Last updated: September 2026
Nepean, Ontario is a large, established part of the City of Ottawa that sits between the inner urban core and Kanata, stretching from the Ottawa River at Crystal Beach south through Centrepointe, Craig Henry and Tanglewood toward the Greenbelt. It was an independent city until 2001, and today it is home to about 186,600 people (2021 Census, including Barrhaven), most of them in neighbourhoods built between the 1950s and the 1980s.
For buyers, Nepean offers what newer suburbs can’t: mature trees, larger lots in many pockets, a central location with a short drive downtown, and some of Ottawa’s best access to Algonquin College, the Queensway Carleton Hospital and the new O-Train stations on Baseline and Carling. This guide explains how Nepean is laid out, what each part of it is like, and which of our detailed neighbourhood guides to read next.
Where Is Nepean, and Is It Part of Ottawa?
Yes. Nepean is part of the City of Ottawa. It began as Nepean Township (originally “Township D”) in 1792, named after Sir Evan Nepean, a British Under-Secretary of State. It became a city on November 24, 1978, and was amalgamated into the new City of Ottawa on January 1, 2001, along with Kanata, Gloucester and the other municipalities of the former region.
The name stuck. Residents, Canada Post addresses and real estate listings still use “Nepean,” even though property taxes, garbage collection and city services all come from the City of Ottawa. When you search MLS® listings, Nepean homes appear under neighbourhood codes in the 7000 series rather than under a single “Nepean” label.
The boundaries buyers usually mean
Geographically, the former City of Nepean ran from the Ottawa River in the north to the Jock River in the south. In everyday real estate conversations, though, “Nepean” usually means the older, established area inside and around the Greenbelt: roughly Carling Avenue and the river to the north, Merivale Road and Fisher Avenue to the east, the Greenbelt to the south and west, and Highway 416 and Moodie Drive on the western edge.
Where Barrhaven fits
Barrhaven was part of the City of Nepean, and some people still call it “Nepean.” In practice it is its own market, with newer housing, its own amenities and its own MLS® codes. If Barrhaven is on your list, read our full Barrhaven neighbourhood guide. The Nepean pages on this site focus on the established neighbourhoods north of the Greenbelt, and our Nepean vs Barrhaven comparison explains how the two differ for buyers.
Nepean Neighbourhoods at a Glance
Nepean is not one neighbourhood. It is a patchwork of 20-plus communities, each built by a particular developer in a particular decade, and that history still shapes what you get for your money. Here’s how the main areas break down.
West Nepean: Bells Corners and Crystal Beach
Bells Corners is Nepean’s oldest village and sits like an island inside the Greenbelt along Robertson Road. It includes Lynwood Village, one of Ottawa’s first large tract-housing subdivisions (Bill Teron bungalows from 1958 to 1966), plus Arbeatha Park and Westcliffe Estates. North of the Queensway, Crystal Beach and Lakeview are 1960s Minto neighbourhoods close to the Ottawa River, Andrew Haydon Park and the Department of National Defence’s Carling Campus.
Central Nepean: Centrepointe, Craig Henry, Briargreen and Leslie Park
Centrepointe was planned from 1984 as Nepean’s “downtown,” around Ben Franklin Place, the Meridian Centrepointe Theatre and the Centrepointe library branch. South of the rail line, Craig Henry is a 1970s family neighbourhood with parks and a strong community association. To the west, Briargreen and Leslie Park are 1960s–70s pockets with some of the oldest trees in the area.
Northwest Nepean: Qualicum and Graham Park
Qualicum and Graham Park sit between Baseline Road and the Queensway. Many homes are on 100-by-100-foot lots, and some of the city’s best-known 1960s custom homes line Qualicum Street.
South and Southwest Nepean
Arlington Woods and Trend Village were built by Campeau from the 1960s to the 1980s and border the Bruce Pit off-leash area. Tanglewood, Manordale and Woodvale mix late-1950s bungalows with 1970s and 1980s townhomes along Woodroffe and Hunt Club.
