Port Hope
- $501,750 Lowest
- $650,000 Average
- $1,173,179 Highest
- 2.4 No. Of Beds
- 2.2 No. Of Baths
- 1,975.68 Sq.Ft.
- $0 Lowest
- $329 Average
- $0 Highest
The quiet yet unmistakable enchantment that permeates throughout this small town is just one of the reasons why many individuals, especially those with families, are moving to Port Hope, Ontario and its growing real estate opportunities. The peaceful community values and preserves its heritage while steadily investing in its industry and its future. A lifestyle of health and wellness is emphasized amidst a backdrop of stunning forests and pristine beaches. To those who are tired of the rat race that is characteristic of many crowded cities, it is as if time stood still in this little nook in Canada – in an era of simplicity, gentleness, and radiant hope.
Meanwhile, to residents – long-time and newly settled – Port Hope lives up to its name. If you would like to find out how and why, as you are checking houses for sale in Port Hope, Ontario, the Jacqueline Pennington Team would be more than happy to help you. We are local real estate experts dedicated to helping buyers achieve their real estate goals in the communities of Northumberland, Ontario.
WELCOME TO PORT HOPE, ONTARIO!
The Port Hope town hall clock tower
For a town with a reputation for historic charm and natural beauty, Port Hope has been a favorite set location of some of Canada’s biggest television productions like the situation comedy, Schitt’s Creek, and the period dramedy, Murdoch’s Mysteries. Port Hope was also the location of the chilling two-part cinematic versions of Stephen King’s IT.
Regardless of genre, filmmakers can find picturesque residential neighborhoods, scenic waterfronts, rural landscapes, and charming small-town streets all within close proximity. This versatility allows for a variety of scenes to be shot without extensive travel. Moreover, Port Hope is just an hour’s drive to Toronto, one of Canada’s major film production hubs.
The easy access to a variety of areas, zoning districts, and landscapes belies the actual size of Port Hope, which sprawls across 1,278.88 square kilometres. With a population of 17,267 in 2024, the population density of Port Hope is just 160 people per square kilometre.
What it lacks in warm bodies, it more than makes up for its terrific community spirit. Residents take pride in their history as shown in the town’s carefully maintained heritage homes. About 270 historic buildings, including the Victorian mansions, that tourists prefer to visit are the highest number per capita in Canada. A cluster of those buildings situated in one location has earned it the title of being “the best-preserved Street in Ontario.” Visitors claim that walking through it can make you experience what the city and the municipality looked and felt like in the 19th century.
History. The town’s current name was also birthed in that era. While Port Hope does live up to its name in inspiring its community to believe in their future, the municipality was renamed in 1817 after Col. Henry Hope, who was sworn in as governor of Quebec in 1785. Prior to that, it was called Smith’s Creek after a prominent fur trader named Peter Smith.
Nature and its resources are another heritage that the people of Port Hope, Ontario, take pride in and care for. The town’s back roads and biking trails wind through verdant forests.
Motorists coming from Toronto through Highway 401 will only take a little more than an hour to reach it. Other modes of travel are the train that stops at the station at Hayward Street and inter-city buses. Buses and taxis are also the more popular transport services within Port Hope itself.
Visitors who do take time to go around the town will notice that there is a lot of interest in
houses for sale in Port Hope, Ontario. If you are keen on investing in your own property in this place and would like to know more about the land for sale in Port Hope, Ontario, here’s what you need to know.
EXPLORING PORT HOPE, ONTARIO REAL ESTATE
Houses for sale in Port Hope, Ontario are made up mostly of single-family homes, usually featuring huge spaces and a considerably large lawn that kids will love to play or run around in.
A typical single-storey home has 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. However, there are larger houses of up to 3 storeys, with the most luxurious boasting up to 8 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.
Property types and lot sizes in Port Hope
The designs of many of the houses do speak of the proud history of the municipality, evoking architecture from its storied past, with Victorian and early 20th-century houses, often beautifully restored and preserved. Newer developments offer contemporary single-family homes, townhouses, and condos, catering to different buyer preferences and budgets. Surrounding areas feature rural properties, including farms and country estates, appealing to those seeking more land and privacy.
Lot sizes. The most striking feature of houses for sale in Port Hope, Ontario is the size of the property. Even in downtown Port Hope and other historic areas, where space is at a premium, lot sizes begin at 4,047 square metres (0.1 acre). These lots often feature well-maintained gardens and yards, but the emphasis is usually on the house itself and its historical value.
In newer subdivisions and modern residential areas, lot sizes are generally larger, offering more outdoor space. These lots typically range from 809 to 2,023 square metres (0.2 to 0.5 acres or approximately 8,712 to 21,780 square feet). These properties often include larger backyards, front lawns, and sometimes additional amenities like pools or extensive landscaping.
On the outskirts of Port Hope and in more rural areas, lot sizes can be substantially larger, often exceeding 4,047 square metres (1 acre) and sometimes reaching 20,234 square metres (5 acres) or more. These lots provide significant privacy and space, often suitable for farming, extensive gardens, or larger estate homes.
Condos. There are a few condos for sale in Port Hope, Ontario and these, too, have a homey, country feel compared to the conventional brick or steel units found in the bigger cities.
Location. Still, one of the main attractions in moving to this municipality is freedom. People who choose to live in Port Hope are freed from the confines of clustered dwellings, traffic congestion, and the terminal busy-ness that are often the hallmarks of urban living. Whereas one opportunity in investing in Port Hope, Ontario’s real estate is the ability to purchase or build a house near a lake or the forest, with an almost up-and-close personal vantage point of the majesty of Mother Nature.
Popular and up-and-coming subdivisions in Port Hope
To discover and settle in the house of your dreams in this part of Canada, it is recommended that you deal with a licensed and reliable real estate broker or agency. They can guide you in securing applications for the following popular subdivisions in the town: Mason Homes, Lakeshore Road, Ganaraska Road, and County Road.
- Mason Homes is breaking the mold in Port Hope, Ontario real estate while still honoring its rich legacy and centuries-old architectural style. It is in the process of building townhomes that still bring that gated community feel while preserving the privacy and security of each individual unit and the families that live in them. Their design of multifunctional, multi-dimensional spaces such as an ultra-modern entertainment center inside a heritage-home-lookalike apartment creates the best of both worlds that is found in Port Hope, Ontario real estate.
- Lakeshore Road is a cozy street near the crystal-clear massive body of water that is Lake Ontario. Residents here bike to the market, schools, and offices enjoying the clean air and exercise. Others simply walk and take a view of the landscape and, if they have the time, chat with a neighbor or two they encounter along the way.
- Ganaraska Road is one of the most modern parts of Port Hope, Ontario. Brick houses and bungalows are in proximity to community centres like the Ganaraska Hotel. Still, the synergy with Mother Nature is present, as the Ganaraska Forest and its nature trails are just a few minutes away.
- County Road is a stone’s throw away from the highway which is the main point of entry to the town. While parts of it are marked for residential development, it is most known for the vacant land for sale in Port Hope, Ontario.
Downtown and Northumberland neighborhoods
There are two main sections of the town that define and describe Port Hope, Ontario.
- Historic downtown captures the attention of visitors who are then compelled to check out houses for sale in Port Hope, Ontario after their first few trips. Walton Street and its must-see heritage houses are not just preserved legacy buildings but have been redesigned to include cafes, diners, and small shops. Walk a little further down the road and you will also find sellers of unique fashion, furniture, art pieces, and custom homeware.
- Northumberland is where a lot of the action is. At the end of a work day or during weekends, residents and visitors alike have a choice of watching the latest performances in an art festival, playing golf, taking a tour of lavender farms, or trekking along its many parks and forests.
LIVING IN PORT HOPE, ONTARIO
There are plenty of things that make living in Port Hope ideal. These are some of them:
Schools
Education plays an important part of life in the community. Schools are often cited as the main driver of families moving to a particular community. In Port Hope, there are six public schools, four private schools, and three Catholic schools.
The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board supervises three elementary schools and one high school in Port Hope. Learn more about their approach to learning here .
The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland/Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) looks after one elementary and one high school in Port Hope. Learn more about their approach to learning here.
There are other special educational institutions that offer unique curricula for students with special needs or who are looking for very special skill sets. Language schools teach French, German, Mandarin, and Spanish to enable the students to appreciate their heritage while becoming competitive in the modern global workplace. Students with physical, developmental, and behavioral conditions can also enrol in schools for those with special needs. For those who want something different from mainstream learning, alternative schools like Montessori and Waldorf offer individualized programs.
One of the more prominent educational institutions in Port Hope is the Trinity College School , a co-educational boarding school which was founded in 1865. Standing on 40 hectares, it emphasizes the arts, humanities, and public service in its curriculum.
Parents who place a premium on family life and the quality of their children’s education are encouraged to explore their Port Hope, Ontario real estate options with a broker who has served Port Hope and the surrounding communities for 16 years and counting .
Economic and job opportunities
Job opportunities in Port Hope, Ontario have mainly to do with agriculture, manufacturing, marine, and retail, which have been its core businesses throughout the years. The local government has been boosting economic support and attracting new investment through programs like the Economic Development Strategic Plan. Other nascent industries like technology and IT have also gained a foothold with the entry of new players like Trade Tech Industries.
