Upper Canada Mall Area: Is It a Good Place to Live? Explore homes, amenities, transit, and lifestyle to see if this Newmarket area is right for you.
Reviewed by: Steven B. Cheung, Broker
Last Update: September 16, 2026
⏱ 7 mins read
The Upper Canada Mall area gives Newmarket residents access to a large shopping centre, restaurants and food options, York Region Transit, major roads and nearby parks and trails. Whether it is a good place to live depends on your budget, housing needs, commute and how important convenient access to these amenities is to your daily routine.
Upper Canada Mall is located at 17600 Yonge Street in Newmarket. York Region Transit identifies the mall as a shopping destination with more than 200 stores, as well as Market & Co., which features artisans, merchants and eateries. Multiple YRT and Viva routes serve the area.
According to Upper Canada Mall’s visitor information, the mall is also accessible from Highways 400 and 404 and Highway 9 via Davis Drive.
For a home buyer, that makes the area worth examining if shopping, transit and road connections are important parts of your routine.
However, living near a major shopping destination also means evaluating the specific property and surrounding streets, not assuming every location near the mall will feel the same.
The mall is the area’s most recognizable destination, but buyers should consider the broader range of amenities and transportation options nearby.
Upper Canada Mall has more than 200 stores and includes Market & Co., with a selection of artisans, merchants and eateries.
The mall’s current directory includes retail, beauty, dining and lifestyle businesses, while its official site also provides information about services and amenities available to visitors.
This can be especially relevant if you prefer a large concentration of shopping and dining options in one place.
Several York Region Transit routes serve Upper Canada Mall, including 44, 50, 52, 55, 56, 57, 96, 98, Viva Blue, and Viva Yellow.
YRT also identifies Newmarket GO as being served by routes including 50, 54, 55, Viva Yellow and On-Request North-Central service.
For buyers who rely on transit, the key question isn’t simply whether transit exists. Check the actual route from the property you are considering to your workplace or other regular destinations.
Upper Canada Mall’s official visitor information states that the mall is accessible from Highway 400 via Hwy 9 and 404, and Highway 9 via Davis Drive.
This provides useful context for buyers who regularly travel by car, but actual commute times will depend on the property, destination and time of day.
Living near a major shopping centre does not mean giving up access to outdoor recreation.
The Town of Newmarket reports over 45 active parks and open spaces, over 800 acres of parkland and more than 44 kilometres of walking and cycling trails throughout the town. The trail network also links to more than 20 kilometres of trails in neighbouring municipalities, including Aurora and East Gwillimbury.
Newmarket also has six outdoor pickleball parks, providing another example of the recreational facilities available in the community.
For a buyer, however, the town-wide figures are only part of the picture.
Before purchasing, look at the specific parks, trails, and recreational facilities closest to the property. A home may be technically within the same general area but have a very different relationship to those amenities.
Housing around the Upper Canada Mall area includes different property types, but current availability changes with the market.
Depending on the specific neighbourhood and current listings, buyers may encounter:
Condominiums
Maintenance requirements, condo fees, building amenities and location
Townhomes
Home size, outdoor space, maintenance and monthly costs
Detached homes
Lot size, maintenance, age, condition and overall ownership costs
Rather than describing one housing type as inherently better, compare the property against your actual needs.
For example, a condominium may reduce some exterior maintenance responsibilities but involve monthly condominium fees. A detached home may provide more private outdoor space but can require more maintenance.
Use current listings to see what housing is actually available near Upper Canada Mall when you search.
Instead of assuming that particular demographic groups choose the area, consider whether its characteristics match your priorities.
Upper Canada Mall provides more than 200 stores and Market & Co. in one location.
The mall has multiple YRT and Viva routes, while Newmarket GO also has YRT connections.
The mall’s location provides access to Highways 400 and 404 and Highway 9 via Davis Drive.
