Renting in
The Annex.
Toronto's intellectual heart since 1887. Three subway stations, the University of Toronto at its doorstep, Victorian houses on tree-lined streets, and a café culture that predates the smartphone. If you're looking to rent in The Annex, Toronto, this is where Toronto reads, thinks, and rents — often all at once.
The Annex is Toronto's most intellectually charged neighbourhood and has been since the 1880s. Bounded by Bloor Street to the south, Dupont to the north, Bathurst to the west and Avenue Road to the east, it's a dense, walkable enclave of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, independent bookstores, cafés with regulars who've been coming for decades, and the University of Toronto's St. George campus spilling across its eastern edge.
This is a neighbourhood where three subway stations sit within walking distance — Spadina, St. George, and Bathurst — and where Lines 1 and 2 intersect at St. George station. You don't need a car. Most residents don't own one. The Walk Score is 93. The Transit Score is 98.
The streets north of Bloor — Brunswick, Howland, Albany, Walmer — are among Toronto's most beautiful residential streets. Mature trees canopy the sidewalks. Victorian homes with turrets and wraparound porches line both sides. It's the kind of neighbourhood where professors, writers, musicians, and long-term tenants have lived side by side for generations.
| Unit Type | Avg. Monthly Rent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / Bachelor | $1,600–$1,900 | Basement units and older walk-ups |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,000–$2,500 | Victorian conversions and condos |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,600–$3,200 | High demand; house conversions dominate |
| 3 Bedroom | $3,200–$3,800 | Rare; upper floors of Victorian houses |
Source: Q4 2025 market data (Toronto, leased apartments). Ranges reflect Annex-area variation by unit type, age, condition, and inclusions. Many older Victorian conversions offer rent-controlled units — check before signing.
What Your Dollar Gets You
The Annex is not a budget neighbourhood, but it offers something most Toronto rentals can't: character. Your dollar here gets you hardwood floors, high ceilings, bay windows, and a neighbourhood where you can walk to three subway stations, the ROM, Koreatown, and a three-floor bookstore.
The typical Annex rental is a Victorian house conversion — a grand old house divided into two to four apartments. Expect charm over modern finishes: original woodwork, radiator heating, the occasional creaky stair. Newer condo units exist along Bloor and Dupont but lack the neighbourhood character.
Many older units are rent-controlled under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, which is a genuine advantage for long-term tenants in this neighbourhood.
Transit & Getting Around
The Annex is one of the best-connected neighbourhoods in Toronto. Three TTC subway stations serve the area: Spadina (Line 1 & 2), St. George (Line 1 & 2 interchange), and Bathurst (Line 2). St. George is a major interchange station where the Yonge–University line meets the Bloor–Danforth line, putting essentially all of Toronto within reach.
The Bloor streetcar runs east-west along Bloor as an alternative to the subway, and the Spadina streetcar heads south through Chinatown to the waterfront. The Bloor Bike Lane is a protected cycling corridor right through the neighbourhood.
Walk Score: 93. Transit Score: 98. Most residents walk to groceries, restaurants, and daily errands. The 25% who walk or bike to work aren't making a lifestyle statement — it's just faster than driving.
What This Means for Renters
The Annex income profile is unusually polarized. The 32% under $50K reflects the large student population — graduate students, TAs, and part-time workers living near campus. Meanwhile, the 36% earning over $100K represents the established professionals, professors, and long-term homeowners who anchor the neighbourhood.
The median household income sits around $62,000 — pulled down significantly by the student population. Don't mistake this for a low-income neighbourhood. The Annex is expensive to rent in, but students and academics accept the cost for proximity to U of T and downtown.
For landlords, applications here tend to come from students with co-signers, young professionals, and academics. A complete rental application with proof of income or a guarantor letter will move you to the top of the pile.
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The Annex is one of Toronto's best neighbourhoods for renters — especially students, academics, and transit-first professionals. With three subway stations, a Walk Score of 93, and the University of Toronto at its doorstep, it's walkable, bikeable, and deeply connected to downtown. The trade-off is higher rents and older housing stock — many rentals are Victorian house conversions with character but limited modern finishes.
Based on Q4 2025 data, expect to pay $2,000–$2,500 for a one-bedroom and $2,600–$3,200 for a two-bedroom in The Annex. Studios range from $1,600–$1,900, while three-bedrooms run $3,200–$3,800. Prices vary significantly based on unit condition, building age, and whether the unit is in a Victorian conversion or a newer condo.
The Annex is defined by its Victorian and Edwardian houses, many of which have been converted into multi-unit apartments. Expect a mix of Victorian house conversions (the classic Annex rental), basement apartments, and some newer condo units along Bloor and Dupont. Purpose-built apartment towers are limited compared to other Toronto neighbourhoods. The character of these conversions — high ceilings, hardwood floors, bay windows — is a big part of the appeal.
Bloor Street is busy — it's a major commercial and transit corridor with restaurants, bars, and foot traffic well into the night. However, the residential side streets north of Bloor are remarkably quiet and tree-lined. If noise is a concern, look for units on streets like Howland, Brunswick, or Albany Avenue rather than directly on Bloor. The neighbourhood is not a party zone — it skews intellectual and residential, not nightlife-oriented.
Both. The Annex has a genuine mix — roughly 30% of residents are students due to U of T proximity, but 35% hold graduate degrees, and you'll find professors, writers, professionals, and long-term residents alongside the student population. It's not a party neighbourhood; it's an intellectual one. The vibe skews more bookstore than beer pong.
Many Annex rentals are subject to Ontario rent control. Because the neighbourhood is dominated by Victorian-era houses converted to apartments well before 2018, a significant portion of units qualify for rent control under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act (first occupied before November 15, 2018). Newer condo units are typically exempt. This is one of the real advantages of renting in The Annex — if you find a rent-controlled unit, your annual increases are capped. Always confirm with your landlord before signing. Read our full Ontario Rent Control Guide →