In This Guide
Key TakeAways
- A genuine waterfront community: Centennial Scarborough (also known as Port Union) sits right on Lake Ontario, with a paved waterfront trail, beaches, and lakeside parks residents can walk to.
- One of Scarborough‘s more affluent, low-density pockets: roughly 80% of homes are detached, and the neighbourhood consistently ranks among the city’s higher-value areas.
- Its own GO station: Rouge Hill GO on the Lakeshore East line sits right in the neighbourhood, putting downtown Union Station within a direct train ride.
- Named for Canada’s 1967 Centennial: the area grew from the 19th-century lakefront village of Port Union, part of Pickering Township until a 1974 boundary change moved it into Scarborough.
- A full local school lineup: Centennial Scarborough has its own TDSB elementary and secondary schools plus a TCDSB elementary school, unusual for a neighbourhood this size in eastern Scarborough.
Centennial Scarborough: At A Glance
Why You’ll Love Centennial Scarborough
Lifestyle
Centennial Scarborough has the feel of a lakeside town rather than a typical Scarborough suburb — mature tree-lined streets, a genuine waterfront trail, and a population that skews affluent and settled, with families with kids making up more than half of all households. It's popular across a wide range of life stages, from families with teens to residents in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who've put down roots here.
Location
Tucked into the southeast corner of Toronto right on Lake Ontario, the neighbourhood is bordered by Kingston Road to the north, Port Union Road to the east, the Lake Ontario shoreline to the south, and Highland Creek and Colonel Danforth Park to the west. Rouge Hill GO Station sits within the neighbourhood itself, and Highway 401 is a short drive away via Port Union Road.
Housing
Roughly 80% of homes here are detached, spanning frame cottages and ranch-style bungalows through split-levels, two-storey houses, and custom-designed newer builds. West Centennial tends toward larger, more mature properties, while East Centennial and the Port Union Village subdivision (south of Lawrence Avenue, built since the 1990s) offer more uniform, newer housing with a distinct waterfront-inspired architectural style.
Centennial Scarborough:
Highs & Lows
❤️ What Residents Love
- Genuine lakefront living, with a waterfront trail, beaches, and parks right in the neighbourhood
- Rouge Hill GO Station provides a direct train ride into downtown Union Station
- A full local school lineup, including a TDSB secondary school, unusual for the area
- Mature, tree-lined streets and a settled, affluent community feel
- Local shopping plazas cover everyday needs without a long drive
- A real sense of neighbourhood history tied to the old village of Port Union
🕵️ Things to Consider
- No subway access — Rouge Hill GO and connecting buses are the primary transit options
- Higher price points than most of Scarborough, reflecting the neighbourhood’s detached-dominant, waterfront character
- Limited condo or low-maintenance housing options for downsizers or first-time buyers
- Shopping is plaza-scale rather than big-box — larger retail requires a drive
- Being at the eastern edge of Toronto means a longer commute into the downtown core by car
- Some streets near the railway or lakeshore may carry flood-plain or noise considerations
Who Is Centennial Scarborough Best For?
| Buyer Profile | Why It's a Good Fit |
|---|---|
| First-Time Buyers | A tougher entry point given detached-dominant, higher-priced housing — the neighbourhood's few townhouse sales are the more accessible option here. |
| Families | Mature streets, a full local school lineup including a secondary school, waterfront parks, and a strong sense of community make this a natural family pick. |
| Professionals | Rouge Hill GO Station offers a direct commute into Union Station, workable for downtown professionals willing to trade subway access for lake views. |
| Investors | Stable, affluent, low-turnover neighbourhood — July's tight sub-1-month inventory suggests genuine demand, though rental yield potential is more modest than in condo-heavy areas. |
| Downsizers | Fewer low-maintenance options than condo-dense neighbourhoods; downsizing here tends to mean a smaller detached or semi rather than a condo. |
| Retirees | Quiet, established streets, waterfront trails, and the Port Union Recreation Centre's seniors programming make this a comfortable long-term setting. |
| Luxury Buyers | Among the more premium pockets of Scarborough — waterfront proximity and larger detached lots support some of the area's higher price points. |
Centennial Scarborough Homes for Sale
Whether you’re searching for your first home, upgrading to more space, or looking for an investment property, Centennial Scarborough offers a wide range of housing options. Browse the latest MLS® listings below to explore available detached homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses, and condominiums currently for sale in the neighbourhood.
