavy area close to downtown. In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), Centretown had 31,890 residents, 75.3% renter households and an average household size of 1.5. Its ONS average Walk Score is 69 and its Bike Score is 95.

Question 2

Where is Centretown in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Centretown is a neighbourhood in Somerset Ward, in central Ottawa, Ontario. The City defines it as the area bounded by Gloucester Street and Lisgar Street on the north, the Rideau Canal on the east, the Queensway on the south and Bronson Avenue on the west.

Question 3

How far is Centretown from downtown Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Centretown is about 0.8 km from Parliament Hill in a straight line (as the crow flies), which this guide uses as its downtown reference point. West Centretown is about 2.0 km from Parliament Hill by the same measure.

Question 4

What schools serve Centretown?

Accepted Answer

Centretown is near OCDSB, OCSB, CECCE and CÉPEO schools. The nearest elementary schools by straight-line distance are Centennial Public School and Elgin Street Public School (both OCDSB, about 0.6 km), then Cambridge Street Community Public School (OCDSB, about 1.1 km). Which school serves a specific address depends on its catchment, so families must confirm with each board's school locator.

Question 5

Are there French-language schools in Centretown?

Accepted Answer

Yes, French-language schools are listed near Centretown. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Catholic Secondary Campus (CECCE) is about 1.1 km away and Catholic Elementary School in The Heart of Ottawa (CECCE) is about 1.5 km away, both in a straight line. Families must confirm eligibility and catchments with each board's school locator.

Question 6

Which high schools are near Centretown?

Accepted Answer

The nearest secondary schools to Centretown, in a straight line, are Lisgar Collegiate Institute (OCDSB, about 0.9 km), Saint-Jean-Baptiste Catholic Secondary Campus (CECCE, French-language, about 1.1 km) and Immaculata High School (OCSB, about 1.5 km). Families must confirm which school serves an address with each board's school locator.

Question 7

What are homes like in Centretown?

Accepted Answer

Homes in Centretown are mostly apartments. In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), 67.1% of dwellings were in buildings of five or more storeys and 23.4% in buildings under five storeys. Row houses were 3.2%, single-detached houses 3.0% and semi-detached houses 1.6%.

Question 8

How much do homes cost in Centretown?

Accepted Answer

This guide has no sale-price figure for Centretown itself. The 2021 census median owner-estimated value of owned dwellings was $500,000 in Centretown and $645,000 in West Centretown. For the whole city, OREB reported a single-family benchmark price of $705,100 and an average sale price of $685,640 for all homes in September 2026.

Question 9

Is Centretown on the O-Train?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Centretown has O-Train Line 1 stations close by. Parliament station is about 0.5 km and Lyon station about 0.6 km from Centretown, in a straight line. Rideau and uOttawa stations are also listed within about 1.4 km of the guide's centre point.

Question 10

What is the nearest O-Train station to Centretown?

Accepted Answer

The nearest O-Train station to Centretown is Parliament station on Line 1, about 0.5 km away in a straight line. Lyon station, also on Line 1, is about 0.6 km away.

Question 11

How do people in Centretown get to work?

Accepted Answer

In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), 38.0% of Centretown workers commuted by car, truck or van and 37.9% on foot. Public transit accounted for 15.3% and bicycles for 4.9%. Separately, 57.7% of workers worked from home.

Question 12

What parks and trails are in Centretown?

Accepted Answer

City of Ottawa data lists 18 parks in the guide area. The nearest to Centretown, in a straight line, are a temporary parkette (about 0.2 km), Lisgar Parkette and Dundonald Park (about 0.5 km) and Rolla Law Crain Park (about 0.6 km).

Question 13

Where do people in Centretown buy groceries?

Accepted Answer

Several supermarkets are within about 0.6 km of Centretown in a straight line: Your Independent Grocer (about 0.2 km), Farm Boy (about 0.4 km) and Food Basics (about 0.6 km). Other supermarkets in the guide area include Loblaws, Metro and NU Grocery.

Question 14

Is Centretown walkable?

Accepted Answer

Centretown's ONS average Walk Score is 69 and its Bike Score is 95. In the 2021 census, 37.9% of Centretown workers commuted on foot. The average number of transit stops within a 600 m walk is 20.1.

Question 15

Is Centretown good for families?

Accepted Answer

Centretown has fewer children than some other areas, and its housing is mostly apartments. In the 2021 census, children aged 0–14 were 5.9% of residents, and the average household size was 1.5. West Centretown had a higher share of children (10.1%) and a larger average household size (1.8).

Question 16

Do more people rent or own in Centretown?

Accepted Answer

More people rent than own in Centretown. In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), 75.3% of Centretown households were renters and 24.7% were owners. In West Centretown, 75.7% were renters and 24.2% were owners.

Question 17

Which city ward is Centretown in?

Accepted Answer

Centretown is in Ward 14 (Somerset), per City of Ottawa ward data, October 2026. The councillor listed is Ariel Troster. West Centretown is in the same ward.

Question 18

What is the nearest hospital to Centretown?

Accepted Answer

The nearest hospital in City of Ottawa data is Saint Vincent Hospital, about 0.9 km from Centretown and about 0.8 km from West Centretown, in a straight line.

Question 19

What is the history of Centretown?

Accepted Answer

Traditionally, Centretown meant all of Ottawa west of the Rideau Canal, while Lower Town was everything to the east. The area was represented in Parliament by two members from 1872 to 1935. A construction boom that began in the late nineties added many condominiums and other high-rise buildings north of Cooper Street.