East Nepean: Parkwood Hills to the Greenbelt
Parkwood Hills, Borden Farm and Fisher Glen are Minto-built neighbourhoods from 1959 onward near Merivale Road and Meadowlands Drive. Further south, off West Hunt Club Road, Pineglen, Grenfell Glen, Merivale Gardens and Country Place are quiet enclaves next to the Greenbelt: the first three are 1950s large-lot pockets mostly on private wells and septic, while Country Place is a 1970s neighbourhood on city services.
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What Kind of Homes Are in Nepean?
Most of Nepean was built in three waves, and each wave left a distinct type of house behind. Knowing the era of a home tells you a lot about its layout, its likely upgrades and what to inspect.
1950s and 1960s: bungalows and early split-levels
Lynwood Village, Manordale, Arbeatha Park, Parkwood Hills and the early parts of Crystal Beach are full of modest bungalows and early split-levels, many in the 1,000 to 1,300 square foot range, on generous lots. They appeal to first-time buyers, downsizers and people who want to renovate or add on. Original electrical panels, galvanized plumbing and older windows are common, so a thorough inspection matters. Our guide to buying a 1960s–1980s home in Nepean covers what to check.
1970s: backsplits, side-splits and two-storey family homes
Craig Henry, Briargreen, Trend Village and Country Place are known for backsplits, side-splits and centre-hall two-storeys, plus a lot of townhouse rows. These homes often have more bedrooms and family rooms at grade, but they are now 50 years old, so roofs, furnaces, windows and aluminum branch wiring (used in some homes built in the late 1960s and 1970s) are worth checking. See our guide to renovating a backsplit or bungalow in Nepean.
1980s onward: Centrepointe, Arlington Woods and infill
Centrepointe, the Estates of Arlington Woods, Hillsdale and the Terrace Drive area of Westcliffe added larger executive detached homes and townhomes. Since the 2000s, infill has become a big part of the story, especially in City View and along transit corridors, with new towers near Baseline Station and Centrepointe Drive. If you’re after lower-maintenance living, our page on Nepean condos and townhomes explains the options.
How Nepean prices compare
Because the housing is older and varied, prices in Nepean span a wide range, from condo apartments to executive homes on large lots. For current price trends, the Ottawa Real Estate Board publishes monthly board-wide figures, and our Ottawa market update summarizes them. For a specific street, the most reliable guide is recent comparable sales, which Jason can pull for you.
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Living in Nepean: Schools, Transit and Amenities
Schools
Nepean is served by all four Ottawa school boards: the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Ottawa Catholic School Board, and the French-language CEPEO and CECCE. Both English boards have their head offices in Nepean. Secondary schools in the area include Sir Robert Borden, Bell and Merivale high schools, St. Paul and St. Pius X, and Collège catholique Franco-Ouest. Our Nepean schools guide explains how catchments work.
Transit and commuting
Nepean is one of the best-connected parts of Ottawa’s west end. Highway 417 runs through the north, Highway 416 along the west, and Baseline, Hunt Club, Merivale and Woodroffe are the main arteries. The O-Train West Extension adds stations at Baseline (Algonquin College), Iris, Queensview, Pinecrest, Bayshore and Moodie; check OC Transpo for the current opening timeline. Our guide to commuting from Nepean covers drive times and transit options.
Health care, college and shopping
The Queensway Carleton Hospital is on Baseline Road in Nepean, and Algonquin College‘s main campus is at Woodroffe and Baseline. Merivale Road is Nepean’s main retail strip, with College Square, Bayshore Shopping Centre and the Robertson Road strip in Bells Corners covering the rest.
Parks, trails and recreation
The NCC Greenbelt wraps around western and southern Nepean, including Stony Swamp and the Bruce Pit. The Nepean Sportsplex, Andrew Haydon Park, the Nepean Sailing Club and dozens of neighbourhood pools and rinks round out the recreation. For local history, the Nepean Museum on Rowley Avenue is worth a visit.
Who Nepean Suits Best
Nepean works for a wider range of buyers than most Ottawa areas because its housing stock is so varied. Here’s who tends to do well here.
- Move-up families who want a detached home with a yard, close to good schools and a short drive downtown, without going to the city’s outer edge.
- First-time buyers who are willing to take on an older townhouse or bungalow in exchange for a central location and a larger lot.
- Downsizers who want a bungalow, a condo or a townhome with transit, a hospital and shopping nearby. Our guide to downsizing in Nepean goes into the options.
