Living in the Alta Vista area: questions, answered
Answers to 40 questions people ask about living in and buying in the Alta Vista 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 14
- Schools 6
- Commute & O-Train 6
- Prices & market 3
- Walkability & errands 2
- Parks & outdoors 3
- Shops & dining 2
- History 2
- Who it suits 2
Neighbourhoods
14Where is Alta Vista in Ottawa?
Alta Vista is a residential neighbourhood in east-end Ottawa, about 5.0 km in a straight line from Parliament Hill. Per the Alta Vista Community Association's boundaries, it lies south of Smyth Road, north of Walkley Road, east of the Rideau River (and Bank Street) and west of the greenspace under Haig Drive. The City of Ottawa places it in Ward 18 (Alta Vista).
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
What are homes like in Alta Vista?
Homes in Alta Vista are mostly single-detached houses, which made up 79.9% of dwellings in the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study). Semi-detached houses were 4.6%, row houses 0.8%, and apartments in buildings of under five storeys 5.7% and five or more storeys 6.2%.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
Do more people rent or own in Alta Vista?
More people own than rent in Alta Vista. In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), 78.6% of households were owners and 21.1% were renters.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
Which city ward is Alta Vista in?
Alta Vista is in Ward 18 (Alta Vista), per City of Ottawa ward data, October 2026. The councillor for the ward is Marty Carr.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca ottawa.ca
What is the nearest hospital to Alta Vista?
The nearest hospital to Alta Vista is the Ottawa Hospital – Riverside Campus, about 1.0 km away in a straight line. Wikipedia places it at Smyth and Riverside Drive.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca en.wikipedia.org
Is Alta Vista French-speaking?
Some residents are, but it is not mainly French-speaking. In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), 10.1% of Alta Vista residents had French as the language most spoken at home.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca maps.ottawa.ca
What is Alta Vista like?
Alta Vista is a highly residential neighbourhood, according to Wikipedia, with several schools, religious buildings of many faiths and a lot of greenspace. In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), 79.9% of dwellings were single-detached houses and tree canopy covered 33.9% of the area in 2024.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org ons-sqo.ca
Is there a library near Alta Vista?
Yes, the Ottawa Public Library Alta Vista Branch is about 1.2 km from the neighbourhood centre, in a straight line.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca
What is the age profile of Alta Vista?
In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), the median age in Alta Vista was 43.6. Children aged 0–14 were 16.3% of residents and seniors aged 65 and over were 19.5%.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
How many people live in Alta Vista?
The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study counted 7,765 people and 3,190 private dwellings in its Alta Vista area in the 2021 census. Wikipedia gives about 24,726 for the wider Alta Vista Community Association area in the same census.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca en.wikipedia.org
What sub-neighbourhoods are in Alta Vista?
Wikipedia lists ten smaller neighbourhoods in the wider Alta Vista area: Applewood Acres, Billings, Canterbury, Faircrest, Guildwood Estates, Heron Gate, Playfair Park, Rideau Park, Ridgemont and Urbandale Acres.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org
What are the boundaries of Alta Vista?
Per the Alta Vista Community Association, Alta Vista is south of Smyth Road, north of Walkley Road, east of the Rideau River (and Bank Street) and west of the greenspace under Haig Drive. The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study uses its own, narrower 'Alta Vista' area for census figures.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org ons-sqo.ca
Is there a community association in Alta Vista?
Yes, the Alta Vista Community Association (avca.ca) covers the area, and its boundaries are the ones Wikipedia uses for the wider Alta Vista area.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org avca.ca
Is there a community health centre near Alta Vista?
The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study reports that 24.8% of Alta Vista residents live within a 15-minute walk of a community health centre. The Ottawa Hospital Riverside Campus is about 1.0 km away in a straight line.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Schools
6What schools serve Alta Vista?
The City of Ottawa schools layer lists 26 schools within about 2.7 km (straight-line) of the Alta Vista centre: 11 OCDSB, 3 OCSB, 5 CECCE, 1 CÉPEO and 6 independent. Nearby elementary schools include Alta Vista Public School, St. Gemma School and Pleasant Park Public School. Families must confirm which school serves a given address with each board's school locator.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca en.wikipedia.org
Are there French-language schools in Alta Vista?
Yes, French-language schools are close to Alta Vista. Marie-Curie Public Elementary School (CÉPEO) is about 0.9 km from the neighbourhood centre, and the CECCE runs several French Catholic schools within about 2.7 km, all in a straight line.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Which high schools are near Alta Vista?
The closest high schools to Alta Vista are St. Patrick's High School (OCSB, about 1.0 km from the centre) and Ridgemont High School (OCDSB, about 1.2 km), straight-line. Hillcrest High School (OCDSB) and the French-language Franco-Cité Catholic Secondary School (CECCE) are each about 2.2 km away.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Which elementary schools are near Alta Vista?
The nearest elementary schools to the Alta Vista centre, in a straight line, are Alta Vista Public School (OCDSB, about 0.4 km), Marie-Curie Public Elementary School (CÉPEO, French, 0.9 km), St. Gemma School (OCSB, 1.2 km), Featherston Drive Public School (OCDSB, 1.3 km) and Pleasant Park Public School (OCDSB, 1.4 km).
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Are there Catholic schools near Alta Vista?
Yes. The OCSB runs St. Gemma School (about 1.2 km from the Alta Vista centre), St. Patrick's High School (about 1.0 km) and Prince Of Peace School (about 2.0 km), all straight-line. French-language Catholic schools run by the CECCE are also nearby.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Are there independent schools near Alta Vista?
Yes, the City of Ottawa schools layer lists six independent schools within about 2.7 km (straight-line) of the Alta Vista centre. They are Westboro Academy, Ahlul-Bayt Islamic School, Lycée Claudel, Blyth Academy The Glebe, The Element and OMS Montessori.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Commute & O-Train
6How far is Alta Vista from downtown Ottawa?
