Is Windsor, Ontario a good place to live?

I'm Kris Ramotar. I live in Lakeshore, a short drive east of Windsor, and I have lived in Windsor-Essex for 23 years. I've helped more than 160 families buy and sell across Windsor-Essex in my 9 years as a REALTOR with RE/MAX Capital Diamond Realty. This page is my honest, no-hype guide to Windsor: which neighbourhoods fit which families, what homes cost right now, and what to know before you move here.

Windsor is not one place. It is a city that grew by joining several smaller towns together, and you can still feel that when you drive from one neighbourhood to the next. The City of Windsor says Windsor, Sandwich, East Windsor and Walkerville united in 1935, and Riverside joined later. That is why a street in Walkerville feels nothing like a street in Forest Glade.

When someone tells me they want to move to Windsor, my first question is always which part of Windsor, because the answer changes the house, the price and the daily routine. I live in Lakeshore, a short drive east, and I sell in both places every week, so I can compare them honestly.

Walkerville is the one people fall for on a walk. It is the most walkable part of the city, with older homes, tree lined streets, restaurants and a real neighbourhood feel. South Walkerville has some of the oldest and largest homes in Windsor, with wide streets and a lot of character, and it works well for families and for people who want to stay close to the hospital and the river.

Riverside and Olde Riverside run along the water on the east side and suit buyers who want the Detroit River nearby without paying downtown prices. Forest Glade is a planned community on the Tecumseh border that many move up families like for its parks and its space. South Windsor is quieter and more suburban, and it is where I often send buyers who want newer streets and a quick drive to the 401. For families, these are the areas I walk through most often.

The riverfront trail is the best free thing about Windsor. The City lists it at about 5 kilometres of multi use trail along the Detroit River, running past Dieppe Gardens, Festival Plaza and the Odette Sculpture Park, with the Detroit skyline across the water.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge opened to traffic in late July 2026, and it is the first new crossing between Ontario and Michigan in over 60 years. If you cross the border for work, for hockey, for shopping or to see family, that is worth knowing, and it is one more reason to check how a specific address connects to the 401 before you fall in love with it.

Last updated: November 2026. I refresh these numbers every month when the Windsor-Essex County Association of REALTORS releases its report.

The Windsor-Essex County Association of REALTORS reported 449 sales in October 2026, down 17.2 percent from October 2025. The average price of homes sold was $541,432, and the benchmark price for a single family home was $604,900. Months of inventory sat at 4.7, above the long run average of 2.7 for this time of year.

In plain language, buyers have more choice and more time than they did a few years ago, and sellers do best when the price and the marketing are right from day one. These figures cover Windsor and all of Essex County, and Windsor on its own varies a lot by neighbourhood, so ask me for the numbers on your street.

Source: WECAR and CREA data, October 2026.

First time buyers often find Windsor is where the numbers still work, with a wide range of bungalows and two storey homes. Move up families choose between Riverside, South Windsor and Lakeshore depending on the commute and the school boards, the Greater Essex County District School Board and the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.

Downsizers like Walkerville and the riverfront because they can walk to a coffee or a dinner. Relocators from the GTA are often surprised by how much house the same money buys, and by how close everything is. The University of Windsor and St. Clair College also keep the city younger and busier than people expect.

When friends or clients ask where I eat in Windsor, these are my own picks, and none of them are paid. Hellenic Subs when I want a quick sub, The Penalty Box when it is a game night, Spago when it is a planned Italian dinner, and Sultani Grill when I want something with real flavour. Check their hours before you go.

Is Windsor, Ontario a good place to live?

Yes for many families, especially if you want more home for your money than the GTA, a riverfront, and a short drive to Detroit. The right neighbourhood depends on your budget, your commute and how walkable you want your day to be.

What is the best neighbourhood in Windsor for families?

There is no single best one. Riverside, South Windsor, Forest Glade and South Walkerville are the ones I show families most often, and I would walk each with you before you decide.

What is the average home price in Windsor?

The Windsor-Essex County Association of REALTORS reported an average sale price of $541,432 across Windsor and Essex County for October 2026. Windsor on its own varies a lot by neighbourhood, so ask me for numbers on your street.

Is it a good time to buy in Windsor?

Inventory is higher than the long run average, with 4.7 months of inventory in October 2026, so buyers have more choice. I would rather look at your situation than give a one line answer.

Is Windsor cheaper than Lakeshore?

Often yes for the same size of home, though it depends on the street. I live in Lakeshore and sell in both, so I can compare them honestly.

How far is Windsor from Detroit?

The two cities face each other across the Detroit River, with the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the Ambassador Bridge and the tunnel as the crossings.

I'm Kris Ramotar with RE/MAX Capital Diamond Realty. I've been a licensed Realtor since 2017, my home office is at 893 Southwood Drive right here in Lakeshore, and our main office is in Windsor. I've helped more than 160 families buy, sell, and relocate across Windsor-Essex. My approach is simple: honest advice, real numbers, no pressure. The families are the heroes of every story I tell. I sit on the Salvation Army advisory committee in Windsor-Essex County and I sponsor local cricket and baseball teams, so this community is personal to me.

Local Knowledge. Honest Advice. Real Results.

Buying in Windsor starts with understanding the process. Download my free home buyer guide for the steps, the costs and the questions to ask before you write an offer. Or skip the reading and just call or text me at 519-259-9310 for straight answers, no pressure.

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From Facebook friend request to front door in Belle River. A young family with two little kids searched for over a year and made three offers. We walked away from one home that needed about $50,000 of work. Then one morning on my walk through my own neighbourhood, I saw a for sale sign on a home around the corner from me. I knew right away it was their home. They bought it under list price, and today they are my neighbours. Read the full story

In their own words:

"We can't recommend Kris Ramotar enough! Buying our first home took almost a year. We viewed countless houses and walked away from many because something just didn't feel right."

"Thank you, Kris, for your patience, honesty, dedication, and for making our first home-buying experience such a positive one."

"What we appreciated most was that Kris never pressured us into buying a home. Instead, he genuinely focused on helping us find the right home for our family."

Thinking of selling in Windsor? See how I sell homes here

"Kris sold my house in less than 2 weeks in a cooling market and I couldn't be more happier. 10/10 would recommend!!!"

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I help families across Lakeshore, Windsor, Tecumseh, LaSalle, Amherstburg, Kingsville, Leamington, Essex County and Chatham.