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Kortright West

This neighbourhood has a little something for everyone. With great parks, top schools, tons of retail and U of G at your doorstep, Kortright West is the perfectly balanced neighbourhood to call home.

Find out everything you need to know about Kortright West below including Kortright West real estate, schools and amenities.

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kortright west guelph real estate - example of a detached home in kortright west in guelph

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everything you need to know about LIving in Guelph

Kortright West overview

Located just south of Old University, west of Kortright East and north of Clairfields, Kortright West is perfectly placed between midtown and the southern end of Guelph.

This puts it within walking distance of the University of Guelph and Stone Road Mall and a short drive to major highways like the Hanlon and Hwy 401. It’s an incredibly convenient area to live and has a great mix of real estate with homes dating all the way back from the early 1970s through to brand new development.

At the heart of the area is Preservation Park – a massive and natural green space with forests, streams and boardwalks that connect to community parks.

Kortright West is also one of the stop school zones in the city. With great parks, schools, amenities and affordable real estate, this is one of the most desirable pockets in the city for families.

 

Kortright West real estate

home styles in Kortright West

Kortright West is a large neighbourhood and to get a better feel for it it’s often easier to break it down into digestible chunks. While MLS and neighbourhood group boundaries can often be different, in Kortright West there is no blurring of lines.

In Kortright West you have two local neighbourhood groups: 1) Hanlon Creek and 2) Rickson Ridge.

So, let’s look at those two different sub-neighbourhoods and break them down a bit further from there.

Hanlon Creek

Hanlon Creek is made up of two different sub-neighbourhoods we’ll call “Campus Estates” and “Preservation Park”. These areas have many similarities and differences when it comes to real estate, so let’s take a closer look at both.

Campus Estates

The eldest of the three sub-neighbourhoods in Kortright West, Campus Estates was developed beginning in the early 1970s through till the 80s.

Campus Estates is a nice mix of more affordable, smaller detached homes and larger homes with wide lots on sidewalk-less, tree-lined streets.

You can find a lot of different types of homes here from 2-storey and bungalow to both back and sidesplits. The great thing about homes built in this era is that they’re incredibly unique and have large setbacks. These mature neighbourhoods are incredibly quiet, peaceful and picturesque.

Keep in mind, many of these homes are well over 50+ years old now and not everyone has renovated or modernized their home. So, if you’re looking to make your mark on an affordable property (and one with a pool!), Campus Estates is a great spot to consider.

One thing to note for those looking for something more affordable, like condo townhomes, you do have an option at 941 Gordon Street near the corner of Kortright/Gordon. For student rental invesmtents, 807 Gordon is a small pocket of stacked condo townhomes as well.

Preservation Park

This sub-neighbourhood is defined by the parks, walking trails and conservation lands that run right through the heart of Kortright West.

Built in the late 70s through to the 1980s, this area is generally a little more affordable compared to Campus Estates. Similar home types and styles exist, but homes are typically not set as far back and sidewalks were introduced in this area.

Another difference compared to Campus Estates is the absence of condos and condo towns, but there are semi-detached homes available. Both areas have multiple parks and it can be a point of preference which one people choose to target.

A nice area to target would be south of Kortright near John Gamble Park and around the loop of Ironwood Road. On Hilldale Crescent specifically you have homes that back onto conservation lands where the price tag is a bit more premium.

Rickson Ridge

Ok, onto our second sub-neighbourhood. Rickson Ridge sits at the southeast corner of Kortight West and is the newest of the bunch. Development began in the late 80s through till the 90s and early 2000s with a brand new development of homes starting in the early 2020s.

This has always been a really popular area for families because of the newer homes. Lots are smaller and streets are tighter here as is typical of newer development. It’s also been popular because of the affordability of the smaller detached homes and pockets of townhomes.

A set of detached homes in Terraview’s newest development in Rickson Ridge.

Finally, there has been a lot of investors attracted to this area because it’s very close to the university and major retail like Stone Road. Buses are well-connected and close by so many of the condo townhome units, for example, have been turned into student rentals. For many, it’s a quick walk or bike ride to school making it an ideal place to live off campus.

