Editor's note, October 6, 2026: this article was reviewed and rewritten in our accuracy check. An earlier version contained neighbourhood price levels, rent tables and market statistics we could not trace to a published source; they have been removed or replaced with figures from the sources listed at the end of the article.
Leslieville is an east-end Toronto neighbourhood centred on Queen Street East, east of the Don Valley. It takes its name from George Leslie, whose 19th-century plant nursery once covered much of the area. Its boundaries are informal; the City of Toronto's neighbourhood profiles use their own planning boundaries, so check which profile covers the streets you're looking at.
Homes
Most of the housing is late-19th and early-20th-century: semi-detached and row houses on narrow lots, some detached homes, and small workers' cottages. Craven Road is known for its unusual row of tiny cottages facing a fence. Newer mid-rise condos sit along Queen Street East and Eastern Avenue. With older stock, inspections matter: check the wiring, foundation and drainage (see our inspection guide). Toronto allows laneway and garden suites and up to four units on most residential lots, subject to the zoning rules, which some owners use for rental income.
Getting around
- The 501 Queen streetcar runs along Queen Street East into downtown.
- Line 2 (Bloor–Danforth) stations at Pape and Donlands are north of the neighbourhood.
- Metrolinx is building an Ontario Line station at Leslieville, above Queen Street East, and the East Harbour hub to the southwest, where the Ontario Line will meet GO Transit. Metrolinx has said it is aiming to open the line in the early 2030s; construction near Queen Street East continues through 2027.
Parks and daily life
Greenwood Park (pool, rink, off-leash area) and Jimmie Simpson Park and recreation centre are neighbourhood anchors, and the lower Don trails and the waterfront are a short ride away. Queen Street East is the main strip for independent shops and restaurants.
Schools
School catchments follow addresses, not neighbourhood names. Use the TDSB's school locator (and the Toronto Catholic District School Board's) for any address you're considering, and confirm program availability, such as French immersion, directly with the board.
Costs to plan for
Toronto's 2026 total residential property tax rate (municipal, regional where applicable, and education) is 0.767311% of assessed value: about $7,673 a year on a home assessed at $1,000,000. Outside the City of Toronto there's no municipal land transfer tax, so on a $1,000,000 purchase you pay Ontario's tax only: $16,475 (an eligible first-time buyer gets up to $4,000 of it refunded). In Toronto the same purchase costs $32,950 with both taxes.
Prices: TRREB publishes monthly sales and prices by municipality and by TRREB district, not by neighbourhood, and averages for small areas move a lot from month to month. For a current picture, look at recent sold prices on the streets you're considering, and ask an agent for a comparative market analysis. Across the GTA in August 2026, TRREB reported an average price of $993,410 (detached $1,288,669; condo apartment $617,593).
Frequently asked questions
Can I add a laneway suite, garden suite or more units?
Toronto permits laneway suites (since 2018), garden suites (since 2022) and multiplexes of up to four units on lots in its Neighbourhoods designation (since 2023), subject to zoning standards and permits. Whether a particular Leslieville lot qualifies depends on its size, access and servicing, so check with the City or a designer before you buy for that purpose.
How is my property tax worked out?
Your bill is your property's assessed value, set by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), multiplied by the total tax rate. Ontario has postponed province-wide reassessment, so 2026 property taxes are still based on assessed values as of January 1, 2016. A recent buyer's bill therefore reflects that 2016 value, not the price paid.
Do I need to declare for the Vacant Home Tax if I live in the home?
Yes. Every Toronto residential owner must declare the property's occupancy status each year, even if they live in it; a home with no declaration is deemed vacant and taxed at 3% of its assessed value. The deadline for the 2025 occupancy year was April 30, 2026.
What should I check before buying an older house here?
The electrical system (knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring), the roof, basement water and drainage, and the material of the water service line. See our inspection guide.
When will the Ontario Line open?
Metrolinx has said it is aiming for the early 2030s. Construction around the Leslieville station on Queen Street East is scheduled to continue through 2027, so expect lane and streetcar changes nearby.
Thinking about buying here? Search current listings and recent sales on Summitly, talk to a licensed Summitly agent who works the area, or ask Zara, Summitly's AI virtual agent, for a neighbourhood briefing.
