Living in the Barrhaven area: questions, answered
Answers to 37 questions people ask about living in and buying in the Barrhaven area: neighbourhoods, schools, the O-Train, prices, walkability, parks and shops. Each answer comes first, then the detail, the sources and the date it is current to.
Updated · Facts on this page link to their sources
- Neighbourhoods 13
- Schools 3
- Commute & O-Train 5
- Prices & market 3
- Walkability & errands 2
- Parks & outdoors 3
- Shops & dining 2
- History 1
- Who it suits 5
Neighbourhoods
13Where is Barrhaven in Ottawa?
Barrhaven is a suburb in southwest Ottawa, about 17 km southwest of the downtown core. Wikipedia describes it as roughly bounded by the Greenbelt to the north, the Rideau River to the east, Highway 416 to the west and the Half Moon Bay area south of the Jock River.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org
What are homes like in Barrhaven?
Homes in Barrhaven are mostly low-rise: single-detached houses and row houses make up most dwellings. In the 2021 census, single-detached houses were 39.4% to 56.3% of dwellings and row houses 30.1% to 40.1%, depending on the area, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca en.wikipedia.org
Do more people rent or own in Barrhaven?
More Barrhaven households own than rent. In the 2021 census, owner households were 72.0% in Chapman Mills, 78.4% in Old Barrhaven East, 80.8% in Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay and 89.0% in Old Barrhaven West, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
Which city ward is Barrhaven in?
Barrhaven is split between two City of Ottawa wards. Per City of Ottawa ward data, October 2026, Old Barrhaven East and Chapman Mills are in Ward 24 (Barrhaven East), with councillor Wilson Lo, and Old Barrhaven West and Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay are in Ward 3 (Barrhaven West), with councillor David Hill.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
What is the nearest hospital to Barrhaven?
The nearest hospital in the City of Ottawa data is Queensway-Carleton Hospital. In a straight line it is 7.1 km from the centre of Old Barrhaven West, 7.8 km from Old Barrhaven East, 10.0 km from Chapman Mills and 10.7 km from Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca
What is Old Barrhaven East like?
Old Barrhaven East is a residential area of 24,105 people and 8,285 private dwellings (2021 census). Single-detached and row houses each make up 39.4% of dwellings, and 78.4% of households own their home, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca maps.ottawa.ca
What is Old Barrhaven West like?
Old Barrhaven West is a residential area of 22,320 people and 7,860 private dwellings (2021 census). Single-detached houses are 56.3% of dwellings and 89.0% of households own, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
What is Chapman Mills like?
Chapman Mills is a residential area of 12,075 people and 3,755 private dwellings (2021 census). Its median age was 34.8 and 27.9% of households rent, the highest renter share of the four areas, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca openstreetmap.org
What is Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay like?
Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay is the largest of the four areas, with 27,815 people and 9,520 private dwellings (2021 census). It has the youngest profile, with 24.9% of residents aged 0 to 14, and the highest median owner-estimated dwelling value at $750,000, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca en.wikipedia.org
How many people live in Barrhaven?
Barrhaven had a population of 103,234 in the 2021 Canadian census, according to Wikipedia. The four Ottawa Neighbourhood Study areas in this guide had between 12,075 (Chapman Mills) and 27,815 (Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay) residents in 2021.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org ons-sqo.ca
What neighbourhoods make up Barrhaven?
Wikipedia lists many Barrhaven neighbourhoods, including Old Barrhaven, Longfields, Davidson Heights, Chapman Mills, Stonebridge, Half Moon Bay, Barrhaven on the Green and Strandherd Meadows. This guide covers four Ottawa Neighbourhood Study areas: Old Barrhaven East, Old Barrhaven West, Chapman Mills and Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org
Are there apartments or condos in Barrhaven?
Apartments are a small share of Barrhaven housing. In the 2021 census, apartments in buildings of five or more storeys were 0.2% to 3.0% of dwellings, and those in buildings under five storeys were 1.9% to 7.9%, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
Does Barrhaven have community associations?
