Danforth, Toronto

Danforth neighbourhood, also known as Danforth Village, East Danforth, is a neighbourhood located in the east end of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is situated in the eastern part of Danforth Avenue in the old city of Toronto. It originates from the eastern end of Greektown by Greenwood Avenue to the beginning of Scarborough at Victoria Park. Danforth is known for its Greek population and its famous Greek summer festivals that celebrate events and festivals relevant to Greek mythology or culture. There are several multicultural shops and restaurants owing to the cosmopolitan nature of the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood features affordable properties, along with close proximity to the Bloor-Danforth subway line, making it an ideal choice for discerning home buyers.

Danforth has a high livability index compared to most other regions in Ontario. The cost of living is lower than the national average. The availability of essential amenities is also good, and the crime rate is lower, making it an ideal place to live in. The crime rate in Danforth is 20% lower than the national average. Moreover, property crimes are also lower by 21%, and violent crimes are lower by 16%. All in all, Danforth is a safe neighbourhood for residents, as evident by the statistics mentioned in the table below:

The median income in Danforth is higher compared to other areas in Toronto and Ontario. The household income and unemployment rate are 13% and 25% lower than the national average, respectively, while the labour force participation is 11% higher. There are mostly English speakers in the neighbourhood, followed by people speaking a mix of other languages, including French. This proves that most of the Danforth residents are English speakers.

Danforth features all such amenities and facilities for residents to lead a comfortable life, such as schools, hospitals, restaurants, and shopping centres. The following is a brief insight into each of them:

Schools

The neighbourhood has several good schools to choose from. This makes it ideal if you’re relocating with your family. Some of the notable schools are:

• Gledhill Junior Public School
• Secord Public School
• Kimberley Junior Public School
• William J McCordic School
• Bowmore Road Junior and Senior Public School

Restaurants

Since Danforth has people from multiple communities, the restaurants have various cuisines to choose from. Some of the restaurants are:

• Golden Pizza
• La Famiglia On the Danforth
• Grillies
• Flamingo Restaurant
• Budapest Restaurant
• The Rib House
• Beach Hill Smokehouse
• Sandy’s Restaurant

Shopping Malls

There are some great shopping malls in and around the neighbourhood. So whether you want to go on a shopping spree or shop for your daily grocery, Danforth has something for everyone! Some of the shopping malls in the neighbourhood are:

• CF Shops at Don Mills
• Gerrard Square
• Eglington Square Shopping Center
• Flemingdon Park Shopping Center
• Beach Mall

Hospitals

There are ample healthcare services in Danforth as well. It has quite a few hospitals that cater to the medical needs of the community. Some of the facilities are:

• Michael Garron Hospital
• Toronto General Hospital
• Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center
• Women’s College Hospital
• Toronto Western Hospital
• North York General Hospital

Living in the Danforth can be a great experience. There are several places to visit and activities to do. With an array of parks, restaurants, and entertainment options, there is no dearth of activities to ensure you lead a happy and comfortable life in the neighbourhood.

Roger's Center

For sports lovers, this is a paradise. Home to football and baseball matches, music concerts, and family shows, this entertainment complex and the multipurpose stadium is loved by all Danforth and Toronto residents. It hosts games of a few of the best teams, such as The Toronto Blue Jays and the Canadian Football League. It features several family-friendly shows, such as Disney on Ice and Monster Truck Shows. Additionally, there is also a wide range of food options available, including hot dogs and Buffalo wings.

CN Tower

CN Tower offers a panoramic view of the entire Toronto City. The glass elevators lead to several observation decks with stunning views. You can check out the LookOut Level on the 113th floor. On the 112th floor is the Glass Floor, from where you can view the entire city below. The SkyPod Deck is one of the tallest metal staircases on earth. You can also dine at the revolving 360° deck.

Canada's Wonderland

A great place to explore with your family and kids is Canada's Wonderland amusement park. There are over 200 exciting rides to explore in this region. One of the most famous ones is the super-fast Leviathan ride. It's the fastest roller-coaster ride in the country. It houses several other fun places for kids, such as Planet Snoopy, Splash Works water park, White Water Bay open-air wave pool, etc. It's open daily from mid-May to August and weekends only in September and October.

There are plenty of places and things to explore in the neighbourhood; from shops and lounges to restaurants, there are diverse activities to indulge in! The following are a few you can partake in during your visit to Danforth:

Eating at Danforth

The neighbourhood features a plethora of cuisines to explore. You can find authentic Greek cuisine at Messini Authentic Greek. Some of the top dishes are pork gyros, chicken souvlaki, and tzatziki. Rendez-vous is a great Ethiopian restaurant to try with Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. For some Jamaican food, you can try Simone’s Caribbean restaurant. The best dishes to try are jerk chicken, oxtail, and rice. Allen’s is one of the oldest restaurants and has a sunny patio. They also have some of the best burgers and a grand whiskey collection.

Shopping at Danforth

There are 350+ brands and services in Danforth. You can get goodies 'Made in France' such as cheese, pastries, and chocolate from Douce, France. For fresh flowers, the Percy Waters Flower Market is the best place. For all your daily groceries, you can head on to the East York Farmer’s Market. Additionally, you can make your kids happy by getting them toys from Treasure Island Toys.

Danforth is well-connected to all nearby locations. It also has good transport connections. Here are the facilities available:

• Danforth GO Station is the nearest train station (500 m away), followed by Scarborough GO (6.8 km away).
• Toronto Pearson International Airport is the nearest airport, 37.1 km away.
• The most important street is Danforth Avenue, which is situated in the neighbourhood itself.

Danforth has a number of local markets that provide fresh produce to residents. These suffice to meet all the daily essential needs of the community. There are several supermarkets, too, from where residents can source essential groceries.

Prince of Wales Fruit Market and Garden Center

Located on Danforth Avenue, this is a popular choice for getting fresh fruits and flowers. You can also get some useful garden tools as well. It's usually open from 8 am to 7 pm on all days. The location is convenient, too, since it's close to the metro stations Coxwell (0.4 km) and Woodbine (0.5 km).

Bare Market

This is one of the most famous supermarkets in the Danforth area. It offers same-day pickup, free local delivery, as well as weekly Canada-wide shipping. It's located on Danforth Avenue. The timings are 10 am to 7 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Thursday, it's open from 10 am to 9 pm. On weekends, it's open from 10 am to 6 pm.  It has a number of brands across multiple segments, such as DIY, food, packaging, home needs, body care, etc.

Plank Road Market

This popular market has been around for some time now. It's one of the best grocery stores in Toronto. It offers the freshest produce for the community. There is a wide selection of items such as fresh meat, speciality cheese, fruits and vegetables, frozen foods, dry fruits and nuts, bakery items, etc. It's open from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 2 pm and again from 4 pm to 6:30 pm.

Danforth is home to a highly diverse population. The total population is around 17,123. The Danforth population-associated data is as follows:

Danforth is a great place to take your kids and pets out. The area is colourful with lots of fun activities to do.

• One of the top attractions is the colourful mural on 583 Danforth Avenue by a graffiti artist. You can also take your kids to the Taste of the Danforth street festival. They'll be sure to enjoy the food, fun, and music. Even the sidewalks are colourful, as the street corners of Danforth feature murals depicting Greek Gods & Goddesses.
• Another interesting place to visit is the Handwork Department which has several vintage and antique items that are sure to pique the interest of your kids.
• The parks like Monarch Park and East Lynn Park are great places to take your kids and pets. You can walk your dog, too, since there's ample green space.  Additionally, the outdoor skating options prove as the icing on the cake.

Danforth isn’t an expensive place to live in. The cost of living is 7% higher than the national average. The following table shows other factors that make up the cost of living in an area, such as the cost of groceries, healthcare services, etc.

Danforth has a median listing of $800k. The usual price per square foot is $400. Properties in this area are sold on an average of 15 days on the market. There are several accommodation options in the area, such as multi-family homes, condominiums, farms, and townhomes. The usual prices are between $800,000 to $1200,000. The real estate market in Danforth is booming.