CONSTANCE BAY REAL ESTATE
Constance Bay vs Fitzroy Harbour: Comparing Ottawa's River Villages
Constance Bay vs Fitzroy Harbour comes down to beach village versus historic river hamlet. Constance Bay is the bigger, busier village, with about 2,300 residents, sandy beaches, Torbolton Forest and a full community centre. Fitzroy Harbour is a much smaller historic village of around 580 people, beside Fitzroy Provincial Park where the Carp River meets the Ottawa.
Both are in Ottawa’s West Carleton area, both sit on the Ottawa River, and both appeal to buyers who want water and space. This guide compares them side by side.
Constance Bay vs Fitzroy Harbour at a glance
| Feature | Constance Bay | Fitzroy Harbour |
|---|---|---|
| Population | About 2,300 (2016 Census) | About 580 (2021 estimate) |
| Setting | Peninsula between Constance Bay and Buckham’s Bay | Mouth of the Carp River on the Ottawa River |
| Signature feature | Sandy beaches and Torbolton Forest | Fitzroy Provincial Park and the Chats Falls area |
| Origins | Summer cottage community | Village founded in 1831 |
| Village amenities | General store, café, Legion, library branch, community centre | Community centre, churches, Catholic elementary school |
| Public elementary school | Stonecrest Public School, Woodlawn | Stonecrest Public School, Woodlawn |
| Typical buyer | Families, remote workers, waterfront buyers | Buyers wanting a quiet village and park access |
Population figures: Constance Bay and Fitzroy Harbour.
Lifestyle: beach village vs historic hamlet
Constance Bay is a beach village with year-round energy. Summer brings boaters to the bay, families to the beaches and walkers to Torbolton Forest, a 147-hectare protected greenspace. The community centre has ball diamonds, soccer fields, a skate park and an outdoor rink, and the Ottawa Public Library’s Constance Bay branch is in the same building. For a closer look, see things to do in Constance Bay.
Fitzroy Harbour is quieter and older. Charles Shirreff founded the village in 1831, and churches and older homes still give the core its historic feel. Its community centre, built in 1977, has a hall, softball diamonds, soccer fields and an outdoor rink. The big draw is Fitzroy Provincial Park, with a beach, more than 200 campsites and old bur oaks along the Carp River. In 2026 the park was open from May 8 to October 25.
If you want a village with its own beach culture and more going on, Constance Bay fits. If you want a smaller place where a provincial park is your backyard, Fitzroy Harbour fits.
Homes and housing stock
Constance Bay’s housing reflects its cottage roots. You’ll find original cottages, cottages converted to year-round homes, and newer custom builds, often on small lots under tall pines. Waterfront and river-view homes carry a premium, and condition varies widely from one house to the next. My guide to cottage conversions in Constance Bay explains what to look for.
Fitzroy Harbour has fewer homes and fewer listings in any given year. The village core includes older homes on established lots, and the surrounding countryside offers rural properties with more land. Because the market is so small, buyers often wait longer for the right home.
In both villages, homes rely on private wells and septic systems, and every purchase deserves a well water test and a septic inspection. See my guide to wells, septic and inspections.
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Water access and flood risk
Both villages have Ottawa River shoreline, and both have low-lying areas regulated as flood plain. In Constance Bay, the 2017 and 2019 floods hit low riverfront lots hardest; my guide to Constance Bay flooding covers the details. In Fitzroy Harbour, low areas near the river and the Snye also need a careful look.
The approach is the same in both: check the conservation authority’s flood plain mapping, call the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority about the specific address, and get a written insurance quote before you firm up an offer.
For boaters, Constance Bay offers the boat launch at Ritchie Street. Fitzroy Harbour sits near the Chats Falls generating station, now operated by Ontario Power Generation, so check local navigation conditions before heading out.
Schools
Public elementary students from both villages attend Stonecrest Public School in Woodlawn, which serves Constance Bay, Fitzroy Harbour, Dunrobin, Kinburn and Galetta. All students are bussed. Most go on to West Carleton Secondary School on Dunrobin Road.
Fitzroy Harbour also has St. Michael’s Catholic School in the village, which can be a plus for families choosing the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Always confirm boundaries for a specific address with the board.
Commute and getting around
Constance Bay is about 25 kilometres from Kanata, and most commuters head out via Dunrobin Road and March Road toward Kanata North. Fitzroy Harbour sits further west, closer to Arnprior. That makes it a longer drive to Kanata North and downtown for most commuters, but handier if you work toward Arnprior or the Ottawa Valley.
Neither village has regular OC Transpo service. Both were included in a 2023 fibre internet project for West Carleton, which matters for remote workers. Confirm service at the exact address. See commuting from Constance Bay for routes and drive times.