Yes. The Stonebridge Community Association manages community events, including summer and winter sports for children, according to Wikipedia. This guide has not confirmed community associations for the other three areas.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org stonebridgeca.com
Schools
3What schools serve Barrhaven?
Barrhaven is served by four publicly funded boards: OCDSB (English public), OCSB (English Catholic), CECCE (French Catholic) and CÉPEO (French public). The city school data used for this guide lists 34 schools in the area, including 13 OCDSB, 12 OCSB, 4 CECCE, 3 CÉPEO and 2 independent schools.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca en.wikipedia.org
Are there French-language schools in Barrhaven?
Yes. The city school data lists French-language schools in Barrhaven from two boards: CECCE (French Catholic) has 4 and CÉPEO (French public) has 3. Elementary schools include Jean-Robert-Gauthier, Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau and St. Kateri (CECCE), and Michaëlle-Jean and Michel-Dupuis (CÉPEO).
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca en.wikipedia.org
Which high schools are near Barrhaven?
High schools near Barrhaven include Longfields-Davidson Heights and John McCrae (OCDSB), St. Mother Teresa and St. Joseph (OCSB), Pierre-Savard (CECCE) and École secondaire publique Pierre-de-Blois (CÉPEO). Riverside South Secondary School (OCDSB) is also listed, about 6.1 km away in a straight line from the guide's central point.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca en.wikipedia.org
Commute & O-Train
5How far is Barrhaven from downtown Ottawa?
Barrhaven is about 17 km from downtown Ottawa. Measured in a straight line to Parliament Hill, the four areas in this guide are 15.8 km (Old Barrhaven East), 17.3 km (Chapman Mills), 17.6 km (Old Barrhaven West) and 19.5 km (Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay).
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Is Barrhaven on the O-Train?
Barrhaven itself has no O-Train station, but Limebank station, the southern end of O-Train Line 2, is very near. Straight-line distance from the area centres to Limebank station ranges from 4.3 km (Chapman Mills) to 8.7 km (Old Barrhaven West).
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org wikidata.org
What is the nearest O-Train station to Barrhaven?
Limebank station on O-Train Line 2 is the nearest O-Train station to all four Barrhaven areas in this guide. In a straight line it is 4.3 km from Chapman Mills, 5.7 km from Old Barrhaven East, 6.6 km from Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay and 8.7 km from Old Barrhaven West.
As of 2026-10 · wikidata.org wikidata.org
How do people in Barrhaven get to work?
Most Barrhaven workers commute by car. In the 2021 census, car commuting ranged from 80.7% (Old Barrhaven East) to 87.5% (Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay), and public transit from 7.2% to 10.9%, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
Which buses serve Barrhaven?
Wikipedia lists local OC Transpo routes 70, 73, 80, 99, 110 and 173 in Barrhaven, plus Transitway routes 74 and 75. Routes 275, 277 and 279 run only during rush hour, and many 600-series routes serve schools.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org maps.ottawa.ca
Prices & market
3How much do homes cost in Barrhaven?
This guide has no Barrhaven-specific sale prices. Citywide, OREB reported a $705,100 single-family benchmark price (MLS® HPI) and a $685,640 average sale price for all homes in September 2026. Separately, the 2021 census median owner-estimated dwelling value was $600,000 in Old Barrhaven East and West, $650,000 in Chapman Mills and $750,000 in Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay.
As of 2026-10 · oreb.ca ons-sqo.ca
What is the Ottawa housing market doing right now?
In September 2026, OREB reported a citywide single-family benchmark price of $705,100, nearly unchanged from September 2025, and 1,010 homes sold, down 6.6% from a year earlier. These are Ottawa-wide figures, not Barrhaven figures.
As of 2026-10 · oreb.ca
Which part of Barrhaven has the highest home values?