Centennial Scarborough Housing Snapshot
Centennial Scarborough’s housing stock reflects its history as a mid-century lakefront community that filled in gradually rather than all at once. West Centennial holds the neighbourhood’s older, larger, more mature properties; East Centennial was built out with more uniform street layouts from the early 1960s through the late 1970s; and the Port Union Village subdivision, south of Lawrence Avenue, added a wave of newer waterfront-inspired semi-detached, detached, and townhome construction starting in the 1990s. July 2026’s Habistat data reflects that mix — 13 of 16 sales were detached, with the balance split between one attached/row townhouse and two condo townhouses.
That detached-heavy, mid-to-upper price point stock makes Centennial Scarborough a strong fit for established families and move-up buyers, but a tougher entry point for first-time buyers — the neighbourhood’s few townhouse sales in July closed well above $650,000, and its overall average sale price topped $1 million. Investors have generally found this a stable, low-turnover market rather than a high-yield rental play, given the scarcity of condo or purpose-built rental stock.
Development activity is modest and incremental rather than large-scale — some newer construction continues in East Centennial’s northeast pocket, and the Port Union Village waterfront subdivision represents the area’s most significant residential build-out in recent decades. There’s no major intensification push underway; this is a largely built-out, stable residential community.
Centennial Scarborough Market Trends
Across the Greater Toronto Area, TRREB reported 5,995 sales in July 2026, down 0.9% year-over-year, alongside 14,484 new listings (down 17.8% YoY) and an average price of $1,003,956 (down 4.5% YoY). The City of Toronto outperformed the wider region, with sales up 2.4% YoY to 2,242.
Centennial Scarborough had a genuinely active July: 16 sales against 20 new listings, for a combined $16,533,600 in dollar volume — a strong showing for a single Scarborough community. Detached homes accounted for 13 of those sales, closing at a $1,109,123 average (median $1,094,000) and 102% of asking price after about three weeks on market. The neighbourhood’s small townhouse segment (one attached/row townhouse, two condo townhouses) actually outperformed on price competitiveness, with the condo townhouse sales closing at a striking 111% of asking. Semi-detached activity was limited to two new listings and two terminations, with no completed sales in the period.
Toronto Centennial Scarborough Market Trends
| Type | Sales | Avg Price | New Listings | Active** | Avg LDOM* | SP/LP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | 13 | $1,109,123 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 102% |
| Semi-Detached | 0 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Townhouse | 3 | $705,000 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 105% |
| Condo Apt | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — |
"Townhouse" combines Attached/Row Townhouse (1 sale, $780,000, 94% SP/LP) and Condo Townhouse (2 sales, $667,500 avg, 111% SP/LP) per this site's standard convention. Also on record: 1 Vacant Land listing in July (no sale, currently active) — not one of the four standard property types, so it's excluded from the table above.
*Habistat data for this report includes LDOM (Listing Days on Market) rather than the TRREB-standard PDOM figure — shown here as Avg. LDOM and not directly comparable to PDOM-based figures elsewhere on this site. **Active listings (15 total: 10 Detached, 2 Semi-Detached, 1 Att/Row Townhouse, 1 Condo Townhouse, 1 Vacant Land) come from a separate active-only Habistat export (Sold Price count of 0, Status limited to NEW/PC/SC) and reflect a live snapshot at time of writing — distinct from, and not directly additive to, the dated July 1-31, 2026 closed-sales figures elsewhere on this card. Of the 15, 2 are marked Sold Conditional (SC) rather than fully active. That puts Centennial Scarborough's months of inventory at roughly 0.94 (15 active ÷ 16 July sales) — an unusually tight market. Data believed reliable but not guaranteed. Source: The Habistat, Toronto E10 – Centennial Scarborough, July 1–31, 2026 (sales) and active-listings snapshot, July 2026.
Schools Near Centennial Scarborough
Use TDSB's Find My School tool to confirm the exact catchment for any specific address in Centennial Scarborough.