As someone that attended the University of Guelph and had many friends in the area, it still easily managed to retain a very quiet and peaceful feel. Students here have integrated into the neighbourhood very nicely and over the years the condos along Gordon have helped fill the increasing need for rentals in the city.

Kortright West homes for sale

To get real-time listings, use the links below for your desired property type.

*Please note – homes shown below are for descriptive purposes only and do not imply that they are for sale.

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Pros & Cons

What are the Pros & Cons of Living in Guelph?

Kortright West median home prices

affordability

Below is the median sales price per home type. The median sales price is the price where half of the listed prices are higher and the other half are lower than it. This better represents affordability than the average sales price.

While these figures are updated as much as possible, it’s best to contact us below for real-time pricing.

Finally, please note that “Condo” includes condo townhomes while “townhome” includes both freehold and common element fee townhomes. If you see a dash (-), then this home type has not seen a sale in at least the last 180 days.

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Kortright West schools

best schools

School information is updated yearly. Use the form below to download a copy of the latest school rankings.

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school zone overview

Kortright West is one of the best overall school zones in Guelph!  All three of its public elementary schools are top-ranked along with its high school – Centennial CVI.

For those wanting the French Immersion (FI) track, students get entrance to Fred A. Hamilton from JK-6 before continuing to École Arbour Vista in neighbouring Kortright East for Grades 7-8.

On the catholic side, the same level of quality is matched as students head to St. Michael Catholic Elementary School and Bishop Macdonell for high school. Both of these schools are top-ranked schools in the city of Guelph!

For the latest rankings and reports, use the form below the next section to download your copy.

public schools

  • elementary

    • Rickson Ridge PS (JK-8)

    • Jean Little PS (JK-8)

    • Fred A. Hamilton (JK-6 FI)

    • École Arbour Vista (7-8 FI)

  • high school

    • Centennial CVI

catholic schools

  • elementary

    • St. Michael

  • high school

    • Bishop Macdonell

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Get a customized home search within top school boundaries. One street can make the difference between a good and great school!

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looking for the best schools in guelph?

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Are quality of schools an important part of your home search? If so, download the Top Schools Report to get the latest rankings for schools in Guelph:

  • Top Public & Catholic Elementary Schools Report
  • Top Public & Catholic High Schools Report
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things to do in Kortright West

fun in Kortright West

Anything missing from our list of the best things to do in Kortright West? Reach out and let us know as we’re always on the lookout for new ideas!

Parks & Rec in Kortright West Guelph

Outside of the downtown core, this is one of the best neighbourhoods for community parks. There are lots to explore including the massive Preservation Park that runs through the heart of the neighbourhood.

Preservation Park

Let’s start with the Preservation Park area as it’s really the heart of the community and one that everyone in Kortright West enjoys.

Here is a great breakdown of the entire trail courtesy of Ontario Hiking. You can do the outer or inner loop or small segments of it as it connects with community parks in the area like Hanlon Creek Park.

Hanlon Creek Park & Splash Pad

Hanlon Creek Park is a great spot to bring the kids especially since the renovation of the splash pad in 2022. It also a big soccer field and connects to University Village Park by the Royal Recreation Trail.

The splash pad uses 100 per cent renewable energy, with solar panels and a high-efficiency re-circulation water system. It also features accessible washrooms with one gender neutral washroom, as well as a solar share pergola, a water fountain and seating. Check out all the details and photos here.

University Village Park

If you walk north along the Royal Recreation Trail from Hanlon Creek Park you’ll reach the University Village Park in just a few minutes. With another playground and baseball diamond, this is a great stretch to enjoy all year long.

John Gamble Park (and off-leash dog park)

This is a great spot to take the kids before heading just east to the off-leash dog park. Remember where the Preservation Park Trail begins? That’s JUST east of here. Move to your right on the map and you’ll see where the cars park.

Campus Estates & Rickson Ridge

There are a few more community parks in these areas including:

  • Rickson Park: The largest of the four (but actually located in Campus Estates), it has a hardball and softball diamond, a playground and a nice stonedust trail for walking.
  • Yewholme Park: a more basic community park with picnic tables and playground equipment and a small trail.
  • Oak St Park: unique in the neighbourhood as it is another, like a couple in Kortright East, that turns into an outdoor skating rink in the winter!
  • Hartsland Park: like Yewholme, this is another basic park located right beside Rickson Ridge PS
  • Steffler Park: a community park with playground and picnic tables off Ironwood in the Preservation Park area.

