Cornell is a pioneering new urbanism neighbourhood in Markham, Ontario, Canada, thoughtfully designed to place homes, schools, parks, and daily amenities within walking distance for families and professionals alike.
Master-planned new urbanism community, family-oriented environment, outstanding recreation facilities, highly educated and diverse population, and below-average Markham pricing
Cornell is Markham's landmark new urbanism community, developed in 1999 as the first of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area, designed to encourage community life through front porches, laneways, and walkable streets.
The neighbourhood is home to a highly educated, diverse population representing 107 ethnic origins, with a strong presence of families in their 30s and 40s, many with young children and teens.
Cornell offers 17 parks and 45 recreational facilities, including the Cornell Community Centre with an indoor pool, library, and gymnasium, along with annual community events that bring residents together year-round.
Cornell homes feature rear-laneway garages with optional coach house units above, creating scenic street fronts while offering built-in rental income or multigenerational living potential.
Cornell real estate prices are approximately 20 percent below the Markham average, making it one of the most accessible entry points into a master-planned York Region community.
Cornell's crime rate is 36 percent below the national average, and with proximity to Highway 407, Markham's tech employment hub, and GO Transit, it offers exceptional regional connectivity.
A community purpose-built for family life and neighbourly connection.
Cornell is the Greater Toronto Area's first new urbanism neighbourhood, designed from the ground up in 1999 to place daily life within walking distance of home. Cornell homes for sale include townhomes, semi-detached, and detached houses, many featuring unique rear-laneway garages and optional coach house units, while Cornell homes for rent provide well-priced access to one of York Region's most thoughtfully designed communities.
Distinctive new urbanism architecture with a strong emphasis on walkability and community design.
Cornell residences are built with front porches facing tree-lined sidewalks and garages tucked away on rear laneways, keeping streets inviting and pedestrian-friendly. The range of housing types, from townhomes to detached homes with coach houses, serves growing families, first-time buyers, and those seeking multigenerational living arrangements.
Rich recreational infrastructure and a calendar of community events that bring residents together.
Cornell's 17 parks and 45 recreational facilities include 16 playgrounds, 2 pools, 2 skating rinks, a track, and 6 trails, along with the Cornell Community Centre offering a library, indoor pool, and gymnasium. Annual events such as the Cornell Picnic, Community Garage Sale, and Christmas Caroling reinforce the neighbourhood's distinctive community-first character.
Unexpected Appeal:
One of York Region's safest and most family-friendly communities by design and by record.
Accessible entry into a master-planned community at below-average Markham prices.
Cornell offers real estate prices approximately 20 percent below the Markham average, making it an attractive option for families seeking value in York Region. The diverse housing stock, from townhomes to larger detached homes with coach houses, provides options at multiple price points for buyers and investors alike.
Outstanding connectivity to employment, transit, and the broader Greater Toronto Area.
Highway 407 runs directly through the area, providing quick access to Markham's technology employment corridor and the broader GTA. The GO Transit network connects Cornell residents to Toronto's Union Station, and the neighbourhood's proximity to Scarborough, North York, and Durham Region makes it an ideal base for families with diverse commuting needs.