In the 2021 census, Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay had the highest median owner-estimated dwelling value of the four areas at $750,000. Chapman Mills was $650,000, and Old Barrhaven East and West were each $600,000, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
Walkability & errands
2Is Barrhaven walkable?
Barrhaven is mostly car-oriented, and walkability varies by area. The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study's average Walk Score is 54 in Old Barrhaven East, 49 in Chapman Mills, 27 in Old Barrhaven West and 12 in Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
Is Barrhaven bikeable?
Bike Score averages are moderate. The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study reports 75 for Old Barrhaven East, 68 for Old Barrhaven West, 56 for Chapman Mills and 47 for Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
Parks & outdoors
3What parks and trails are in Barrhaven?
The City of Ottawa parks inventory used for this guide lists 45 parks in Barrhaven. The largest include Beryl Gaffney Park, Stonebridge Trail, Cambrian Road Woods, Ken Ross Park, Chapman Mills East Woodlot, Lytle Park (Nepean), W.C. Levesque Fields and Clarke Fields Park.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca en.wikipedia.org
Are there rinks, pools, a library or a rec centre in Barrhaven?
Yes. Barrhaven has two city recreation centres, Walter Baker Sports Centre and Minto Recreation Complex, and the guide's city data lists 12 rinks. Wikipedia says Walter Baker Sports Centre contains a library, and Minto Recreation Complex has two pools and two skating rinks.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
How much tree canopy does Barrhaven have?
Tree canopy coverage in 2024 was 26.3% in Old Barrhaven West, 18.6% in Chapman Mills, 13.2% in Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay and 12.5% in Old Barrhaven East, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca en.wikipedia.org
Shops & dining
2Where do people in Barrhaven buy groceries?
Barrhaven has several supermarkets, including Metro, FreshCo, Farm Boy, Food Basics, Loblaws, Walmart Supercentre, Your Independent Grocer, Sultan Supermarket and Bulk Barn. The nearest listed grocery is 0.5 to 1.1 km in a straight line from the centre of each area.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
Where are the main shopping areas in Barrhaven?
The main commercial district is Chapman Mills Marketplace, around Strandherd Drive and Greenbank Road. Wikipedia also lists Barrhaven Town Centre, Cedarview Square, Longfields Square, Strandherd Crossing and Trinity Common at CitiGate, and the area has a Barrhaven BIA.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org
History
1What is the history of Barrhaven?
Modern Barrhaven was established in the 1960s, with building begun by Mel Barr, for whom the community is named. The area was earlier inhabited by First Nations peoples and then settled by farmers, and it was part of the City of Nepean until amalgamation with Ottawa in 2001.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org barrhavenindependent.ca
Who it suits
5Is Barrhaven a good place to live?
Barrhaven suits people who want a suburban, family-oriented setting with mostly low-rise housing and a car for most trips. In the 2021 census, 80.7% to 87.5% of Barrhaven workers commuted by car and 19.0% to 24.9% of residents were children aged 0 to 14, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org ons-sqo.ca
Is Barrhaven good for families?
Barrhaven has a large share of families with children. In the 2021 census, 19.0% to 24.9% of residents were aged 0 to 14 and average household size was 2.9 to 3.2, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Is Barrhaven French-speaking?
Barrhaven is mainly English-speaking at home. In the 2021 census, French was the language most spoken at home for 3.9% to 5.4% of people, depending on the area, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca maps.ottawa.ca
What is the age profile of Barrhaven?
Barrhaven is relatively young. In the 2021 census, median age was 34.8 in Chapman Mills and Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay, 37.2 in Old Barrhaven East and 40.0 in Old Barrhaven West, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
How many Barrhaven residents work from home?
In the 2021 census, 41.1% to 47.6% of Barrhaven workers worked from home, depending on the area. Stonebridge – Half Moon Bay was highest at 47.6% and Old Barrhaven East lowest at 41.1%, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca