A report by Zolo Realty found that seven of the 10 most affordable housing markets in Ontario are located in Ottawa and the surrounding Ottawa Valley region. The study analyzed 96 towns and cities using factors such as home prices, household income, population growth, and unemployment levels. Among smaller communities, Arnprior ranked as the most affordable, with an average home price of $399,995, followed by Carleton Place and Rockland. In larger communities, Kanata and Nepean ranked among the most affordable cities with populations over 100,000, supported by relatively strong household income levels compared with home prices.  

Despite these rankings, broader affordability concerns remain. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation expects home sales in Ottawa to remain steady but below the 10-year average, even as factors such as income growth, lower home prices, and reduced mortgage costs could support demand. Additional analysis indicates that affordability conditions in the Ottawa-Gatineau region worsened toward the end of 2025 but still remained more affordable than the average urban market. The City of Ottawa is also working to increase supply through its Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan aimed at reducing financial barriers for developing rental housing.

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