In Centennial Scarborough
French-language board (wide catchment, not Centennial-specific)
École élémentaire catholique Saint-Michel (Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, JK-6, 29 Meadowvale Rd) also serves families in this area under TDSB/board listings for the neighbourhood. Like other French-first-language boards, it draws students from a wide catchment rather than serving Centennial Scarborough as a dedicated neighbourhood school — check Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir directly for current catchment details.
This list reflects schools confirmed physically located within Centennial Scarborough's boundary (Kingston Road to Port Union Road to the Lake Ontario shoreline to Highland Creek/Colonel Danforth Park), per Wikipedia's own board-sourced breakdown for the neighbourhood.
Map results are pulled live from Google Places within roughly 1.5km of central Centennial Scarborough and may include schools outside the neighbourhood's exact boundary or catchment — use this as a visual companion to the verified list above, not a replacement for it.
Parks & Recreation In Centennial Scarborough
Few Scarborough neighbourhoods can match Centennial's outdoor access — a genuine Lake Ontario waterfront, a ravine park to the west, and neighbourhood parks throughout give residents real variety within walking distance.
Port Union Waterfront Park & Trail
- Paved lakeside walking and cycling path
- Access to East Point Beach and Rouge Hill Beach
- Connects to the broader Great Lakes Waterfront Trail
- Scenic Lake Ontario views year-round
Adams Park
- Toboggan hill in winter
- Soccer field in summer
- Two children's playgrounds
- Two baseball diamonds
Colonel Danforth Park
- Paved trail along Highland Creek
- Mature forest and wildlife habitat
- Picnic areas
- Connects toward UTSC and Lower Highland Creek Park
Port Union Recreation Centre & Library
- Fitness centre
- Seniors centre and programming
- Two activity rooms and a large banquet hall
- Toronto Public Library branch on-site
Transit & Commuting in Centennial Scarborough
🚇 Public Transit
Rouge Hill GO Station, on the Lakeshore East line at 6251 Lawrence Avenue East, sits right in the neighbourhood and offers a direct train ride to Union Station along with over 1,000 parking spaces. TTC bus routes 38/38A Highland Creek connect through the area to Rouge Hill GO, while the 954 Lawrence East Express runs along Lawrence Avenue East through Centennial with stops at Charlottetown Boulevard and Centennial Road. Additional local routes (85, 85A, 85S, 385, 395) serve the Lawson Road and Port Union Road area.
🚗 Driving
Port Union Road provides the most direct access to Highway 401, while Kingston Road (Highway 2) offers a local east-west alternative along the neighbourhood’s northern edge. Lawrence Avenue East runs through the heart of Centennial, connecting to both the GO station and the neighbourhood’s shopping plazas.
🚶 Walking & Cycling
The Port Union waterfront trail is the standout here — a paved path along Lake Ontario connecting to beaches and the wider Waterfront Trail network. Away from the lakefront, Centennial’s curving, mature streets are pleasant for walking but generally require a car or bus for errands beyond the local plazas.
