Barrie is the city at the western end of Lake Simcoe and the natural next step for buyers leaving York Region. Kempenfelt Bay is the centre of everything: the waterfront trail, Centennial Beach, the marinas and the Spirit Catcher sculpture, with the downtown rising behind them. The south end, around Barrie South GO and Mapleview Drive, is where most of the newer subdivisions are.
Two stations on the Barrie GO line, Allandale Waterfront and Barrie South, give a direct train to Union in about 90 minutes. Highway 400 is the road link. Georgian College and Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre are the big local employers, and Snow Valley and Horseshoe Resort put skiing within 20 minutes.
Why people choose Barrie
- Detached homes from every era; newer subdivisions in the south end near Barrie South GO
- Two GO stations with direct trains to Union
- Lake Simcoe waterfront, beaches, marinas and the Barrie waterfront trail
- Georgian College and RVH hospital
Nearby
More of Beyond the GTA
Journal
Reading about Barrie
Kleinburg or King City? Two estate markets compared
Both offer acreage and privacy twenty minutes apart. Here is how they differ.
Read: Kleinburg or King City? Two estate markets compared
Moving from Toronto to Barrie: the honest version
Commute, cost of living, lifestyle and the neighbourhoods that work for former city dwellers.
Read: Moving from Toronto to Barrie: the honest version
Commuting from York Region: the subway, three GO lines and Viva compared
Which station, which line and how long it really takes from each York Region community.
Read: Commuting from York Region: the subway, three GO lines and Viva comparedQuestions about Barrie
How long is the commute to Toronto?
About 90 minutes by GO train from Barrie South or Allandale Waterfront, or an hour-plus on Highway 400 outside rush hour.
Which part of Barrie is newest?
The south end near Barrie South GO, Mapleview Drive and the Painswick area.
Is Barrie a year-round market?
Yes. It is a city of over 150,000 with its own hospital, college and employers, not a cottage town.