Lowertown, close to downtown Ottawa
Lowertown is about 1.0 km (West) to 1.8 km (East) from Parliament Hill, measured in a straight line. In the 2021 census, most households in both areas rented, and apartments made up most of the housing. This guide sets out the facts on schools, parks, shops, transit and housing so you can judge the fit yourself.
Clarence from King Edward St. in Lowertown, Ottawa, 1938 (24880022312). Photo: Ross Dunn, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
lowertown.homes is an independent guide to Lowertown, Ottawa, covering 2 Ottawa Neighbourhood Study areas: Lowertown West and Lowertown East. It lists 15 schools, 24 parks and recreation places and 26 grocery stores, pharmacies and shopping centres, each with its source.
Updated · Facts on this page link to their sources
Two neighbourhoods, one guide
Lowertown West and Lowertown East share a ward but have different housing, age and commuting profiles.
For sale now
Each home has its own website; tap through for photos, rooms and the open house.
No homes listed right now
New homes appear here as soon as their websites go live. See recently sold.
Latest guides
Researched from public sources, with every source linked on the page.
Parks & trailsParks and recreation
Parks, rinks, pools and a library close to home.
Updated October 2026
SchoolsSchools
English and French public, Catholic and independent schools near Lowertown.
Updated October 2026
Shops & diningShops and errands
Grocery stores and the Downtown Rideau BIA.
Updated October 2026
TransitGetting around
O-Train, Transitway stations and commute habits.
Updated October 2026
MarketThe market, honestly
OREB's latest numbers for Ottawa, what they mean, and what they don't.
Updated October 2026
Lowertown at a glance
This guide covers Lowertown as two Ottawa Neighbourhood Study areas: Lowertown West and Lowertown East. Figures are reported for each area separately, because the two differ noticeably.
The market, honestly
Citywide Ottawa figures from OREB's monthly MLS® report. They describe the whole city, not one neighbourhood.
- $705,100Single-family benchmark price (MLS® HPI)Nearly unchanged from Sept 2025; down 3.0% from August
- 4.4Months of inventory, single-familyAll homes: 4.8, up from 4.1 a year earlier
- $685,640Average sale price, all homesDown 1.0% from Sept 2025
- 1,010Homes sold in SeptemberDown 6.6% from Sept 2025
Figures for September 2026, released October 5, 2026 · Source: oreb.ca
Quick answers
Short answers first; each links to the full answer and its sources.
Is Lowertown a good place to live?
That depends on what you want, and the data describe a particular kind of place. In the 2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, most Lowertown households rented (67.0% in the West, 85.8% in the East) and apartments made up most dwellings. Lowertown is also close to downtown and to the Rideau O-Train station.
As of 2026-10 · ons-sqo.ca ons-sqo.ca
Where is Lowertown in Ottawa?
Lowertown is an Ottawa neighbourhood close to downtown, in Ward 12 (Rideau-Vanier), per City of Ottawa ward data, October 2026. This guide covers it as two Ottawa Neighbourhood Study areas, Lowertown West and Lowertown East. Their centres are about 1.0 km and 1.8 km from Parliament Hill, measured in a straight line.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca en.wikipedia.org
How far is Lowertown from downtown Ottawa?
The centre of Lowertown West is about 1.0 km from Parliament Hill, and the centre of Lowertown East is about 1.8 km, both measured as the crow flies. Actual walking, cycling or transit distances will be longer and depend on the route.
As of 2026-10 · en.wikipedia.org
What schools serve Lowertown?
City of Ottawa data lists 15 schools in and around Lowertown, from CÉPEO (4), CECCE (3), OCDSB (3), OCSB (2) and independent schools (3). The nearest elementary schools include York Street Public School (OCDSB) and Sainte-Anne Catholic Elementary School (CECCE). Families must confirm which school serves an address with each board's school locator.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Are there French-language schools in Lowertown?
Yes. City of Ottawa data lists several French-language schools near Lowertown, including Sainte-Anne Catholic Elementary School (CECCE), Francojeunesse Public Elementary School (CÉPEO) and De la Salle Public High School (CÉPEO). Eligibility depends on each board's rules, so families should confirm with the board.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca
Which high schools are near Lowertown?
The nearest high school to Lowertown is De la Salle Public High School (CÉPEO, French-language), about 0.8 km from the West centre and 0.2 km from the East centre in a straight line. Lisgar Collegiate Institute (OCDSB, English-language) is next, at about 1.3 km from the West and 1.6 km from the East. Families must confirm catchments with each board.
As of 2026-10 · maps.ottawa.ca maps.ottawa.ca