Commuting Insight
Centennial Scarborough has its own GO station right in the neighbourhood, making it one of the more transit-connected pockets of eastern Scarborough despite having no subway access.| Destination | Drive* | Transit* |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Toronto (Union Station) | ~35 min | ~45 min (Lakeshore East GO direct) |
| Scarborough Town Centre | ~20 min | ~35 min (bus) |
| Pickering / Durham Region | ~15 min | ~15 min (Lakeshore East GO) |
| Toronto Pearson International Airport | ~55 min | ~85 min (GO + subway + UP Express) |
Shopping & Dining in Centennial Scarborough
Centennial Scarborough’s shopping is plaza-scale and practical, covering daily needs within the neighbourhood while bigger retail stays a short drive away.🛍️ Local Shopping
Centennial Plaza, at the northwest corner of Port Union Road and Lawrence Avenue East, is the neighbourhood’s main commercial hub — a deli and bakery, hardware store, flower shop, hair salon, travel agency, pet store and animal clinic, beer and liquor stores, and professional offices all in one plaza.🍴 Dining and Cafés
Dining options are woven into the neighbourhood’s plazas rather than concentrated on a single strip — Centennial Plaza includes a coffee shop and several restaurants, while Lawson Road Plaza to the north adds a food market and additional dining options for day-to-day needs.🛒 Nearby Shopping Destinations
For bigger-box retail, groceries, and a wider dining selection, residents typically head toward Kingston Road or west toward Scarborough Town Centre and Highland Creek’s commercial areas, both a short drive from the neighbourhood.| Destination | What You’ll Find |
|---|---|
| Centennial Plaza (Port Union Rd & Lawrence Ave E) | Deli, bakery, hardware store, pet store, coffee shop, restaurants, professional offices |
| Lawson Road Plaza | Food market, restaurant, banks, dry cleaner, gas station |
| Rouge Hill GO Station area | Commuter-oriented convenience retail |
| Kingston Road corridor (nearby) | Broader retail and dining strip a short drive north |
| Scarborough Town Centre (nearby) | Major shopping mall and big-box retail |
Future Growth & Development
🛈 Growth Corridor
Centennial Scarborough is a largely built-out, mature residential neighbourhood rather than a growth corridor — its most significant recent development was the 1990s reclamation of Port Union’s industrial waterfront lands into the Port Union Village subdivision, which remains the area’s model for how new residential building fits into the community’s lakeside character.
🏠 New Housing & Development Proposals
New construction here is incremental rather than large-scale, concentrated in East Centennial’s northeast pocket where some newer homes continue to fill in among the neighbourhood’s 1960s-70s housing stock. There’s no major intensification or redevelopment push underway in Centennial Scarborough proper, consistent with its status as a stable, established community.
🏆 Infrastructure & Community Initiatives
Rouge Hill GO Station remains the neighbourhood’s key piece of infrastructure, with over 1,000 parking spaces supporting commuters across the wider Scarborough-Rouge Park area. The Port Union Recreation Centre and Library at 5450 Lawrence Avenue East continues to anchor community programming, and the neighbourhood’s waterfront trail and parks reflect an ongoing City commitment to lakeside public space in this part of Scarborough.
| Area of Change | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Residential streets | Largely built-out and stable, with incremental infill rather than large-scale redevelopment |
| East Centennial (northeast pocket) | Ongoing small-scale new home construction |
| Port Union Village | Established waterfront subdivision, largely complete since the 1990s-2000s |
| Rouge Hill GO Station | Continues as the area’s key commuter transit anchor |
| Waterfront & parks | Ongoing public investment in trail and lakeside park amenities |
Overall, Centennial Scarborough’s growth story is one of stability rather than transformation — this is a mature, largely complete neighbourhood where change happens lot by lot rather than through major redevelopment, and where the existing waterfront and transit infrastructure are already well established.
My Local Perspective
Price points in Centennial Scarborough shift with proximity to the water and the age of the home. West Centennial’s larger, more mature properties tend to command a premium, while East Centennial and parts of Port Union Village offer somewhat more accessible entry points on newer, more uniform lots. July’s numbers tell the story clearly — a $1,033,350 average sale price at 103% of asking, with less than a month of inventory on hand, points to real competition for what comes to market here.
What makes Centennial Scarborough distinctive is that it delivers genuine waterfront living without asking buyers to give up a full suite of neighbourhood amenities — its own GO station, its own secondary school, and its own recreation centre and library, all inside a community that’s still fundamentally a quiet, tree-lined residential area. That combination is rare this far east in Scarborough.
The value proposition here is really about buying into stability with a premium location attached. This isn’t a neighbourhood in transition — it’s a mature, largely built-out community with a track record of holding its value, and the July data (sub-1-month inventory, sales well above asking) suggests that demand isn’t slowing down. For buyers who prioritize lake access, established streets, and a full complement of local schools and services over subway proximity, it’s hard to beat.
Centennial Scarborough may appeal to:
- Move-up families wanting a full local school lineup and waterfront access
- Downtown-bound commuters comfortable with a direct GO train ride instead of the subway
- Buyers drawn to a stable, low-turnover market with a track record of holding value
- Retirees and long-term residents who value a mature, settled community by the lake