- Renovators and investors who see value in solid 1960s and 1970s homes on good lots, and in the secondary suite rules the City has loosened in recent years.
- Federal, college and hospital employees working at the Carling Campus, Algonquin College, the Queensway Carleton or the Colonnade business park.
How Nepean compares with nearby areas
If you’re weighing Nepean against newer suburbs, read Nepean vs Kanata and Nepean vs Barrhaven. If you’re weighing it against a more urban lifestyle, Nepean vs Westboro covers the tradeoffs.
Buying or Selling a Home in Nepean
Buying in Nepean rewards buyers who look closely. Two houses on the same street can differ by decades of upgrades, so the list price only tells part of the story. Here’s what matters most.
For buyers
Get pre-approved first, then shortlist neighbourhoods by commute and school catchment before looking at listings. On older homes, budget for a thorough inspection and ask what has been updated: roof, windows, furnace, electrical panel and plumbing. Our Nepean homes for sale page shows current listings across all Nepean neighbourhoods.
For sellers
Nepean buyers compare your home against both renovated homes and original-condition homes nearby, so pricing and preparation matter. A pre-listing inspection can take surprises off the table. Find out what your home is likely worth with our home valuation guide, or see how Jason works with sellers on the Nepean REALTOR® page.
Buying and selling at the same time
Many Nepean owners are moving up, moving closer to family or downsizing, and that usually means selling and buying at once. The biggest risk is timing, not price. Our guide to selling and buying a home and our page on bridge financing explain how to avoid carrying two homes.
Nepean Guides on This Site
Homes and agent
Neighbourhoods
- Centrepointe
- Bells Corners
- Craig Henry
- Crystal Beach and Lakeview
- Qualicum and Graham Park
- Briargreen and Leslie Park
- Arlington Woods and Trend Village
- Tanglewood, Manordale and Woodvale
- Parkwood Hills, Borden Farm and Fisher Glen
- Pineglen, Country Place and Merivale Gardens
Comparisons
Buyer and seller guides
How Jason Polonski Helps Nepean Buyers and Sellers
Jason Polonski is a REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty with more than 15 years of experience in Ottawa’s west end, a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Marketing and Finance from Concordia University, and a background in the construction and electrical trades. That trades experience matters in Nepean, where most homes are 40 to 70 years old: on showings, Jason points out panel, wiring, foundation and roofline issues and tells you which ones belong in your conditions.
He works as a move coordinator, lining up your sale and purchase so you don’t carry two homes, and offers a 1% Listing Commission, charged on the final sold price, on the home you sell. His recognition includes the Chairman’s Club (2025, 2021) and Best in Ottawa Top REALTOR® seven years running. Learn more about Jason or read his reviews on Google.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Nepean was an independent city from 1978 until January 1, 2001, when it was amalgamated into the new City of Ottawa. The name is still used in addresses and real estate listings, but all municipal services and property taxes come from the City of Ottawa.
The main established neighbourhoods include Centrepointe, Bells Corners (Lynwood Village, Arbeatha Park and Westcliffe Estates), Craig Henry, Crystal Beach and Lakeview, Qualicum and Graham Park, Briargreen, Leslie Park, Arlington Woods, Trend Village, Tanglewood, Manordale, Parkwood Hills, Borden Farm, City View, Pineglen, Country Place and Merivale Gardens.
For many buyers, yes. Nepean offers mature neighbourhoods, a central west-end location, the Queensway Carleton Hospital, Algonquin College, Greenbelt trails and new O-Train stations. The tradeoff is older housing, so condition varies a lot from home to home.
Most of Nepean is about 10 to 20 minutes’ drive from downtown Ottawa outside rush hour, depending on the neighbourhood. Centrepointe and City View are closest; Bells Corners is furthest west.
Nepean has 1950s and 1960s bungalows, 1970s backsplits and side-splits, two-storey family homes, townhouses, low-rise and high-rise condos, and newer infill. Most homes were built between the 1950s and the 1980s.
Established Nepean neighbourhoods mostly use postal codes beginning with K2B, K2E, K2G and K2H, among others; Barrhaven uses K2J. Postal codes don’t match neighbourhood or school boundaries exactly, so always confirm the catchment for a specific address.
