Nepean, Ottawa: 43 questions about living and buying here, answered | nepean.homes

Question 1

Is Nepean a good place to live?

Accepted Answer

Nepean suits people who want a suburban west-end Ottawa setting with many parks, four school boards and a range of housing from detached homes to apartments. It is mostly car-oriented: in the 2021 census, 62.2% to 82.6% of workers in the Nepean neighbourhoods commuted by car, and Walk Score averages run from 21 to 39.

Question 2

Where is Nepean in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Nepean is an area in the west end of Ottawa, Ontario, west of the city's inner core. It was an independent city until it amalgamated with the Regional Municipality of Ottawa–Carleton in 2001 to form the new City of Ottawa, and the name is still used for the area.

Question 3

How far is Nepean from downtown Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Nepean's neighbourhoods are 6.5 km to 15.8 km from Parliament Hill in a straight line, as the crow flies. Carleton Heights is closest at 6.5 km and Bells Corners West is farthest at 15.8 km.

Question 4

What schools serve Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Nepean is served by the OCDSB and the English-language Catholic board (OCSB), the French boards CÉPEO and CECCE, and independent schools. City of Ottawa data lists 70 schools in and around the guide area: 25 OCDSB, 17 OCSB, 4 CECCE, 4 CÉPEO and 20 independent.

Question 5

Are there French-language schools in Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Nepean has French-language schools run by CÉPEO (public) and CECCE (Catholic), four of each in City of Ottawa data. Examples include Terre-des-Jeunes Catholic Elementary School, Mamawi Public Elementary School and Catholic College Franco-Ouest.

Question 6

Which high schools are near Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Secondary schools in and around Nepean include Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School, Sir Robert Borden High School, Bell High School and Merivale High School (OCDSB), and St. Paul High School and St. Pius X (OCSB). French-language options include Catholic College Franco-Ouest (CECCE) and Omer-Deslauriers Public High School (CÉPEO).

Question 7

What are homes like in Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Homes in Nepean range from single-detached houses and row houses to high-rise apartments, depending on the neighbourhood. In the 2021 census, single-detached houses were 58.9% of dwellings in City view but only 1.1% in Parkwood Hills, where 59.1% of dwellings were in buildings of five or more storeys.

Question 8

How much do homes cost in Nepean?

Accepted Answer

There is no Nepean-only price in this guide. Citywide for Ottawa in September 2026, OREB reported a single-family benchmark price of $705,100 and an average sale price for all homes of $685,640. In the 2021 census, owner-estimated median dwelling values in the twelve Nepean neighbourhoods ranged from $250,000 to $750,000.

Question 9

Is Nepean on the O-Train?

Accepted Answer

The twelve Nepean neighbourhoods in this guide do not contain an O-Train station; the nearest is Mooney's Bay, about 2.0 km in a straight line from Carleton Heights. Other neighbourhoods are 3.6 km to 12.4 km from the nearest station, and Transitway stations such as Baseline, Iris and Bayshore are closer.

Question 10

What is the nearest O-Train station to Nepean?

Accepted Answer

The nearest O-Train station to any Nepean neighbourhood in this guide is Mooney's Bay (Line 2), about 2.0 km in a straight line from Carleton Heights. Carleton station (Line 2) is 2.4 km from Carleton Heights and 3.8 km from Parkwood Hills.

Question 11

How do people in Nepean get to work?

Accepted Answer

Most workers in Nepean commute by car. In the 2021 census, via the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, car, truck or van commuting ranged from 62.2% in Parkwood Hills to 82.6% in Bells Corners East, and public transit from 9.4% to 28.3% (Bells Corners East and City view).

Question 12

What parks and trails are in Nepean?

Accepted Answer

The City of Ottawa parks inventory lists 45 parks in and around the Nepean neighbourhoods in this guide. The largest include Recreational Trail segments in hydro corridors, Centrepointe Park, Ben Franklin Park East and West, Trend-Arlington Park, Craig Henry Park and Tallwood Woods.

Question 13

Where do people in Nepean buy groceries?

Accepted Answer

Nepean has supermarkets including Loblaws, Metro, Walmart Supercentre, FreshCo, No Frills, Food Basics, Farm Boy and Bulk Barn, plus independent grocers. Most neighbourhoods have at least one supermarket within about 1 to 3 km in a straight line.

Question 14

Is Nepean walkable?

Accepted Answer

Nepean is mostly car-oriented. Walk Score neighbourhood averages from the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study run from 21 in Craig Henry – Manordale to 39 in Parkwood Hills, while Bike Score averages run from 54 to 79.

Question 15

Is Nepean good for families?

Accepted Answer

Nepean has many schools, parks and rec facilities, and family-sized housing in several neighbourhoods. In the 2021 census, children aged 0 to 14 were 11.7% to 22.7% of residents, and average household size ranged from 2.2 to 2.8.

Question 16

Do more people rent or own in Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Owners are the majority in nine of the twelve Nepean neighbourhoods in this guide. In the 2021 census, renter households ranged from 15.3% in Bells Corners East to 87.7% in Parkwood Hills.

Question 17

Which city ward is Nepean in?

Accepted Answer

Nepean spans three Ottawa wards, per City of Ottawa ward data, October 2026. Most of the neighbourhoods in this guide are in Ward 8 (College), Craig Henry, Trend-Arlington and Parkwood Hills are in Ward 9 (Knoxdale-Merivale), and Carleton Heights is in Ward 16 (River).

Question 18

What is the nearest hospital to Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Queensway-Carleton Hospital is the nearest hospital for most Nepean neighbourhoods, 0.8 km in a straight line from Qualicum and 5.3 km from Crestview. Royal Ottawa Hospital is nearest for Parkwood Hills, City view and Braemar Park, and Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus for Carleton Heights.

Question 19

What is the history of Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Nepean Township, originally Township D, was established in 1792 and was incorporated as a city on November 24, 1978. It amalgamated into the new City of Ottawa in 2001, and the name continues in common use for the area.

Question 20

Is Nepean French-speaking?

Accepted Answer

Nepean is mainly English-speaking at home, though French-language services and schools exist. In the 2021 census, French was the language most spoken at home for 2.0% (Bells Corners East) to 6.4% (Parkwood Hills) of residents in the twelve neighbourhoods.

Question 21

What is Centrepointe like?

Accepted Answer

Centrepointe is a Nepean community of 9,260 residents (2021 census) built around Ben Franklin Place, the former Nepean city hall. In 2021, 70.2% of households owned their home and the median owner-estimated dwelling value was $700,000.

Question 22

What is Craig Henry – Manordale like?

Accepted Answer

Craig Henry – Manordale is a Nepean area with 8,760 residents (2021 census) and a mix of detached houses (49.7% of dwellings) and row houses (31.1%). Children aged 0 to 14 were 17.6% of residents in 2021, and the median owner-estimated dwelling value was $600,000.

Question 23

What is Crestview – Tanglewood like?

Accepted Answer

Crestview – Tanglewood is a Nepean area of 8,305 residents (2021 census) where, per Wikipedia, most homes are 1950s and early 1960s bungalows with townhouses added later. In 2021, 43.5% of dwellings were single-detached and the median owner-estimated dwelling value was $500,000.

Question 24

What is Qualicum – Redwood like?

Accepted Answer

Qualicum – Redwood is a Nepean area of 4,470 residents (2021 census), developed in the 1960s, with 44.9% single-detached homes and 39.1% row houses. Queensway-Carleton Hospital and Bayshore Transitway station are each about 0.8 km away in a straight line.

Question 25

What is Trend-Arlington like?

Accepted Answer

Trend-Arlington is a Nepean area of 4,695 residents (2021 census) with the highest tree canopy of the twelve areas, 34.5% in 2024. In 2021, 77.5% of households owned their home and the median age was 45.2.

Question 26

What is Leslie Park – Bruce Farm like?

Accepted Answer

Leslie Park – Bruce Farm is a smaller Nepean area of 3,185 residents (2021 census), where half of dwellings (50.2%) are row houses and 23.2% are in apartment buildings of five or more storeys. The median owner-estimated dwelling value was $436,000 in 2021.

Question 27

What is Bells Corners East like?

Accepted Answer

Bells Corners East is a Nepean area of 5,220 residents (2021 census) with the highest share of owner households (84.3%) and the highest median age (47.6) of the twelve areas. Ottawa Public Library Centennial Branch is 0.4 km away in a straight line.

Question 28

What is Bells Corners West like?

Accepted Answer

Bells Corners West is a Nepean area of 4,330 residents (2021 census) where 62.9% of dwellings are row houses, the highest share of the twelve areas. The median owner-estimated dwelling value was $400,000 in 2021.

Question 29

What is Parkwood Hills like?

Accepted Answer

Parkwood Hills is a Nepean area of 5,905 residents (2021 census) with the youngest median age (28.4) and the highest renter share (87.7%) of the twelve areas. In 2021, 59.1% of dwellings were in apartment buildings of five or more storeys.

Question 30

What is City view like?

Accepted Answer

City view is an older Nepean neighbourhood of 6,645 residents (2021 census), with a grid street pattern and homes mostly built from the 1930s to the 1960s. Renters were 50.3% and owners 50.1% of households in 2021, and the median owner-estimated dwelling value was $750,000.

Question 31

What is Braemar Park – Bel Air Heights – Copeland Park like?

Accepted Answer

Braemar Park – Bel Air Heights – Copeland Park is a Nepean area of 9,085 residents (2021 census) with 49.5% single-detached homes and 32.7% of dwellings in apartment buildings of five or more storeys. The median owner-estimated dwelling value was $600,000 in 2021.

Question 32

What is Carleton Heights – Courtland Park like?

Accepted Answer

Carleton Heights – Courtland Park is a Nepean area of 8,250 residents (2021 census), the closest of the twelve to downtown (6.5 km) and to an O-Train station (Mooney's Bay, 2.0 km), both straight-line. In 2021, renters were 50.4% of households and 38.7% of dwellings were in buildings of five or more storeys.

Question 33

What rec centres and arenas are in Nepean?

Accepted Answer

City of Ottawa data lists eight rec centres and arenas in and around Nepean, including Nepean Sportsplex, Howard Darwin Centennial Arena, Bell Centennial Arena, Tanglewood Park Community Centre, Fisher Heights Community Place, Carleton Heights CC, J. A. Dulude Arena and Crestview Pavilion.

Question 34

Are there public libraries in Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Yes. City of Ottawa data lists two Ottawa Public Library branches in the guide area, the Centennial Branch near Bells Corners and the Emerald Plaza Branch near Parkwood Hills. A third branch is at Ben Franklin Place in Centrepointe, per Wikipedia.

Question 35

How much tree canopy does Nepean have?

Accepted Answer

Tree canopy coverage in 2024 ranged from 12.5% in Parkwood Hills to 34.5% in Trend-Arlington across the twelve Nepean neighbourhoods, per the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study. Bells Corners East (32.5%) was also above 30%.

Question 36

What is the age profile of Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Median age in the twelve Nepean neighbourhoods ranged from 28.4 in Parkwood Hills to 47.6 in Bells Corners East in the 2021 census. Children aged 0 to 14 were 11.7% (Carleton Heights) to 22.7% (Parkwood Hills) of residents, and seniors 65 and over were 8.4% (Parkwood Hills) to 22.8% (Trend-Arlington).

Question 37

How many people live in Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Wikipedia gives Nepean's population as about 186,593 in the 2021 census. Before amalgamation in 2001, the City of Nepean had 124,878 residents.

Question 38

Why is Nepean called Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Nepean was named after Sir Evan Nepean, British Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department from 1782 to 1791. The area was first established as Nepean Township, originally known as Township D, in 1792.

Question 39

When did Nepean amalgamate with Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Nepean amalgamated with the Regional Municipality of Ottawa–Carleton in 2001 to form the new City of Ottawa. Before then, Nepean had been an independent city, incorporated on November 24, 1978.

Question 40

What is the Ottawa housing market like right now?

Accepted Answer

In September 2026, OREB reported 1,010 homes sold citywide in Ottawa, down 6.6% from September 2025, with a median of 27 days on market and a sale-to-list price ratio of 97.5%. Active listings were 4,813, up 7.9% from a year earlier.

Question 41

Do many people work from home in Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In the 2021 census, 20.0% (Parkwood Hills) to 46.9% (Trend-Arlington) of workers in the twelve Nepean neighbourhoods worked from home. The census was taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, so it may not reflect current patterns.

Question 42

Which Nepean neighbourhoods have the most detached homes?

Accepted Answer

In the 2021 census, single-detached houses were the largest share of dwellings in City view (58.9%), Bells Corners East (54.6%) and Craig Henry – Manordale (49.7%). They were the smallest share in Parkwood Hills (1.1%), Bells Corners West (18.4%) and Leslie Park (21.4%).

Question 43

Are there Transitway stations in Nepean?

Accepted Answer

Yes. City of Ottawa data lists open Transitway stations near Nepean including Baseline, Iris, Queensway South, Queensway North, Bayshore and Eagleson. Baseline station is 1.0 km in a straight line from Centrepointe and 1.1 km from City view.

Living in the Nepean area: questions, answered

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