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Affluent new suburb next door to the oldest housing in Durham
Whitby and Oshawa share a border and almost nothing else. A franchisee here runs two businesses under one brand, and understanding the difference before you buy is the whole point of this page.
Whitby is affluent, newer and heavily owner-occupied. Median household income is $123,000, 82.1 percent of its 46,455 households own their home, and only 24.8 percent of the stock predates 1981. The population grew 7.9 percent between 2016 and 2021, from 128,377 to 138,501. That profile produces planned improvement work at healthy job values: basements, decks, kitchens, bathrooms, garages.
Oshawa is older, denser and considerably more affordable. 58.6 percent of its 66,630 dwellings were built before 1981, the second-highest share on our entire list. Median household income is $86,000, ownership is 64.2 percent, and the July 2026 average sale price was around $693,677, the lowest of any market we sell. That profile produces high-volume repair work and a substantial landlord and property-management customer base.
Neither is better. They are different businesses, and the territory contains both, which is unusual and useful. When discretionary spending tightens, Whitby slows and Oshawa does not, because failure repair is not discretionary.
Whitby and Oshawa by the numbers
| Measure | Whitby | Oshawa |
|---|---|---|
| Occupied private dwellings | 46,455 | 66,630 |
| Built before 1981 | 11,510 (24.8%) | 39,030 (58.6%) |
| Owner households | 38,125 (82.1%) | 42,750 (64.2%) |
| Renter households | 8,330 (17.9%) | 23,880 (35.8%) |
| Median household income (2020) | $123,000 | $86,000 |
| Population change 2016 to 2021 | +7.9% | see note below |
| Average sale price, July 2026 | see note below | approximately $693,677 |
The Oshawa sale price is drawn from board-derived market reports rather than published board tables, and is given as an approximation. Where a figure is not shown, we could not confirm it from a citable source and would rather leave a gap than publish a number we cannot stand behind.
When discretionary spending tightens, Whitby slows and Oshawa does not.
What a protected territory looks like here
With 113,085 occupied dwellings between them, Whitby and Oshawa may be drawn as one territory or split, depending on how the rest of Durham is allocated at the time. We will tell you exactly what is on the table rather than showing you a map and letting you assume.
Oshawa’s 23,880 renter households are the largest rental concentration outside Toronto on this list, and they change the shape of the business. Suite turnovers, common area repairs and small landlord work are contract revenue with an annual rhythm, and they do not depend on consumer confidence. Franchisees who build that book early have a floor under their year.
Oshawa also has genuinely old housing, including pre-war stock around the downtown and the areas built for the auto industry. That means knob and tube, cast iron, balloon framing and the rest of it. It is the kind of work where a franchise system with proper quoting training earns its keep, because it is easy to underprice.
Who this territory suits
This suits an owner who is comfortable running two distinct service books and pricing them differently. Quoting an Oshawa semi the way you would quote a Whitby detached is the fastest way to lose money here.
It also suits someone who wants scale. This is the largest dwelling count of any territory in this group, and it is the market where a second crew becomes necessary earliest.
No construction experience is required, but a willingness to learn how to price older housing accurately is essential. That is a core part of our training.
Availability
Territory status: contact us for current availability. Franchisees must live within one hour of their office location, which is straightforward from anywhere in Durham.
What it costs
$140,000 total investment, $90,000 of it cash to open. See the investment page for the full breakdown, the franchise overview for the model, and the FAQ for the rest. The neighbouring Pickering and Ajax territory is also on the list.