Key Takeaways
- Young professionals often gravitate toward walkable, transit-connected areas with condos and apartments, while families look for townhouses and detached houses near schools and parks.
- Downsizers trade yard work for lock-and-leave convenience, typically choosing condos or townhouses in established neighbourhoods close to shops and services.
- As of November 2026, Greater Vancouver had 5,512 condos and apartments listed at a median ask of $688,000, 1,640 townhouses at $1,050,000, and 4,380 detached houses at $2,089,500.
- The North Shore, Richmond, Burnaby and Coquitlam each offer distinct rhythms of daily life, shaped by proximity to mountains, water, transit and outdoor space.
- Choosing where to live means weighing commute, outdoor access, home type and the feel of a street against what you can afford and how you want to spend your time.
What Draws People to Different Parts of the Region
Greater Vancouver is not one city. It is a collection of distinct places, each with its own character, and the people who settle in each tend to be drawn by different priorities.
Young professionals often choose neighbourhoods where they can walk to work, meet friends at a café, and skip the car. That usually means condos or apartments in areas well served by transit. Families, on the other hand, look for space—both indoors and out. They want a yard for the dog, bedrooms for the children, and schools and parks within reach. Downsizers, having raised their families, often trade the house and the lawn for something smaller and easier to maintain, prioritizing convenience, walkability and proximity to services.
The rhythm of daily life in each neighbourhood reflects these choices. In some areas, the streets are quiet during the day and fill with families in the late afternoon. In others, the coffee shops are busy at seven in the morning and the sidewalks stay lively until late.
Where the Listings Are and What They Tell You
As of November 2026, Greater Vancouver had 12,656 homes listed for sale. Just under half—5,512—were condos and apartments, with a median asking price of $688,000. Another 1,640 were townhouses, listed at a median of $1,050,000, and 4,380 were detached houses, with a median ask of $2,089,500.
The distribution of those listings across the region gives you a sense of where different kinds of homes come up. Vancouver itself had 4,199 listings, the largest share, followed by Burnaby with 1,652, Richmond with 1,639, Coquitlam with 1,013, and North Vancouver with 880.
Condos and apartments made up nearly forty-four per cent of all listings, and they dominated the inventory in Vancouver and Burnaby, where high-rise and low-rise buildings line transit corridors and commercial streets. Townhouses, at thirteen per cent of listings, were more common in Coquitlam, Richmond and parts of the North Shore, often in family-oriented developments near schools and parks. Detached houses, just over a third of all listings, were spread across the region but were especially prominent in North Vancouver, parts of Richmond, and the outer municipalities.
The price bands also tell a story. Listings under $500,000 made up nine per cent of the market, nearly all of them condos. Another twenty per cent asked between $500,000 and $749,999, mostly condos and a few townhouses. At the other end, twenty-two per cent of listings asked $2,000,000 or more, the majority detached houses on larger lots.
Life in Vancouver's Core, Burnaby and Richmond
Vancouver's neighbourhoods vary widely, but many share a common thread: walkability. Whether you are in Kitsilano, near the beach and the shops on West Fourth Avenue, or in the West End, where high-rises cluster near Stanley Park, daily life often unfolds on foot. Condos and apartments dominate the housing stock, and the people who live in them tend to be young professionals, empty nesters, or anyone who values proximity to work, restaurants and cultural venues over square footage.
Burnaby offers a different balance. The city has invested heavily in transit, and neighbourhoods like Brentwood and Metrotown have grown up around SkyTrain stations, with towers, shops and services all within a short walk. Families and young professionals both settle here, drawn by the combination of density and convenience. Burnaby Heights, by contrast, retains a quieter, more residential feel, with tree-lined streets, older houses, and a commercial strip that serves the neighbourhood rather than the region.
Richmond, flat and close to the airport, is a city of contrasts. Brighouse, near the Canada Line, has seen a wave of high-rise development, and the area draws both young professionals and retirees who want transit access and urban amenities. East Cambie and Broadmoor, farther from the core, are family territory, with townhouses and detached houses, good schools, and a quieter pace.
The North Shore and Coquitlam: Where Outdoor Space Shapes the Day
North Vancouver is defined by its geography. The mountains rise steeply behind the city, and the trails—Lynn Canyon, Grouse, the Baden-Powell—are part of daily life for many residents. Families and outdoor enthusiasts settle here, often in detached houses or townhouses, and they accept a longer commute in exchange for proximity to hiking, skiing and the water. Central Lonsdale and Lower Lonsdale offer a more urban feel, with condos, shops and restaurants, but even there the mountains are always in view.
Coquitlam, to the east, has grown rapidly, and much of that growth has been driven by families. Burke Mountain, a newer development, offers detached houses and townhouses on larger lots, with trails and parks woven through the neighbourhood. Burquitlam and Austin Heights, closer to the SkyTrain, are more established, with a mix of housing types and a more diverse population.
The people who choose these areas tend to prioritize outdoor access, space for children or pets, and a sense of community. They are often willing to drive or take transit into Vancouver for work, but they want their evenings and weekends to unfold close to home.
What to Think About Before You Choose
Choosing a neighbourhood means weighing trade-offs. A condo near transit may cost less than a detached house in the suburbs, but it also means less space and no yard. A house on the North Shore gives you trails and views, but the commute can be long and the asking prices high. A townhouse in Coquitlam or Richmond may offer the best of both—more space than a condo, less maintenance than a house—but you will likely need a car.
Think about how you spend your time. If you walk to work and meet friends for dinner, a condo in Vancouver or Burnaby may suit you. If you have children and want a yard, look at Richmond, Coquitlam or the North Shore. If you are downsizing, consider what you will miss about the house and what you will gain by giving it up.
Renanza's Greater Vancouver market overview and residential listings can help you see what is currently on the market in each area. If you are ready to explore what your own home might be worth, the free home valuation tool is a good place to start.
Sources
Renanza Realty — Analysis of active MLS® listings (CREA DDF®) — Greater Vancouver, as of November 2026 Destination Vancouver — Vancouver neighbourhoods
Data last checked: 2026-11-01
