Bloor and Dufferin: Living in Old Homes and Relying on Transit

Although the Bloor and Dufferin area offers more family rentals, single people or couples looking for cheaper spaces have similar chances of finding a budget-friendly rental there as in popular areas of the city.

A quick search on Kijiji shows that the number of listings at Bloor and Dufferin is in line with popular Yonge and St. Clair, Yonge and Eglinton, and Parkdale. As of September 2023, Bloor and Dufferin had 33 listings under $2,000 within a 2 km radius.

Additionally, median rents for studios and one-bedrooms at Bloor and Dufferin ($2,200) are 8% lower than the median for the City of Toronto ($2,384).

Go small and save $500 a month

You can potentially save up to $500 in rent if you opt for a studio rather than a one-bedroom. However, studio listings usually represent a small fraction of the properties available, so it is advisable to open your search and include one-bedrooms.

The shortage of studios is obvious; there aren’t even 300 studio listings for the whole city of Toronto. Shockingly, there are more than ten times the number of one-bedrooms, compared to studios, so the competition for studios is fierce.

$2,000 rentals are now cheap, compared to all other listings

Based on current listings, $2,000 is the new cutoff for cheap apartments, meaning it is the lowest quartile among available units.

Past cutoffs, such as $1,500 and $1,000, are outdated. Even among listings for studios and one-bedrooms, only 10% are below $1,500 and 5% below $1,000, making your odds of finding an affordable place lower.

For that reason, you shouldn’t expect to pay less than $1,500 for a unit in the Bloor and Dufferin area. Most likely, a cheap studio or one-bedroom in the area will sit between $1,500 and $2,000.

What’s more, this is not exclusive to Bloor and Dufferin. In fact, it is slightly cheaper than popular areas.

Diverse first-generation population that lives in old homes

Bloor and Dufferin encompasses densely-populated neighbourhoods, characterized by lower-rise buildings, with most structures below five storeys. The area has a higher percentage of people living alone compared to the city of Toronto as a whole. It also has a significant first-generation population, with residents from various ethnic backgrounds, including Scottish, Portuguese, Italian, and Chinese.

The housing stock in Bloor and Dufferin is relatively old, with more than half of the homes built before the 1960s, and not much after 1980. This indicates an established and older housing infrastructure in the neighbourhood.

Regarding affordability, Bloor and Dufferin faces challenges, with a significant portion of households (almost one-third) spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs. Additionally, nearly 40% of the housing in the area is deemed unaffordable, suggesting that the cost of living is a concern for many residents.

Also, workforce participation, both men and women in Bloor and Dufferin, have higher participation rates than the city of Toronto as a whole, indicating an active and engaged community. However, despite this, the average wage in the neighbourhood is notably lower, with residents earning 24% less than those in the broader city of Toronto on average.

Bloor and Dufferin is generally safe

The neighbourhoods that encompass the surroundings of Bloor and Dufferin – Dovercourt Village, Wallace-Emerson-Junction, and Dufferin Grove – are generally safe and typically don’t stick out in any crime categories. The exception is bicycle theft, which is more common the further downtown you are.

The neighbourhoods benefit from good public transportation options. The Dufferin Street bus route provides access to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) network, making commuting relatively easy to other parts of the city. The Dufferin subway station on Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) is also within reach.

Dufferin Grove is close to downtown Toronto, making it convenient for those who work or study in the city centre. Commuting times to downtown are relatively short, whether by public transit or car. Approximately half of the workers there commute using public transit.

Dufferin Grove Park is a central attraction and a hub for community activities. It offers various amenities, including playgrounds, skating rinks, and community gardens. The park often hosts events and farmers\’ markets.

Like many areas, Bloor and Dufferin sees some gentrification

Bloor and Dufferin, like many other neighbourhoods in Toronto, has experienced some gentrification due to its proximity to downtown and excellent transit access. New developments, rising property values, and changes in the types of businesses and housing are signs of potential gentrification. However, this process can vary from block to block.

Lower average wages suggest that there hasn’t been a major displacement of long-time residents, although the latest data is from 2015 and, given the surge in rental prices, this may change over time.

Dufferin Mall offers affordable shopping options

Dufferin Mall is important in the Bloor and Dufferin area as a key retail and community hub. It provides residents with diverse shopping options, creates job opportunities, and serves as a convenient place for social gatherings. Its central location and accessibility make it a commercial hub which contributes to the local economy.

The tenants lean towards lower price points. Walmart, No Frills, Dollarama, Marshalls, Winners, and Specsavers have a strong appeal to these customers.

Additionally, the mall may offer community services and events, further solidifying its role as an asset in the neighbourhood, serving both as a retail destination and a community focal point.

New mixed-use projects will increase population density

Four acres of land north of Dufferin Mall will make room for a $600 million intensification and redevelopment project. The mall’s northernmost parking area will be replaced with +1,200 residential rental units and 130,000 sf of new retail space. The redevelopment has direct proximity to Dufferin Station on the TTC’s Bloor Line.

The first phase Galleria 01 & 02 at Galleria on the Park is another noteworthy project, aiming to build two towers of 24 and 29 storeys. Replacing the old Galleria Mall, Galleria on the Park is situated at 1245 Dupont Street, less than one kilometre north of the Bloor and Dufferin intersection.