Choosing where to live is one of the biggest decisions a family makes when relocating to Ottawa bigger, in many ways, than choosing the home itself. The right neighbourhood shapes your daily commute, your kids’ school options, your weekend routine, and how connected you feel to your community. 

This guide compares 11 of Ottawa’s most family-friendly neighbourhoods using the same framework real estate researchers use: school quality, affordability, safety, parks and amenities, and commute time. We’ve also added something most neighbourhood guides leave out entirely what each area is actually like to move into, from driveway access to elevator logistics, based on years of moving families across this city. 

How We Picked These Neighbourhoods 

Our comparisons draw on publicly available data including the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, current real estate listings, and school board catchment information, combined with our own experience moving hundreds of Ottawa families into these communities. We focused on five factors: school quality and availability, average home price, safety and crime trends, access to parks and family amenities, and realistic commute time to downtown or major employment hubs. 

Kanata 

Ottawa’s west-end tech hub is one of the most consistently recommended neighbourhoods for families, and for good reason. Kanata is home to Canada’s largest tech park, anchoring jobs at companies across the IT, software, and defence sectors, which makes it a natural fit for tech-employed parents who want a short commute. 

Schools here are strong across the board, including Earl of March Secondary School, and the area offers extensive parks and recreation, including Kanata Lakes and Walter Baker Park. Average home prices sit in the mid-range for Ottawa suburbs, with a mix of established family homes and newer subdivisions. 

Moving note: Kanata’s newer subdivisions (Kanata Lakes, Bridlewood’s newer phases) tend to have wide driveways and easy truck access. Older sections of Bridlewood and Beaverbrook can have narrower streets and tighter on-street parking worth flagging to your movers in advance if your new home falls in an older pocket. 

Barrhaven 

Ottawa’s fastest-growing suburb, Barrhaven has become a magnet for young families thanks to newer housing stock, strong schools, and a community feel that’s grown alongside the neighbourhood itself. Sectors like Stonebridge, Longfields, and Half Moon Bay offer modern detached and semi-detached homes with garages a structural advantage for families with larger households or extra storage needs. 

Average home prices are comparable to Kanata, and the area continues to add new schools and recreation facilities as the population grows. 

Moving note: Newer Barrhaven subdivisions are generally easy for moving trucks to navigate, with wide streets and driveway parking. Strandherd Drive and Fallowfield Road can see heavy rush-hour traffic, so scheduling a moving crew outside peak commute windows helps keep things on time. 

Orleans 

Located in Ottawa’s east end, Orleans offers a balance of suburban space and a strong bilingual community, making it a popular choice for francophone and bilingual families in particular. Housing includes a mix of townhomes, semi-detached, and detached single-family homes, generally at a more affordable price point than Kanata or Barrhaven. 

Families here benefit from direct access to Petrie Island, a 12-kilometre beachfront along the Ottawa River, alongside Millennium Sports Park and an extensive network of nature trails. 

Moving note: Highway 174 and Trim Road see significant traffic during commute hours, which can affect timing for moves between Orleans and central Ottawa. Older sections of Orleans Village have narrower streets than the newer subdivisions further east. 

Nepean 

A well-established suburb with a broad mix of housing types, Nepean offers good access to both downtown Ottawa and the Kanata tech corridor, making it a popular middle-ground choice for families who want suburban space without committing fully to the west end. 

Schools and shopping centres are well distributed throughout Nepean’s various neighbourhoods, and the area’s maturity means mature trees and established streetscapes in many sections. 

Moving note: Older neighbourhoods near Merivale Road can have narrower driveways and tighter parking factor this into your moving day plan if your new home is in one of Nepean’s more established pockets. 

Stittsville 

Once a standalone town, Stittsville has been absorbed into Ottawa’s westward suburban growth while retaining a distinct small-town character. It’s particularly popular with families who want a slower pace alongside still-strong access to Kanata’s job market just minutes away. 

Newer housing developments dominate, with detached homes and townhomes built around parks and a walkable village core. 

Moving note: As one of Ottawa’s newest growth areas, Stittsville’s subdivisions are generally very mover-friendly wide streets, ample driveway space, and few of the access challenges found in older parts of the city. 

Riverside South 

A newer suburban community south of downtown, Riverside South has grown rapidly with young families and professionals drawn to its new builds, green spaces, and proximity to both the airport and future LRT connections. 

Home prices here tend to be competitive given the newer housing stock, and the community continues to develop new schools and amenities to match its growth. 

Moving note: As a newer build community, expect generous driveways and easy truck access throughout most of Riverside South one of the more straightforward areas in the city to move into. 

Westboro 

A trendy, walkable neighbourhood close to the Ottawa River, Westboro appeals to families who want an urban-adjacent lifestyle without sacrificing green space and outdoor access. Boutique shopping, cafés, and an active community make it popular with professionals and families alike. 

