Griffintown and Saint-Henri sit a few blocks apart along the Lachine Canal, in the same borough, Le Sud-Ouest. Centris reports one set of figures for the whole borough, so the compare tool on my homepage cannot separate them. The difference between the two is mostly in the buildings, and at $400,000 to $450,000 that difference decides what you pay every month.
The short version
- Choose Griffintown if you want a newer building with an elevator and amenities, a short walk to downtown, and you accept higher condo fees and a younger contingency fund.
- Choose Saint-Henri if you want character, a metro station in the middle of the neighbourhood and usually lower fees, and you are ready to check an older building closely.
- My view: Saint-Henri is undervalued and Griffintown looks priced ahead of itself. That is an opinion, not a forecast. The right unit in either can be a good purchase.
The borough numbers
| Le Sud-Ouest, condos | |
|---|---|
| Median condo price | $495,162 (+2% over one year) |
| Condo sales | 935 |
| Active condo listings | 722 (+13%) |
| Average days on market | 58 |
| Months of condo inventory | About 9 |
| Homes built after 2010 | 22% |
| Homes built in 1960 or earlier | 38% |
| Households that rent | 65% |
Market: Centris, last 4 quarters to Q2 2026, Le Sud-Ouest borough. Housing and households: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census. The borough also includes Little Burgundy, Pointe-Saint-Charles, Côte-Saint-Paul and Ville-Émard.
About nine months of inventory is a lot for Montreal. It means buyers in this borough have choice and time, and that sellers with average units compete with many similar listings. It also tells you the borough median mixes 2015 towers and 1890 rowhouses, so it will not price your unit. Recent sales in the same building, or on the same block, will.
Side by side
| Griffintown | Saint-Henri | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical building | Mid-rise and towers, mostly built after 2010 | Converted rowhouses and plexes from the late 1800s, loft conversions, newer infill near the canal |
| Elevator and amenities | Common: gym, pool, terrace, concierge | Rare in plex units; more common in lofts and new infill |
| Condo fees | Tend to be higher where amenities and staff are included | Usually lower in small plex syndicates |
| Contingency fund | Younger, built up over fewer years | Depends on the building; small syndicates often have small funds |
| New-home warranty | Most towers fall outside the mandatory plan | Mostly resale; applies only to recent small buildings |
| Metro | Georges-Vanier nearby; Lucien-L'Allier and Bonaventure a walk north. REM station planned for about 2030 | Place-Saint-Henri in the centre; Lionel-Groulx at the east edge |
| Main streets | Peel, Wellington, Notre-Dame West | Notre-Dame West, Atwater Market nearby |
The buildings at your budget
Griffintown. At $400,000 to $450,000, you are usually looking at a smaller unit in a newer building. Compare units within the same building before you compare neighbourhoods: floor, view, exposure and parking move the price more than the address.
Saint-Henri. The same budget can buy more space in a converted plex or an older loft, but the building envelope, the roof and the fund need a harder look. Undivided co-ownership also shows up in older plex conversions, and lenders generally require at least 20% down for it.
What to check in each
Griffintown
- The warranty may not apply. Quebec's mandatory guarantee plan for new homes covers condo buildings with no more than four stacked private units. Most Griffintown towers are taller, so ask whether the builder offered a private warranty, what it covers and for how long.
- Fees after the first study. Since August 14, 2025, syndicates must obtain a contingency fund study and a maintenance log, and existing buildings have until August 15, 2028. When a young building gets its first study, contributions often go up.
- Amenity costs. A pool, gym and concierge are paid every month and replaced one day. Check their share of the budget and whether the fund plans for them.
- Schools and supply. Griffintown still has no public primary school, and the planned one is on hold. The neighbouring Bridge-Bonaventure sector is planned for thousands of new units, which means years of construction and more condo supply.
- Short-term rental rules. Read the declaration of co-ownership. Many buildings restrict short-term rentals, and city rules add their own limits.
Saint-Henri
- Rail and highway exposure. A rail line crosses the neighbourhood and the Turcot interchange sits to the west. Check which side of the building faces them, and visit at rush hour.
- Old building, small fund. Masonry, foundations, balconies and roofs on 19th-century buildings are expensive. Read the minutes for water infiltration and planned work, and ask for the syndicate's certificate.
- Divided or undivided. Confirm with the listing broker and the certificate of location before you get attached.
- Loft conversions. In former industrial buildings, check the declaration for commercial units, what they pay toward common expenses and what uses they allow.
Cost to buy
Both are in the City of Montreal, so the welcome tax is the same at the same price: $4,485.50 on a $425,000 purchase. An eligible first-time buyer may recover it through Quebec's refundable credit after paying the city. What differs is the monthly cost: compare condo fees against what they include and against the contingency fund study, not against each other.
Who each one fits
- Griffintown fits buyers who want a turnkey unit in a newer building, walk to work downtown and value amenities over space.
- Saint-Henri fits buyers who want more character and space for the money, a metro station at the corner and a neighbourhood main street, and who will do the extra homework on an older building.
Common questions
Is Griffintown more expensive than Saint-Henri?
Centris reports one figure for the whole borough, so there is no official median for each. Compare recent sales of the same type of unit on the blocks you like.
Are condo fees higher in Griffintown?
Often, when the building has amenities and staff. Compare fees against what they include and against the contingency fund study.
Is my new Griffintown condo covered by the new-home warranty?
Only if the building has four stacked private units or fewer. Most towers are not covered. Ask for any private warranty in writing.
Which one is closer to the metro?
Saint-Henri has Place-Saint-Henri in the middle of the neighbourhood. In Griffintown, the closest stations are at its edges, and the REM station is planned for about 2030.
Next step
Get listing alerts for Griffintown or Saint-Henri. I will set up a search matched to your budget and send new listings as they come on the market.
Prefer to talk first? Book a 30-minute call
Want another pair? Compare any two neighbourhoods on my homepage.
Keep reading
Delaram Farzin, Residential Real Estate Broker (Courtière immobilière résidentielle), Groupe Sutton Centre-Ouest, real estate agency. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
Sources: Centris real estate statistics · Statistics Canada, 2021 Census · Gouvernement du Québec, co-ownership rules · Ville de Montréal, transfer duties
