Real Estate West Island

The West Island is actually a term used to describe several cities, towns, and boroughs on the western side of the island of Montreal. It includes the municipalities of Baie-D’Urfé, Beaconsfield, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Dorval, Kirkland, Pointe-Claire, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Senneville, as well as the two Montreal boroughs of L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève and Pierrefonds-Roxboro. So, the West Island real estate market consists of houses for sale in Montreal, in these areas.

When you look at real estate in Montreal in these areas, you will see some differences in the styles of homes but, primarily, they’re residential communities. Places like Beaconsfield and Senneville are very affluent areas with cottages, summer homes, and mansions, especially Senneville, the wealthiest town in the West Island, where there is a lot of luxury real estate. Baie-D’Urfé has more of a rural feel with large houses on very big lots and not much in terms of commercial real estate.

Areas like Dorval and Kirkland are mostly single-family homes with some townhouses, low-rise apartment buildings, and condos. Again, primarily residential except for a commercial core and industrial park in Kirkland.

If you’re looking for real estate in Montreal, the West Island market covers a lot of areas and, depending on what you’re looking for, it can offer some beautiful, spacious options, especially for families.

Here are some statistics regarding the West Island real estate market (Centris)

Beaconsfield 

Dorval 

Kirkland 

Pointe-Claire 

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue 

Baie-d’Urfé 

Dollard-Des Ormeaux 

*Source: QPAREB by the Centris system

Reasons to Live in West Island

Lifestyle, Culture, and Entertainment

The West Island is nestled between Lac Saint-Louis, southwest of the island and Lac des Deux-Montagnes, northwest of the island, which allows for many large, beautiful, picturesque green spaces, nature parks, and bike trails that border the water. If you’re a nature enthusiast, the West Island does not disappoint!

With plenty of outdoor spaces to enjoy activities all year long, from summer hikes to winter cross-country skiing, and everything in between. It’s home to Cap-Saint-Jacques Nature Park, the largest park in Montreal, located in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, the Morgan Arboretum, a 610-acre protected forest, and the Ecomuseum Zoo, a zoological park in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.

The area is full of Old-World character, with many historical sites and 18^th-century buildings along the Chemin du Bord-du-Lac as well as the remnants of Fort Senneville, a castle-like fort built in 1671. This character and charm can be seen in the museums, cafes, boutiques, and restaurants throughout the area. Sitting on a terrace along the shores of Lac Saint-Louis feels like a totally different world. It’s not difficult to see why properties in this area are sought after real estate in Montreal.

There are community cultural centers such as Centennial Hall in Beaconsfield and Stewart Hall in Pointe-Claire. Stewart Hall is also an art gallery and both venues feature performances. There is also The Museum of Local History and Heritage, located on Lakeshore Drive.

If access to great shopping is a factor when you’re looking for houses for sale in Montreal, the West Island has the Fairview Pointe-Claire mall, one of the biggest shopping centers on the island of Montreal and Galeries des Sources mall on Des Sources Blvd.

When it comes to real estate in Montreal, West Island real estate offers all the perks of cosmopolitan life with the added residential, rural charm that many families are looking for.

Education

The Centre de Services Scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys is the French school board in the West Island with roughly 22 elementary schools, 3 secondary schools, and 1 professional development center. The Lester B. Pearson School Board is the English school board with 21 elementary schools, 7 secondary schools, and 3 vocational or adult education centers in the area. For post-secondary education, there is John Abbott College, Cégep Gérald-Godin, and the Macdonald Campus of McGill University.

Quick Demographics

Population

According to the data from the 2016 Canadian Census of the municipalities and boroughs that make up the West Island, the total population is 232,675 down from 235,738 in 2011.

 Age, Income, and Marital Status

The average age of the population is 42.4, with the largest group being the 15-64 age group. The average income is $64,924. When it comes to marital status, 15% fall under the never married category, 27% are married, 3% are divorced, and less than 1% are separated. These numbers are based on the data from the municipalities of the West Island.

Spoken Language

The West Island is predominantly English, with roughly 48% speaking English, 23% speaking French, 27% speaking other languages, and a little over 1% speaking both English and French.