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Neighbourhood Guide

Real Estate in CDN / NDG

Montreal's most populous and versatile borough. Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce has something for every buyer: condos from $539K, income-producing plexes at $937K, and family homes at $1.25M. Five metro stations, institutional anchors generating persistent rental demand, and some of the island's most consistent long-term appreciation.

At a Glance

CDN/NDG in Four Facts

Two Sub-Neighbourhoods
CDN (Dense/Urban) + NDG (Residential/Family)
The borough's two sub-neighbourhoods have distinct characters: CDN is denser, more multicultural, more transit-connected. NDG is quieter, more residential, tree-lined, with the island's best English schools. Both are worth understanding separately.
Transit
5 Metro Stations
Vendôme and Côte-Saint-Catherine (Orange Line) serve NDG. Côte-des-Neiges, Snowdon, and Université-de-Montréal (Blue Line) serve CDN. Downtown in 10–15 minutes from any station.
Institutional Anchors
MUHC · UdeM · HEC · JGH
The McGill University Health Centre, Université de Montréal, HEC Montréal, and the Jewish General Hospital all generate persistent, high-income demand for housing in this borough. This institutional base creates rental and ownership demand that is structural, not cyclical.
Market Direction
Single-Family +6% · Plexes Stable
Single-family at $1.25M median (up 1%). Plexes at $937K with strong owner-occupant demand. Condos at $539K with slight softening but persistent demand from students and young professionals. 48–66 days on market across segments.
Market Data · Centris

Current Market Numbers

Condo
$538,625
Persistent demand from students & professionals
58 avg. days on market
Plex (2–5 units)
$936,611
▲ Strong owner-occupant demand
66 avg. days on market
Single-Family Home
$1,247,000
▲ +1% year-over-year
48 avg. days on market

Source: Centris, CDN/NDG borough, last 4 quarters. Data is for guidance purposes; individual properties vary. NDG single-family typically above the borough median.

Buyer Profiles

Who Buys in CDN/NDG?

The English-School Family (NDG Focus)

The dominant NDG buyer profile. Families targeting NDG specifically for its English-language school system, including the Westmount High catchment and multiple strong elementary options. These buyers are competing for a limited supply of family homes on the most desirable NDG streets and are often prepared to move quickly and offer at or above asking.

NDG dominant segment

The University/Hospital Professional (CDN Focus)

Graduate students, junior faculty, hospital workers, and young professionals who want transit access to Université de Montréal or the MUHC and find CDN's more accessible price points compelling. CDN condos and plexes near metro stations serve this profile consistently.

CDN institutional segment

The Plex Owner-Occupant

Buyers who want to live in one unit and rent the others. The CDN/NDG plex market is strong for this profile: rental demand from students, hospital workers, and young professionals maintains near-zero vacancy. The $937K median delivers compelling economics at current rental rates in both CDN and NDG.

Income property segment
Micro-Areas

Area by Area

NDG Premium Streets (Grosvenor, Oxford, Melrose)
Most Coveted NDG Addresses · School Proximity

The residential streets north of Sherbrooke in NDG (Grosvenor, Oxford, Melrose, Brock) are the most competed-for addresses in the entire borough. Large detached homes, early 20th-century character, and direct school access. Properties here often sell off-market through broker networks.

Monkland Village Area (NDG)
Commercial Hub · Walkable Core · Most Active

Properties within walking distance of Monkland Avenue combine the best of NDG's commercial energy and school proximity. The neighbourhood's most consistently active sub-market: fast sales, multiple offers on well-priced homes, and premiums relative to comparable NDG streets.

CDN Road Corridor and Metro Adjacent (CDN)
Dense · Transit · Rental Investment

The main CDN commercial spine and the streets around the three Blue Line metro stations form the core of CDN's investment market. Mid-rise condos, high-density plexes, and institutional rental demand from Université de Montréal and the JGH. Strong occupancy fundamentals.

Upper CDN / Near Mount Royal Summit
Elevation Premium · Mountain Proximity · Best Views

The upper portion of CDN near the summit of Mount Royal has some of the most naturally beautiful residential addresses in the entire borough. Single-family homes with mountain proximity, larger lots, and proximity to the Oratoire. Values approach and sometimes exceed the NDG premium.

Insider Intelligence

What Most Buyers Don't Know

01

Borough Averages Mask Significant Sub-Market Differences

The CDN/NDG borough median conceals the fact that top NDG streets trade at $1.5M+ while CDN condos can be found under $400K. Buyers and sellers who use the borough average as their primary reference point are working with data that is wrong for their specific situation. Sub-neighbourhood and street-level analysis is the only framework that produces accurate conclusions.

02

The Institutional Demand Base Is Permanent

Universities, hospitals, and their associated populations don't move. Université de Montréal, HEC, the MUHC, and the Jewish General Hospital have been in this borough for decades and will remain indefinitely. The rental and ownership demand they generate is structural. It does not soften during recessions, does not shrink when interest rates rise, and does not follow fashion.

03

NDG Homes Sell Off-Market More Than Buyers Realize

On the most competitive NDG streets, a significant portion of transactions happen before a property is ever listed on Centris. Sellers reach out to agents they trust, who place properties with buyers they know are looking. Buyers who rely exclusively on public listings are seeing a subset of the available market. Working with a well-connected broker in this specific market is a genuine competitive advantage.

Common Questions

Real Estate in CDN / NDG FAQ

Single-family at $1,247,000 (up 1%). Plexes at $936,611. Condos at $538,625. Top NDG streets trade above the single-family median. Source: Centris, last 4 quarters.
CDN is denser, more multicultural, more transit-focused, with Université de Montréal, HEC, and the Jewish General Hospital as demand anchors. NDG is quieter, more residential, tree-lined, with the island's best English schools. Both offer strong value but attract different buyer profiles and should be evaluated separately.
Five stations: Vendôme and Côte-Saint-Catherine (Orange Line) in NDG; Côte-des-Neiges, Snowdon, and Université-de-Montréal (Blue Line) in CDN. Downtown in 10–15 minutes from any station.
Yes. The borough has structural rental demand from two universities, multiple hospitals, and a large newcomer population. Owner-occupant plex buyers benefit from near-zero vacancy. At $937K median, plexes deliver compelling economics when rental income offsets a significant portion of carrying costs.
NDG has the best English-language public schools and a quieter residential character. CDN has better transit connectivity and more accessible price points. Families prioritizing English schooling lean toward NDG; those prioritizing transit and value often choose CDN. Both are strong family neighbourhoods.
NDG single-family homes typically trade at or above the $1.25M borough median. CDN has fewer detached homes and they tend to be more concentrated in the upper portion near Mount Royal. The best NDG streets (Grosvenor, Oxford) regularly trade at $1.5M–$2M+.

Ready to Make a Move?

Whether you're targeting a specific NDG street, investing in a CDN plex, or selling in one of Montreal's most persistent demand markets, let's talk. A 30-minute call costs nothing and usually clarifies everything.

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