As Canada’s housing market continues to recalibrate after two years of shifting conditions, smaller urban centres are increasingly standing out for their resilience. While the country’s largest metropolitan areas have seen price growth flatten or dip in response to higher borrowing costs, a number of secondary markets are quietly seeing year-over-year gains.
Some of these smaller markets also offer greater affordability, or are in pockets where job stability or new population inflows are supporting local demand. Below are ten markets where benchmark or average home prices have risen compared to a year ago, and where broader conditions continue to reinforce that strength.
1. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
September Benchmark Price: $431,400 (+7% YoY)
Saskatoon remains one of the strongest-performing mid-sized markets in the country. While prices eased slightly from August’s record high, the benchmark remains well above 2024 levels. Tight inventory and sustained buyer activity continue to hold the market in firm territory, even as new listings gradually return. Affordability compared to major urban centres such as Calgary and Vancouver keeps the city appealing to both local and interprovincial buyers, ensuring continued price support heading into fall.
2. Regina, Saskatchewan
September Benchmark Price: $337,000 (+5% YoY)
Regina’s housing market continues to show steady year-over-year appreciation, despite the typical late-summer slowdown. Prices are being supported by consistent sales absorption and inventory that remains below long-term norms. As in Saskatoon, the prairies have proven resilient to national cooling trends. Regina’s affordability, combined with its balanced pace of new construction, is allowing it to maintain price growth even as other regions level off.
3. Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
September Benchmark Price: $279,800 (+9.9% YoY)
Moose Jaw is a standout among smaller prairie centres, recording nearly double-digit price growth over the past year. Supply constraints remain a defining factor, as listings continue to lag behind sustained buyer interest. The city’s relatively low price point and stable employment base have supported steady local demand. With limited new inventory entering the market, upward pressure on prices has persisted, extending a trend that began in mid-2024.
4. St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
September Benchmark Price (Composite): $402,100 (+10.4% YoY)
St. John’s posted one of the sharpest year-over-year benchmark increases among secondary markets nationwide, reaching a new annual high in September. Affordability compared with other Atlantic cities, along with steady employment and in-migration, continues to drive demand. After several years of moderate growth, the market has gained noticeable momentum in 2025, especially as population growth stabilizes and rental demand remains firm.
5. Winnipeg, Manitoba
September Average Price (Detached): $436,507 (+6% YoY)
Condo Average: $297,213 (+7% YoY)
Winnipeg continues to demonstrate balanced, broad-based growth across property types. Both detached homes and condominiums set new September price records, with total dollar volume and unit sales exceeding last year’s results. The city’s relative affordability and diverse housing mix are sustaining buyer activity. Winnipeg’s market remains one of the most stable in central Canada, supported by strong end-user demand.
6. Thunder Bay, Ontario
September Median (Single-Detached): $392,500 (+21.7% YoY)
Board-Wide Average Price: $378,758
Thunder Bay recorded one of the steepest year-over-year increases in the country for single-detached homes. Despite limited media attention, the city’s prices have been climbing steadily throughout 2025. Inventory levels remain moderate, and affordability relative to southern Ontario markets continues to attract both local buyers and some out-of-town purchasers. With overall price points still under $400,000, Thunder Bay remains one of Ontario’s most accessible markets, which is likely a key factor behind its growth.
7. Greater Sudbury, Ontario
September Benchmark (Single-Family/Composite): $499,200 (+4.5% YoY)
Average Price: $513,420 (+3.4% YoY)
Sudbury’s market continues a quiet but consistent climb, maintaining steady year-over-year gains in both benchmark and average price measures. The city’s balance of affordability and economic stability has kept activity moving, even as much of southern Ontario has cooled. Stronger fundamentals in local employment, alongside renewed demand from intra-provincial movers seeking more attainable options, have supported a gradual but sustained upward trend.
8. Halifax–Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
September Average Price: $583,004 (+1.2% YoY)
Province-Wide Average: +3.8% YoY
Halifax’s market is stabilizing after the more dramatic swings of recent years. September prices edged modestly higher compared to 2024, showing that value levels are holding even as new listings increase. With a growing population base, consistent rental demand, and an expanding labour market, Halifax remains the Atlantic region’s economic anchor. The modest gains indicate a market that is regaining equilibrium, supported by genuine housing need.
9. Central Okanagan (Kelowna), British Columbia
September Benchmark Price(Single-Family): $1,020,800 (+0.3% YoY)
Townhome Benchmark Price: +1.6% YoY
Kelowna’s housing market has transitioned back into positive territory after several months of stagnation. September data showed slight year-over-year growth across multiple property types, with a sharper rebound in sales volume. The region continues to benefit from lifestyle appeal, interprovincial migration, and sustained demand in mid- to higher-end housing segments. Although growth is modest compared to the peaks of 2021 to 2022, the return to positive annual movement signals improved stability heading into the final quarter of the year.
10. Northern British Columbia (Prince George and Region)
September Average Price: $441,465 (+2.6% YoY)
Northern B.C. remains a steady performer in 2025, with prices trending upward across several communities including Prince George. Moderate supply levels and relatively strong local purchasing power have supported balanced conditions. The area’s lower overall price base compared to southern B.C. markets continues to attract end-users seeking affordability. While gains are moderate, the region’s stability contrasts with the volatility seen in more expensive coastal markets.
Resilient Growth
Across these ten markets, one theme stands out: affordability and balance are driving steady price appreciation. The strongest year-over-year increases tend to be clustered in regions where home prices remain well below national averages while local economies and population trends remain solid. Prairie provinces in particular, led by Saskatoon, Regina, and Moose Jaw, have shown that steady fundamentals can sustain price growth even while other parts of the country are not seeing increases.
At the same time, Atlantic and northern markets such as St. John’s, Halifax, and Thunder Bay underscore the growing appeal of smaller, more affordable centres that combine livability with attainable ownership costs. While not every region is posting double-digit increases, consistent gains across diverse areas suggest a nuanced national picture. Beneath the national averages, momentum is building where affordability, stability, and supply dynamics intersect.