Housing leans toward higher price points given the location and walkability, with a mix of character homes, newer infill builds, and low-rise condos. 

Moving note: Westboro’s older streets can be narrow with limited parking, and many homes have shared or tight driveways. Infill and newer builds sometimes have steep or narrow walkways both worth mentioning to your moving company in advance. 

The Glebe 

One of Ottawa’s most charming and established neighbourhoods, the Glebe combines heritage homes, tree-lined streets, and an active local scene anchored by Bank Street’s shops and restaurants, plus easy access to Lansdowne Park and the Rideau Canal. 

This character and central location come at a premium home prices here run higher than most suburban alternatives but families who prioritize walkability and community character consistently rank the Glebe among Ottawa’s most desirable areas. 

Moving note: Century homes in the Glebe often have narrow staircases, smaller doorways, and limited parking. If you’re moving larger furniture into an older Glebe home, it’s worth discussing access details with your movers ahead of time. 

Manotick 

A village-like community on Ottawa’s southern edge, Manotick offers a quieter, more rural feel while still being a reasonable commute to the city core. Larger lot sizes and a strong sense of small-town community make it appealing to families who want more space and a slower pace. 

Home prices vary widely depending on lot size and proximity to the village centre, with some properties offering significant acreage. 

Moving note: Manotick’s rural fringe properties sometimes have longer driveways or gravel access roads worth flagging if your new home is on a larger rural-style lot, as it can affect truck positioning on moving day.

Rockcliffe Park 

One of Canada’s most prestigious residential enclaves, Rockcliffe Park combines mature tree canopy, large estate-style homes, and a quiet, low-density character within close proximity to downtown Ottawa and New Edinburgh. 

This is Ottawa’s highest price point for family housing, reflecting both the lot sizes and the area’s prestige. 

Moving note: Rockcliffe’s winding, tree-lined streets and large properties generally accommodate moving trucks well, though some older estate driveways may require careful maneuvering your moving company can usually assess this during a pre-move walkthrough. 

Greely 

A semi-rural community south of the city, Greely appeals to families wanting larger properties, a strong community feel, and a quieter setting while remaining within a reasonable commute of central Ottawa. 

Home prices vary considerably based on lot size, with many properties offering significantly more land than comparable suburban options closer to the core. 

Moving note: As with Manotick, Greely’s rural properties can have longer driveways or less conventional access useful information to share with your moving company when booking. 

Moving Into a Family Neighbourhood: What Changes About Your Move 

Family moves typically involve more volume than a single professional’s relocation garages, basements, and multiple bedrooms’ worth of belongings add up quickly. If you’re moving into one of the suburban communities above, factor in extra time for garage and basement contents, which are often underestimated when booking a moving crew. 

School-year timing is another consideration unique to family moves. Many Ottawa families try to time their move around the end of the school year in June or before the start of September, which means these windows are also some of the busiest for moving companies citywide. Booking 6-8 weeks ahead is especially important if your move falls in this period. 

For families moving into any of the neighbourhoods above, our Ottawa local moving services team has experience with the specific access conditions, driveway types, and seasonal traffic patterns across these communities. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the best neighbourhood for families with young kids in Ottawa? 

Kanata, Barrhaven, and Riverside South are consistently among the top choices for families with young children, thanks to newer housing stock, strong schools, and family-oriented amenities. The right choice ultimately depends on your commute needs and budget. 

What is the most affordable family neighbourhood in Ottawa? 

Orleans generally offers the most affordable family housing among Ottawa’s major suburbs, followed by parts of Nepean. Manotick and Greely can also offer affordability depending on lot size, though they come with longer commutes. 

Which Ottawa neighbourhoods have the best school districts? 

Kanata, Barrhaven, and Nepean are well-regarded across public, Catholic, and French immersion options. Specific school catchments should always be confirmed directly with the relevant school board, since boundaries don’t always align neatly with neighbourhood lines. 

What are the safest neighbourhoods in Ottawa for families? 

The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study consistently ranks suburban and semi-rural communities including Barrhaven, Kanata, Stittsville, and Manotick among the city’s safest, with lower reported crime rates than the downtown core. 

Is it better to live in the suburbs or downtown Ottawa for a family? 

It depends on your priorities. Suburbs like Kanata, Barrhaven, and Orleans offer more space, larger homes, and quieter streets at a lower price point. Downtown-adjacent areas like the Glebe or Westboro offer walkability and a shorter commute, but at a higher price and with smaller average home sizes. 

For a full overview of what to expect when relocating to Ottawa from cost of living to school boards to the best time of year to book your move see our complete guide to moving to Ottawa. 

Ready to move into your new Ottawa neighbourhood? Call 613.425.0020 or get a free quote from Ottawa’s local moving specialists.