Hold the bedroom count steady
This comparison starts with exactly three reported above-grade bedrooms across three property categories. Holding that count steady makes the question more specific than comparing all townhouses with all apartments. It does not make the homes identical or establish which layout would suit a particular household.
| Three-bedroom category | Sales | Median sale price | Median monthly fee | Median bathrooms | Most common approximate size band (sq. ft.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Townhouse condominium | 637 | $405,000 | $494.16 | 2 | 1000-1199 |
| Freehold townhouse | 1,994 | $601,750 | Not measured | 3.0 | 1500-2000 |
| Apartment condominium | 120 | $370,750 | $967.45 | 2.0 | 1200-1399 |
All condo records in these three-bedroom groups have positive fee amounts. The freehold records do not supply a comparable condo fee; that should not be read as zero maintenance or other recurring costs. All displayed bathroom and size observations are present.
Different combinations of purchase price and fees
The condo-townhouse median price was $196,750 below the freehold-townhouse median and $34,250 above the apartment-condo median. Its median monthly fee was $473.29 below that of the apartment group. These are separate differences between group medians, not a package of figures observed on one representative home.
The categories also differed in reported bathrooms and approximate size. Freehold townhouses had a median of three bathrooms, versus two for each condo category. Their most common size band was 1,500–2,000 square feet. The condo categories used different provider bands, so exact space-per-dollar calculations would be inappropriate.
An option to investigate, not an “overlooked bargain” finding
The original research question asked whether condo townhouses were overlooked. Transaction data cannot tell us how many buyers considered them, rejected them or understood their ownership structure. We have no search, showing or buyer-attitude data for this comparison.
What the sales do show is a distinct combination: a purchase-price median closer to the three-bedroom apartment group and a lower recorded fee median. That is a useful reason to include condo townhouses in a comparison when both bedrooms and recurring commitments matter.
Household suitability involves more than the bedroom count. This dataset does not establish privacy, accessibility, usable outdoor space, school suitability or the quality of the floor plan. Nor does a lower fee establish that a building is better managed. Those questions need property-specific information.
For buyers comparing housing types, the table is a starting point for a shortlist. It describes what traded during the study period, not what is currently available or what any household can afford.
Source and methodology
Source: PropTx VOW, extracted September 19, 2026 (Toronto). Unless stated otherwise, purchase-contract dates run from September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. The four-category annual sample contains 10,476 sold listing episodes: detached houses, freehold townhouses, apartment condominiums and condominium townhouses. Other property types are excluded. The geography is the provider's CountyOrParish=Ottawa; its City labels describe market areas, not independently verified neighbourhood boundaries.
These are episodes visible in a dated feed, not a census of unique homes. Relistings are not joined, and subsequently withheld records may be absent. Sold-only results do not measure the probability that a newly listed home sells. Asking prices are seller-selected reference points, not appraisals of market value. Days on market uses the provider's field, whose detailed business rules remain unconfirmed.
Medians use valid numeric observations without outlier trimming. Price and fee values must be positive; days can be zero. Each table identifies its denominator, and medians require at least 30 valid records. Size bands remain approximate provider categories, with no conversion to exact square footage. Monthly condo-fee interpretation was confirmed by the project owner on September 14. No individual property valuation or causal effect is established.
This comparison selects exactly three BedroomsAboveGrade in condo townhouses, freehold townhouses and apartment condos. Separate category medians are not adjusted for location, size, condition, buildings or amenities. Size modes use literal provider bands. Source hashes, page counts and calculations were checked against the refreshed evidence. Read our research standards.
Study period: September 1, 2025–August 31, 2026. Snapshot: September 19, 2026, Toronto. Published September 21, 2026. All amounts are Canadian dollars; condo fees are monthly.
Cite this article
Richling, Matt. New Purveyors Lab. “How did Ottawa’s three-bedroom condo townhouses compare with other three-bedroom homes?” Published September 21, 2026. Article link.