The Downtown Revitalization Project is another development that is expected to influence the value of Point Hope, Ontario real estate. Tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, and other local businesses can experience a bit of a boost through initiatives like the Streetscape Study and Strategy. Organizations like the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario–Port Hope Branch will continue to seek ways to preserve and yet enhance the legacy of the famous heritage houses, and promote them to visitors and other guests.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Areas will also work closely with farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs to improve output and enhance the quality of their enterprise while ensuring that the beauty and purity of the surrounding forests and rivers will be preserved and maintained.
Parks and recreational activities in Port Hope
Nature trails, cycling tours, park picnics, and boat rides are secondary nature to the residents of Port Hope, Ontario. They value, appreciate, and relish the recreational activities that are open to them in their verdant surroundings:
- Ganaraska Forest is a 4,856-hectare nature preserve inhabited by dozens of different species of birds and wildlife. It is ideal for horseback riding, hiking, bird watching, and also skiing during the winter months.
- East and West Beach are two of the lovely shorelines that bookend Port Hope. East Beach is great for swimming, thanks to its sandy bottom. West Beach is another swimming beach featuring both sand and rocky shore. Parking, play structures, and trail access are some of the amenities common to both.
Dining in Port Hope
From fast food to fine dining, animated gastro pubs to snack trucks, here are some of the more interesting diners and restaurants you can visit in Port Hope for a night out on the town or a quiet romantic dinner with your loved one:
- The Social Bar + Table is rustic dining at its best, showcasing the best local food in the town, complemented by the finest wines in the world. The key attraction here is the freshness of the dishes, as most of it is sourced from the nearby river and forests. Another feature is its intimate setting, which encourages deeper conversations and closer interactions.
- Olympus Burger has been aptly called the king of the burgers because it draws in fans who love the crispy quality of the patty and the well-cooked bun. For a dash of nostalgia, order a frosty glass of milkshake to wash it down. Or make it a combo with fries or salad and a pop.
Attractions in Port Hope
As a favorite location to shoot TV shows and movies, Port Hope has incorporated this connection to its community-based recreational activities. First, a seasoned guide can take you and your group on a tour of the famous locations that have been popularized on both big and small screens. Prepare to re-experience how a small coastal city can hide an alien horror, or sharpen your eagle eyes in spotting clues throughout the trail that will help you solve a murder mystery.
The Capitol Theater captures the glory of the early part of the 20th century simply because of its architectural design. A massive courtyard that leads into the interior of a 1930s movie theater transports you to the era of medievalism, gallantry, and old-school movie magic. Aside from vintage film showings, the Capitol Theater has also played host to groundbreaking theater productions and more modern concerts.
Events and festivals in Port Hope
There’s no shortage of events and festivals in Port Hope, Ontario. Some of the town’s most anticipated celeb are:
- Cultivate Festival , which is also being called the Feel-Good Festival, runs for three days in September. It’s a block party, artistic showcase, and active playground all rolled into one. Live music, picnics, food vendors, kid-friendly activities, diverse performances, workshops, farm experiences, and more all foster inclusivity and rekindle community ties.
- Art Salad is an exhibition of more than a dozen artists – the best and brightest of Port Hope, Ontario – amidst picturesque gardens that bloom in spring. Guests experience art appreciation outdoors instead of the confines of a museum. Far from being sombre and quiet, the event is a chatty affair where guests can weave in and out of the different artists’ tents admiring the showcased pieces, including jewelry, pottery, mosaic, and so much more.
- Northumberland Festival of the Arts is arguably the biggest artistic festival in Port Hope, Ontario. It gathers together musicians, visual artists, sculptors, writers, photographers, and other creative talents in more than 20 events that happen in the course of two weeks. All the communities in Northumberland take part in this celebration.
Float your Fanny Down the Ganny is an annual race down the Ganaraska River to demonstrate the indomitable spirit of the community. Commemorating the 1980s flood that tore through Port Hope’s historic downtown, this river-rafting adventure has become a family affair in a race to the finish. It’s also been a delight for spectators as participants have reimagined the simple traditional rafts as fantastic birds and marine animals.
EXPLORE HOMES FOR SALE IN PORT HOPE, ONTARIO WITH THE JACQUELINE PENNINGTON TEAM
We would love to show you more of the wonder that has made this jewel in Ontario a community anyone would love to live in. We can show you the kinds of homes that suit your needs and your lifestyle. Or present you with the most potentially lucrative investment properties.
Connect with the Jacqueline Pennington Team today. We are local real estate experts dedicated to helping buyers achieve their real estate goals in the communities of Northumberland, Ontario.
We can’t wait to show you what Port Hope, Ontario has to offer. Call 905.375.0062 or send us an email to start your next chapter with full confidence.