Question 20

Is Centretown French-speaking?

Accepted Answer

In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), 8.4% of Centretown residents had French as the language most spoken at home. In West Centretown the share was 7.0%.

Question 21

What is Centretown like?

Accepted Answer

Centretown is a dense, apartment-heavy neighbourhood in central Ottawa. In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), it had 31,890 residents, a median age of 34.8 and an average household size of 1.5. Renters made up 75.3% of households, and 67.1% of dwellings were in buildings of five or more storeys.

Question 22

What is West Centretown like?

Accepted Answer

West Centretown is a mixed-housing area with 8,810 residents in the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study). Its median age was 36.4, and 75.7% of households rented. About 34.9% of dwellings were in buildings of five or more storeys and 32.5% in buildings under five storeys.

Question 23

Are there rinks in Centretown?

Accepted Answer

City of Ottawa data lists 5 rinks in the guide area. Arenas among the recreation facilities include McNabb Arena and Tom Brown Arena.

Question 24

Where are the recreation centres and library near Centretown?

Accepted Answer

From Centretown, the Ottawa Public Library Main Library is about 0.4 km away and Jack Purcell Community Centre about 0.6 km away, in a straight line. St Lukes Community Centre: Bethell Fieldhouse is about 0.9 km away.

Question 25

How much tree canopy does Centretown have?

Accepted Answer

Tree canopy covered 15.4% of Centretown in 2024, per the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study. West Centretown's tree canopy coverage was 13.0% in 2024.

Question 26

What is the age profile of Centretown?

Accepted Answer

In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), Centretown's median age was 34.8, with children aged 0–14 at 5.9% and seniors 65+ at 12.9% of residents. West Centretown's median age was 36.4, with 10.1% children and 15.8% seniors.

Question 27

How many people live in Centretown?

Accepted Answer

The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study area Centretown had 31,890 residents and 22,810 private dwellings in the 2021 census. West Centretown had 8,810 residents and 5,285 private dwellings.

Question 28

Is Centretown the same as downtown Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Not strictly, but the terms overlap. The City defines Centretown as the area south of Gloucester and Lisgar streets, but for purposes such as the census and real estate listings, the Golden Triangle and Downtown Ottawa (between Gloucester/Lisgar and the Ottawa River) are sometimes included.

Question 29

What is the difference between Centretown and West Centretown?

Accepted Answer

They are two Ottawa Neighbourhood Study areas with different housing mixes. In the 2021 census, 67.1% of Centretown dwellings were in buildings of five or more storeys, against 34.9% in West Centretown. West Centretown had more row houses (11.1% vs 3.2%) and single-detached houses (8.1% vs 3.0%).

Question 30

What is the Ottawa housing market doing right now?

Accepted Answer

For September 2026, OREB reported 1,010 homes sold citywide, down 6.6% from September 2025, and 4,813 active listings at month end, up 7.9%. The single-family benchmark price was $705,100, nearly unchanged from September 2025. These are citywide figures, not Centretown figures.

Question 31

How long do homes take to sell in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Citywide, the median days on market in September 2026 was 27, compared with 22 days in September 2025, per OREB. The sale-to-list price ratio was 97.5%, down from 98.1% a year earlier.

Question 32

Are there single-detached houses in Centretown?

Accepted Answer

Single-detached houses are a small share of Centretown's housing: 3.0% of dwellings in the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study). In West Centretown the share was 8.1%.

Question 33

How many transit stops are near Centretown?

Accepted Answer

The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study reports an average of 20.1 transit stops within a 600 m walk in Centretown and 20.8 in West Centretown. Transitway stations such as Kent South, Bank North and Bank South are within about 0.3 to 0.4 km of the guide's centre point.

Question 34

Is West Centretown on the O-Train?

Accepted Answer

West Centretown has O-Train stations nearby. Corso Italia station on Line 2 is about 0.4 km away, and Pimisi station on Line 1 is about 0.8 km away, both in a straight line.

Question 35

What schools are near West Centretown?

Accepted Answer

The nearest elementary schools to West Centretown, in a straight line, are St. Anthony School (OCSB, about 0.1 km), Family Reception Centre (OCDSB, about 0.3 km) and Cambridge Street Community Public School (OCDSB, about 0.4 km). Families must confirm catchments with each board's school locator.

Question 36

What parks are near West Centretown?

Accepted Answer

The nearest parks to West Centretown, in a straight line, are Piazza Dante Park (about 0.2 km), Plouffe Park (about 0.3 km), and Postilion Park and Chaudière Park (both about 0.4 km).

Question 37

Where do people in West Centretown buy groceries?

Accepted Answer

The nearest supermarkets to West Centretown, in a straight line, are Kowloon Supermarket (about 0.5 km), La Tiendita Latin Goods Mart (about 0.8 km) and Margo Fresh (about 0.8 km).

Question 38

What are the main shopping streets in Centretown?

Accepted Answer

Bank Street and Elgin Street are the main commercial streets in Centretown, according to Wikipedia. Smaller streets such as MacLaren and Gladstone are more residential.

Question 39

Is there a community health centre near Centretown?

Accepted Answer

According to the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, 93.6% of Centretown residents live within a 15-minute walk of a community health centre. In West Centretown the share is 98.7%.

Question 40

Is Centretown good for cycling?

Accepted Answer

Centretown's ONS average Bike Score is 95, and West Centretown's is 96. In the 2021 census, 4.9% of workers in both areas commuted by bicycle.

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