Alta Vista is about 5.0 km from downtown Ottawa, measured in a straight line to Parliament Hill. Real driving, cycling or transit distances will be longer and depend on the route.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org maps.ottawa.ca
Is Alta Vista on the O-Train?
No, there is no O-Train station inside Alta Vista. The nearest open O-Train stations are Walkley and Mooney's Bay on Line 2, each about 2.3 km away in a straight line. Transitway stations Pleasant Park and Riverside are much closer.
As of 2026-10 · wikidata.org wikidata.org
What is the nearest O-Train station to Alta Vista?
The nearest open O-Train stations to Alta Vista are Walkley station and Mooney's Bay station, both on Line 2 and each about 2.3 km away in a straight line. Both are outside the neighbourhood.
As of 2026-10 · wikidata.org wikidata.org
How do people in Alta Vista get to work?
In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), 75.6% of Alta Vista workers commuted by car, truck or van, 10.0% walked, 6.6% used public transit and 3.0% cycled. Another 53.0% worked from home.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
What Transitway stations are near Alta Vista?
Pleasant Park station (about 0.8 km) and Riverside station (about 1.1 km) are the nearest open Transitway stations to Alta Vista, in a straight line. Wikipedia lists Pleasant Park and Riverside as in the neighbourhood and Billings Bridge and Smyth just outside.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
How many people work from home in Alta Vista?
In the 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study), 53.0% of Alta Vista workers worked from home.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
Prices & market
3How much do homes cost in Alta Vista?
This guide has no neighbourhood-level sale price for Alta Vista. The 2021 census (via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study) put the median owner-estimated value of owned dwellings at $800,000. For comparison, OREB's citywide single-family benchmark price was $705,100 in September 2026, and the citywide average sale price for all homes was $685,640.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca oreb.ca
How is the Ottawa housing market doing right now?
In September 2026, OREB reported 1,010 homes sold citywide, down 6.6% from September 2025, with a median of 27 days on market (22 a year earlier). The single-family benchmark price was $705,100, nearly unchanged from September 2025. These are citywide figures, not Alta Vista figures.
As of 2026-10 · oreb.ca
How long do homes take to sell in Ottawa?
The median days on market across Ottawa was 27 in September 2026, up from 22 in September 2025, per OREB. Homes sold at 97.5% of list price on average, compared with 98.1% a year earlier.
As of 2026-10 · oreb.ca
Walkability & errands
2Is Alta Vista walkable?
The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study reports an average Walk Score of 37 for Alta Vista, and 10.0% of workers commuted on foot in the 2021 census. The nearest supermarkets are about 1.1 km away in a straight line, so many errands may involve a longer trip.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca openstreetmap.org
Is Alta Vista bikeable?
The Ottawa Neighbourhood Study reports an average Bike Score of 78 for Alta Vista. In the 2021 census, 3.0% of workers commuted by bike.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca
Parks & outdoors
3What parks and trails are in Alta Vista?
The City of Ottawa parks inventory lists 15 parks in the area used for this guide. The nearest to the centre are Cunningham Woods (about 0.2 km), Tess Dent Park (0.4 km), Applewood Park (0.6 km) and Alta Vista Park (0.7 km), all straight-line.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Where are the nearest rinks, pools and rec centres to Alta Vista?
The nearest City of Ottawa recreation facilities to Alta Vista are the Heron Rd Multi-Service Centre (about 1.2 km) and the Jim Durrell Recreation Centre (about 1.8 km), both in a straight line. This guide's data does not give pool details, so check the City's facility listings for pools and rinks.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
How much tree canopy does Alta Vista have?
Tree canopy covered 33.9% of the Alta Vista area in 2024, according to the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Shops & dining
2Where do people in Alta Vista buy groceries?
The nearest supermarkets in OpenStreetMap data include Farm Boy (about 1.1 km, straight-line) and Bulk Barn (about 1.2 km). Billings Bridge Plaza Shopping Centre and Elmvale Shopping Centre are the two shopping centres Wikipedia names in and around Alta Vista.
As of 2026-10 · openstreetmap.org openstreetmap.org
What shopping centres are near Alta Vista?
Wikipedia names two shopping centres in and around Alta Vista: Billings Bridge Plaza Shopping Centre at Bank Street and Riverside, and Elmvale Shopping Centre at St. Laurent and Smyth.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org
History
2What is the history of Alta Vista?
The first subdivision in the Alta Vista area, Rideau Park, was built in 1892 on land that was part of the Billings Estate and used by market gardeners. The Alta Vista name dates to at least 1939. The area was part of Gloucester Township until Ottawa annexed it in 1950, and it was suburbanized from the 1950s.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org
Why is Alta Vista called Alta Vista?
According to Wikipedia, both the Alta Vista neighbourhood and Alta Vista Drive are named for their relative height, as the neighbourhood is generally higher than most of the city. The name dates back to at least 1939.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org
Who it suits
2Is Alta Vista a good place to live?
Alta Vista is a mostly residential Ottawa neighbourhood where 79.9% of dwellings are single-detached houses and 78.6% of households own their home (2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study). It has 33.9% tree canopy (2024), 15 parks in the area data and schools from several boards nearby. Most workers commute by car (75.6%, 2021), and the average Walk Score is 37, so whether it fits depends on how you like to get around.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Is Alta Vista good for families?
Alta Vista has features families often look for: children aged 0–14 were 16.3% of residents in the 2021 census, the average household had 2.5 people, and 79.9% of dwellings were single-detached houses. Schools from four boards are within about 2.7 km (straight-line), and the area data lists 15 parks.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca maps.ottawa.ca