Milliken, Toronto

Milliken is one of the most popular neighbourhoods in Toronto, which is located on the northwest side of Scarborough and the northeast end of Toronto. The locality is centred on Kennedy Road and Steeles Avenue and fences the cities of Markham and Toronto. The neighbourhood is named after Normal Milliken, who came from New Brunswick in 1807. He built and operated a massive business of hotels and stables which was called the “Milliken’s Corners.” Thus, came the name Milliken. Milliken is predominantly housed by Chinese Canadian families today and hosts several Asian-inspired shopping and dining experiences. There are maximum single detached homes available in Milliken, which remained as it is, despite the up-swinging tide of urbanisation in the neighbourhood post-1980s. The farmlands in Milliken have now developed along Steeles Avenue. The variety of the Milliken real estate sector is limited to double-floored, single-family houses that are integrated within 9-meter segments but include driveways and private parking spaces or garages. Posh areas like Alton Towers Circle intersection and McCowan Road have some of the most luxurious townhomes and apartments.

Milliken is popular for its exceptional features like Milliken District Park, a modern public library, a recreational trail, and beautiful Milliken houses with easily accessible world-class amenities. The cost of living is low, and housing is easily available at affordable rates as compared to other localities in Toronto. Milliken has now become a much safer place to live in and reflects the low rate of crimes related to violence and property. Compared to the National crime rate, Milliken neighbourhood has a much lower ratio of total crime and is rated A+.

The average household income in Milliken is 7% lower than the national average, while the unemployment rate is 28% lower than the national average. This is a good sign, which depicts the majority of people residing in the neighbourhood of Milliken have ample employment opportunities. 7.5% of people earn $20,000 or less, 12% earn between $80,000 and $100,000, and 1.3% earn $300,000 or more. The population is quite less in Milliken than in other neighbourhoods in Toronto, but it is quite diverse, with many people from China, South Asia, and other parts of the world residing here. Other main languages spoken in Milliken are French, Chinese, Tamil, and Punjabi.

Milliken is a multicultural neighbourhood in Toronto that boasts of some of the best amenities, schools, hospitals, and transport options as compared to other localities. The residents mainly comprise young students who prefer living in the vicinity to reduce their commute time to Milliken University or other educational hubs around. Because of the young crowd, there is no dearth of restaurants, cafes, educational institutes, recreational facilities and parks in the Milliken neighbourhood.

Schools

Milliken has great elementary schools, secondary schools, and special programs. The locality has 12 public schools, 9 Catholic schools, 2 private schools, and 1 alternative/special school. Some of the best schools are:

• ÉÉ Laure-Rièse
• Port Royal Public School
• Milliken Public School
• Macklin Public School
• Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute
• Prince of Peace Catholic School
• Our Lady of Grace Catholic School
• St. Sylvester Catholic School
• Wales College Private High School
• Msgr Fraser College (SAL NE Campus)

Restaurants

Milliken’s restaurant and dining culture is majorly influenced by Chinese culture, and the place has some of the most popular Chinese restaurants. The best restaurants here are:

• Hey Noodles
• The Plaza
• Dangol
• Chako
• Shu Kingdom General
• Ho Ho BBQ
• Seven Flavours
• Pizza Nova
• Twilight Cafe
• Starbucks
• The Alley

Shopping Complex

There are several shopping markets, complexes, and malls present in Milliken that offer easy access and affordable daily goods and products, household amenities, and luxury shopping. Chinatowns across the neighbourhood are famous for their cost-effective shopping experiences. Some important shopping areas are:

• Splendid China Mall
• Pacific Mall
• Milliken Mall
• Woodside Square

Hospitals

Milliken has some of the best healthcare facilities, which are well within reach, and have some of the best doctors that will take great care of you. The best medical centres facilities are:

• Dialysis Management Clinics (DMC)
• Glendower Family Health Care Centre
• Suncity Family Medical Center
• My Care Medical
• Mohan Homeopathy Clinic

Milliken location in northeast Toronto was primarily aimed at agriculture. Currently, it is popular as a suburban community, where people from other neighbourhoods are flocking in because of its plentiful green spaces, iconic shopping spaces, public art pieces, and many places of worship. Some of the top areas to visit in Milliken are McCowan Road, Markham Road, Midland Avenue, and Middlefield Road.

Milliken District Park

Milliken Park is a jewel that crowns Milliken and is located east of McCowan Road and south of Steeles Avenue East. The park includes a swing set, a play structure for ages 2 to 12, a children's garden, a dog fountain, a pond, and lots more. You can stroll the boardwalk, watch the waterfowls and swans, and swim in the pond. Kids can take a hike or a run on the paved trails, which also have a small rain garden.

L'Amoreaux Sports Complex

This is a fantastic community centre that offers a marvellous Kidstown Water Park and various sports avenues like tennis, soccer, etc. Other key aspects of this recreational centre are ball diamonds, bike trails, a drinking fountain, a multipurpose room, picnic sites and shelter, and various sports fields.

Chinatown

The culture of Chinese Canadians highly influences Milliken’s local culture. You will find some of the most affordable shopping centres, multi-cuisine restaurant choices, and small and big retailer brands in the area.

With advantages like direct train access, an array of shopping spaces, and fantastic outdoor amenities, this town boasts large park spaces and a vibrant yet tranquil atmosphere. There's much to do here, but below are two things you should definitely do in Milliken.

Visit the Port Royal Park

The Port Royal Park is all about green and environmentally sustainable spaces and thriving flora and fauna. You can take leisurely walks, have a day picnic, or just enjoy the greenery. It's a perfect place for spending summer afternoons or evenings with your friends and family.

Entertainment Activities at the Milliken District Park

Milliken has some of the most entertaining recreational facilities, like the Milliken District Park, which is a Community Recreation Centre on McCowan Road. You can attend several community programs, sports activities, dance classes, and even live chess games. Milliken District Park is a Scarborough gem that is extended over 32 hectares and includes 3 playgrounds, a boardwalk, splash pools, and landscaped gardens. It also hosts several public events like fireworks, snowshoeing, and sports events operating all year long.

Milliken is a residential area where you will generally see car drivers get around using main roads. This neighbourhood has easy access to Highway 404 and 401 via Sheppard Avenue and Mccowan Road. There is easy access to public transit services here, so even if you don’t drive your car, you can commute to various places using other means of transport.

• Milliken Mall, the closest shopping mall, is just 5 mins away by car.
• Toronto Pearson International Airport is 55 minutes from Milliken.
• Toronto takes about 35 minutes to reach using the GO train and approximately 25 minutes by car.

Milliken shines bright with some of the neighbourhood shops and numerous in-town retail options like the Milliken Mall, Milliken Square Shopping Centre, Markham Steeles Crossing, Pacific Mall, Scarboro Village Mall, and the Splendid China Mall.

Splendid China Mall

This mall is located on the southeast corner of Redlea and Steeles Avenues. It is part of a large retail centre, including home improvement stores, a bank, and a gym. The mall has two floors and 150 stores worth of retail and restaurant space. This Chinese-themed plaza was established in 2007 and is also popular for hosting numerous celebrations for festivals, occasions, and fairs.

Pacific Mall

This mall is located to the north of Steeles and just outside Milliken’s official border. It sprawls across 25,084 square meters of retail space, has 3 floors, and more than 450 stores and services. It is said to be one of the biggest in the Western world and the largest indoor Asian shopping mall in North America.

The population density in Milliken is 36% lower than in Toronto, while the median age is 10% lower than in Toronto. 70.31% of the population living in Milliken is Chinese, 13.04% of the population is South Asian, and 4.46% of the population is Black.

There are several things for kids and families to do in Milliken. You can visit the Milliken District Park, where families come together for picnics. Children can ride their bikes or visit the recreational centre. For a BBQ or a private picnic, the park has tables and gazebos with several birds and animals by the pond. Another recommended place for kids to visit is Locked-In, a real-time puzzle game in a time-sensitive environment. It is one of the best creative live room escapes in Toronto, which is located beside Splendid China and across the street from Pacific Mall. Other kid-friendly cafes or places in Milliken are Minido, Crock A Doodle Unionville, Giggles Playland Kids Private Party Playground Center, and Jumping Castle. Some of the most-visited pet-friendly parks in Milliken are Milliken District Park, L’Amoreaux Off-Leash Dog Park, Harvest Moon Park, and Miller Avenue Off-Leash Dog Park.

The approximate cost of living in Milliken is 7% lower than the Toronto average and 4% higher than the national average. Milliken housing is 9% lower than the national average. The average cost of living in Milliken, goods and services, groceries, healthcare, housing, transportation, and utilities, is either less than or almost equal to that of the Toronto average.

Several diverse populations prefer the residential Milliken real estate sector. The most popular area in Milliken that witnessed a demand for residential spaces is McCowan Road, nearby Milliken District Park. In the 1980s, there were mostly owner-occupied spaces in the form of two-level Milliken houses. The demand for property in the vicinity increased because of its green lawns, good schools, activities like Christmas Party and Fall Fair, and recreational centres like the Milliken Park Community Recreation Centre. The average home price in Milliken is $435,000, which has gone down by 6.5% since March 2022. Homes are selling fast in Milliken and almost at the same price as listed. February 2023 marked a drop in the ‘days to close a home sale’ in Milliken, which is now almost 20-30 days. Even the median home price has increased by 1.2%. An average condo in the Milliken neighbourhood is listed at $639,000. According to current Toronto MLS data, the most expensive condo is $982,000, and the least expensive is $519,000. The average townhouse price is listed at $818,000. You can get a single detached house for $1,250,000 and a semi-detached house for $1,030,000.