The Most Urban Neighbourhood in Ottawa
If you want to live in Ottawa without a car, Centretown is the answer. This dense, mixed-use neighbourhood at the city's core offers a genuinely walkable lifestyle that's rare in a city that has historically been built around the automobile.
Who Lives Here
Centretown attracts a mix: federal government workers who want a short walk to downtown offices, young professionals, longtime residents who've watched the neighbourhood evolve over decades, students, and an established LGBTQ+ community that has called the neighbourhood home for generations. It's one of Ottawa's most diverse and genuinely cosmopolitan places to live.
The Streets and the Vibe
Bank Street and Elgin Street are the main commercial arteries, with Somerset Street West adding a strong Asian food and grocery corridor. The residential streets between — MacLaren, Gilmour, Frank, Cooper — are quieter, lined with Victorian rowhouses, mid-century apartment blocks, and newer condos that are slowly filling in the gaps.
Transit and Walkability
Centretown's Walk Score is consistently among the highest in Ottawa. Groceries, restaurants, coffee, pharmacies, hardware stores, and healthcare are all within walking distance. The Tremblay and Rideau LRT stations are nearby, and the OC Transpo bus network provides frequent service along both Bank and Elgin Streets.
What You Give Up
Density means noise. Living on or near Bank or Elgin means traffic, weekend bar crowds, and the occasional early-morning delivery truck. Parking is expensive and scarce — if you have a car, budget for it. Green space, while present, isn't as abundant as you'd find in the Glebe or Westboro.
The Housing Mix
Centretown's housing stock runs from century-old brick rowhouses to high-rise condos built in the last five years. Rental apartments dominate the market, though the condo ownership market has grown significantly. The neighbourhood has some of the most affordable per-square-foot ownership prices in the central city, partly because units tend to be smaller.
Community Feel
Don't let the urban density fool you — Centretown has a genuine neighbourhood feel. The community association is active, the local BIAs organize events through the year, and Dundonald Park functions as a real gathering place. People know their neighbours here in ways that you might not expect from a downtown neighbourhood.
