35,000 GTA Residents Moved In 2024: But To Where?
According to data released by a prominent Canadian research firm, nearly 250,000 families in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) moved between the first quarters of 2024 and 2025. However, it’s important to note that almost half of these families relocated within the same census area, with many residents moving to different neighbourhoods within the city.
Out of the total 68,173 households that moved, approximately 51.5 per cent (35,140 families) left the GTA altogether, while 48.5 per cent (33,033 families) relocated to other regions within the GTA.
The top destination for former GTA residents was Simcoe County, accounting for 10.4% of movers (3,651 households). Other popular destinations included Hamilton, Ontario (3.2%), Calgary, Alberta (3.1%), Waterloo, Ontario (2.9%), Greater Vancouver (2%), and the Niagara Region (1.9%).
A significant number of households also moved to more rural communities a few hours from the GTA, with 1,174 households relocating to Middlesex, Ontario, and 1,101 households moving to Wellington, Ontario.
Real estate experts indicate that this outflow is not a sudden exodus but rather a continuation of long-term migration patterns, primarily driven by affordability. For instance, when a family’s budget is $500,000 and they require a three-bedroom home, they may find it easier to relocate to Belleville, Hamilton, Niagara, or Sudbury, rather than settling for a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Toronto.
With rising housing costs and changing work patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic, this trend of moving out of the city has gained popularity.
Additionally, a large segment of the GTA population (65% of those surveyed) expressed dissatisfaction with daily traffic congestion, prompting them to seek a more relaxed driving experience.
For those relocating to cities outside the GTA, such as Edmonton and Calgary, the reasons often include healthier economies and more affordable living costs.
Despite these trends, city governments are not yet concerned. They assert that this outflow is being more than compensated for by new immigrants arriving in the GTA, which remains the preferred gateway for many newcomers to Canada.
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