Newmarket has more than 45 active parks and open spaces, over 800 acres of parkland and more than 44 kilometres of walking and cycling trails.
These are characteristics of the area and community, not claims about what buyers generally prefer.
Living near a major shopping destination can be convenient, but proximity to amenities isn’t the only factor to evaluate.
Instead of guessing how busy an area will be, visit the property at different times.
Try a weekday morning, weekday evening and a weekend visit to see how the surrounding roads, parking areas and nearby streets fit your routine.
Map the journey from the specific property, rather than using the mall’s location as a proxy for the entire area.
If you use transit, check the route, transfer requirements and schedule.
If you drive, test the route during your normal commuting period.
A nearby mall is useful only if its stores and services match your household’s needs.
Consider your regular grocery trips, dining preferences, fitness activities, recreation and other destinations.
“Near Upper Canada Mall” covers more than one residential setting.
Look beyond the mall itself and evaluate:
Consider whether the property will continue to meet your needs as your circumstances change.
Your priorities may change if your household grows, your workplace changes or you decide to downsize.
If you’re considering a property near Upper Canada Mall, use this checklist:
Location
Distance to the destinations you use regularly
Transit
Nearby YRT/Viva routes and connection to GO Transit
Road access
Your actual driving route and typical travel time
Shopping
Whether Upper Canada Mall’s stores and services match your needs
Recreation
Nearby parks, trails and facilities
Housing
Property type, size, condition and age
Costs
Purchase price, taxes, maintenance and condo fees where applicable
Future needs
Whether the property can accommodate your plans
This approach is more useful than simply asking whether the Upper Canada Mall area is “good” or “bad.”
The right question is:
Does this particular property and location work for your daily life and long-term plans?
There isn’t one answer for every buyer.
The area may be worth considering if you want access to a large shopping destination, multiple YRT and Viva routes, major road connections and Newmarket’s broader network of parks and trails.
On the other hand, if you prefer to live farther from a major commercial destination, you may want to compare other Newmarket neighbourhoods as well.
The best way to decide is to compare specific properties and their surroundings, rather than relying only on the name “Upper Canada Mall area.”
The area may be worth considering if you value access to shopping, dining, transit and road connections. Upper Canada Mall has more than 200 stores and is served by multiple YRT and Viva routes. Whether the location is right for you depends on your budget, housing needs, commute and preferred surroundings.
The surrounding Newmarket area includes different residential property types, including condominiums, townhomes and detached homes. Current availability changes, so buyers should review active listings for the specific area and price range they are considering.
Yes. York Region Transit lists multiple routes serving Upper Canada Mall, including local routes and Viva Blue and Viva Yellow. YRT also says the mall is a short walk from the Newmarket Terminal.
Upper Canada Mall’s official visitor information states that it is accessible from Highway 400, about 9.6 km via Highway 9. Upper Canada Mall is about 5.5 km east via Davis Dr. Actual travel time will depend on your destination and time of day.
Yes. The Town of Newmarket reports over 45 active parks and open spaces, over 800 acres of parkland and more than 44 kilometres of walking and cycling trails.
Look beyond shopping convenience. Compare the specific property’s commute, housing costs, nearby transit, parks and trails, surrounding streets, traffic conditions and long-term suitability.
The Upper Canada Mall area offers a combination of shopping, transit, road connections and access to Newmarket’s broader parks and trail network. Upper Canada Mall itself has more than 200 stores and Market & Co., while multiple YRT and Viva routes serve the area.
But those features alone don’t determine whether a property is right for you.
Before buying, visit the area at different times, test your commute and compare the specific home with your budget, lifestyle and long-term plans.
Choosing the right home starts with understanding the surrounding area. The Niche Real Estate Team helps buyers compare Newmarket communities, evaluate neighbourhood characteristics and find properties that fit their current needs and long-term plans.
Website: The Niche Real Estate Team
Phone: 416-709-2342
Email: [email protected]