The Arboretum at the University of Guelph

Located on the east side of the university, “The Arboretum” is only a few minutes away from Kortright West. You can enjoy over 400 acres of diverse plant collections, beautiful gardens, wildlife and extensive walking trails here.

entrance sign to the arboretum at the university of guelph
Entrance sign to The Arboretum at U of G – credit to Avelino Martinez CC BY NC 4.0

Take a leisurely stroll through the Rose Garden, explore native Ontario trees, or see species from around the world. It’s a great spot for birdwatching, with over 200 species to spot. The colours in the spring and fall are beautiful and the snow-covered paths in winter are a perfect place for families and anyone who loves nature to explore.

Retail & Shopping in Kortright West Guelph

Stone Road Mall

Located within walking distance to Kortright West, this is Guelph’s largest mall. Stores have changed over the years, but the quality of retailers continues to improve. This section of the city also has major stores like Canadian Tire, Walmart and Best Buy to name a few.

However, this is not the only set of retail in the area. While the mall sits on the north side of Stone Road, the south side is also lined with retail from The Hanlon all the way to Edinburgh. From restaurants to banks and every day services, this is one of the best concentration of retail in the city.

Other major in the area includes Campus Estates plaza near Gordon and Stone just south of the University. Gordon itself is lined with retail plazas that residents can access.

Within Kortright West itself you have another major plaza at Kortright and Edinburgh (Hartsland Market Square) which has a grocery store, banks, a gym, restaurants and other every day services.

South End Guelph Retail Hub

If that’s not enough, you can head down Gordon for about 5 minutes before you reach the newest part of the city’s south end.

Since the early 2000s the south end of Guelph has exploded in population and retail has grown over that time to serve them. Kortright West residents get to benefit from that as well. There is a huge hub of retail including three grocery stores, a gym, movie theatre, restaurants, banks and other services.

This is definitely one of the best places to be if you want easy access to retail. The cherry on top is that downtown is only about minutes away!

Meet Mike, Your Partner for a Stress-Free Experience.

I am Sales Representative at eXp Realty, Brokerage and have been proudly serving my clients in the GTA West specializing in cities like Mississauga, Oakville, Milton, Burlington, Hamilton and Guelph since 2012.

If you need to know anything about buying, selling or investing in these cities, then you’ve come to the right place!

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photo of mike santos - realtor at gtawestliving.com

Ask Me About Kortright West

These are the top four things people usually ask about Kortright West!

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  • what's it really like to live in Kortright West?

    Having spent a large chunk of my university life in Kortright West, I can attest to its calmness and peacefulness. It was also super convenient to live right by so much major retail and the university.

    For families, there are great community parks and the Preservation Park area is a year-round gem to have right in your back yard.

  • What's the commute like from Kortright West?

    For those studying or working in Guelph, it’s a great spot to be as you have easy access to two of Guelph’s major north/south arteries – Gordon and The Hanlon. If you’re heading south to the 401 to go east towards Toronto, you only add a few minutes to your commute – it’s really not too big of a difference.

    Being walking distance to the university and 10 minutes to downtown, it’s a really good midpoint between the south end and downtown.

  • Why Should I Live in Kortright West?

    Whether you’re looking for a mature neighbourhood with spacious, gorgeous streets and wide lots or brand new development, Kortright West has it all. It’s a super convenient neighbourhood and the local neighbourhood groups bring together a real sense of community.

    You get the best of both worlds by having nature right in your backyard while being so close to so much retail. It’s a really great area whether you’re downsizing, single, starting or raising a family or interested in investing in the area. And for families specifically, this is one of the best school zones in the city.

  • why should i not live in Kortright West?

    With great parks, nature, schools, retail and affordable homes I’m not sure why you wouldn’t choose Kortright West. But, if we had to pick a reason, it would be you are targeting newer towns or semis and they aren’t in huge supply here. For that, you might have more luck checking out Westminster Woods in the south end.

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