Forest Hill North

Forest Hill North sits above Eglinton Avenue like a neighbourhood that knows exactly what it is and feels no need to advertise. While Forest Hill South gets the magazine spreads and the architectural tourists, the north side has been quietly doing what it does best: providing some of the best family living in midtown Toronto. The lots are larger here, the streets are wider, and the pace is slower. You notice it the moment you cross Eglinton. The traffic noise fades, the trees thicken, and the houses settle back from the road with a kind of relaxed confidence.

The housing stock reflects the neighbourhood's evolution. Original mid-century bungalows and ranch-style homes still dominate many streets, though a growing number have been expanded upward or replaced entirely by custom two-storey builds. The architectural mix is less formal than its southern counterpart. You will not find many limestone manors here. What you will find are well-built family homes on generous lots, many with deep backyards that back onto the Cedarvale Ravine. The condo buildings along Eglinton add another layer entirely, attracting downsizers and young professionals who want the Forest Hill address without the maintenance.

The Market: Forest Hill North trades at a different price point than the south side, and that gap is precisely what draws buyers who have done their homework. You get more square footage, more land, and the same access to the Forest Hill Village for noticeably less per square foot. Properties here move quickly when priced right, particularly the detached homes on the ravine side. The Eglinton Crosstown LRT, once fully operational, will only sharpen this value proposition. Buyers who understand transit infrastructure know what is coming.

Who Lives Here: Young families dominate the demographic, drawn by North Preparatory Junior Public School and Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, both among the top-rated public schools in the city. The private school options are equally strong, with UCC, BSS, and St. Michael's all within a ten-minute drive. On weekends, the Cedarvale Ravine and the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail fill with joggers, dog walkers, and kids on bikes. Memorial Park hosts pickup soccer games and birthday parties. It is a neighbourhood where people know their neighbours because they actually see them, at the park, at the ravine, at the coffee shop on Eglinton.

What strikes you about Forest Hill North after spending time here is how unpretentious it is relative to its postal code. The houses are substantial but not showy. The streets are quiet but not empty. It feels less like a destination and more like a place where life actually happens. For a buyer who values space, schools, and access to nature, and who does not need the Village to be at their doorstep, Forest Hill North is one of the best arguments in midtown.