Following up on my curation of the year over year average selling price data for Ottawa neighbourhoods in 2025 compared to 2024, in this article we look at price appreciation in small cities, towns, and townships throughout Eastern Ontario outside the City of Ottawa.

In perusing the list please keep in mind, as I pointed out in the article ranking Ottawa neighbourhood price appreciation: some of the delineated MLS areas contain far fewer properties than others, and therefore the degree of reliability of the statistics in each area is not equal. One must take this data somewhat lightly, and remember that whether your property of interest is situated in a town that saw a big jump up or down in average price in 2025, that same level of price change does not necessarily apply.

A comprehensive market evaluation is the only way to estimate with any accuracy what your property is currently worth.

A Few Observations

• On the rise: a couple of towns that have struggled in the not too distant past seem to be on the rise when I visit them, and this data supports the perception. I think of Smiths Falls and Hawkesbury in particular, with average house price appreciation of 6.2% and 10.4% respectively in 2025.
• No East vs West: small towns and townships to the East and to the West of Ottawa appear higher and lower in the rankings, illustrating the reality that real estate valuation remains a localized phenomenon. When they say the three most important factors in property value are “location, location, and location”, they are on to something.
• One marquis town saw negative appreciation (otherwise known as depreciation) in 2025: Perth. Perth is, by their accounting, one of the prettiest small towns in Ontario. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it is in my opinion a charming town that offers setting (Rideau Canal), heritage, services, and a compelling mix of boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and one of my favourite used book stores. Oh and the best smoked meat this side of Montreal. With prices holding back in 2025, this might just be the time to keep an eye out for a gorgeous heritage property at a fair price.
• I haven’t been to Westport for a while. I was all over the Rideau Lakes in 2025 with several clients seeking that lakeside retreat, but never found myself in Westport proper. I’ll have to visit in 2026 to see if I can help push up the average price to raise this mecca of Ontario outdoor living up the value chain. Please take this bullet point as a little comic relief.