Which village is right for you?
Choose Constance Bay if you want:
- A village with beaches, trails and a busy community centre
- More homes to choose from, from cottages to new builds
- A shorter drive to Kanata North
- A library branch, Legion and general store in the village
Choose Fitzroy Harbour if you want:
- A small, quiet historic village
- Fitzroy Provincial Park on your doorstep
- A Catholic elementary school in the village
- Easier access toward Arnprior and the Ottawa Valley
If you’re still deciding, compare Constance Bay with its closer neighbour in my Dunrobin vs Constance Bay guide, or read my full guide to Fitzroy Harbour.
Price and value: how the two villages compare
Both villages offer more space and water access than a suburban lot at a similar price, but they get there differently.
In Constance Bay, prices depend heavily on the lot. Direct waterfront commands a premium, water-view homes sit in the middle, and interior lots under the pines are usually the most affordable way into the village. Condition varies widely, from original cottages to new custom builds, so two homes on the same street can be far apart in price.
In Fitzroy Harbour, there are far fewer sales, which makes pricing harder to pin down. Older village homes, rural properties with more land nearby and the occasional riverfront home all trade on their own merits. Buyers often need patience, and sellers benefit from careful pricing because comparable sales are scarce.
In both villages, a home’s condition, its well and septic systems and its flood history usually matter more to value than its size. For a closer look at how I price homes in this area, see my guide to Constance Bay home value.
Nature and recreation side by side
Both villages are built around the outdoors, with different strengths:
| Constance Bay | Fitzroy Harbour | |
|---|---|---|
| Forest and trails | Torbolton Forest, 147 hectares wrapped around the village | Trails and old bur oaks in Fitzroy Provincial Park |
| Beaches | Several public beaches and road allowances to the river | The beach in Fitzroy Provincial Park, open seasonally |
| Birding | One of Ottawa’s best hotspots, with almost 250 species recorded | River and park habitat near the mouth of the Carp River |
| Winter | Outdoor rink, snowshoeing in Torbolton Forest | Cross-country ski trails in Fitzroy Provincial Park |
| Camping | None in the village | Two campgrounds in the provincial park |
Questions to ask yourself before choosing
If you’re torn between the two, these questions usually settle it:
- How often will you drive to Kanata North or downtown, and how long a drive is acceptable?
- Do you want a busier village with more going on, or a smaller, quieter one?
- Is a Catholic elementary school in the village important to your family?
- Do you want to be on the water, near the water, or just close to a park?
- How much patience do you have for a small market with few listings?
There’s no wrong answer, only a better fit. I’m happy to show you homes in both villages on the same day so you can compare them in person.
How I help buyers compare the two villages
When buyers can’t decide between Constance Bay and Fitzroy Harbour, we usually plan a single day that covers both. We drive the commute from each village, walk the beaches and parks, look at a few homes in each, and talk through what each house will cost to own, not just to buy. My construction and electrical background helps buyers see past the listing photos in both markets, especially with older homes and cottage conversions.
If you already own in one village and are thinking of moving to the other, the same approach applies in reverse. We’ll price your current home carefully, plan the timing of both moves, and make sure the next home fits how you actually want to live.
Getting to know each village before you decide
The best way to choose is to spend real time in both. Visit Constance Bay on a summer weekend and again on a weekday evening, walk the Point and a loop of Torbolton Forest, and stop at the community centre. Then spend an afternoon in Fitzroy Harbour, walk through the village core and Fitzroy Provincial Park, and drive the route to wherever you work. Talk to a neighbour or two in each place about spring water levels, snow clearing and internet service. A few hours in each village will tell you more than any comparison table.
Deciding between Constance Bay and Fitzroy Harbour? Call or text Jason at (613) 601-9333 for a side-by-side tour of both villages.
A guide who knows both villages
I’m Jason Polonski, a REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty, with more than 15 years of experience helping buyers and sellers across Ottawa’s west end and rural communities, from Kanata and Carp to Dunrobin and the Ottawa River villages. My construction and electrical trades background helps buyers judge older village homes and cottage conversions honestly, and my Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University, with a double major in Marketing and Finance, helps us compare value across two very different markets. Learn more about me, read my Google reviews, or start with my full Constance Bay community guide.
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Constance Bay vs Fitzroy Harbour FAQs
Constance Bay is much larger, with about 2,300 residents in the 2016 Census. Fitzroy Harbour had an estimated 580 residents in 2021.
Constance Bay has several public beaches and river accesses in the village. Fitzroy Harbour’s main beach is in Fitzroy Provincial Park, which is open seasonally.
Yes. Homes in both rely on private wells and septic systems, so test the water and inspect the septic before buying.
Constance Bay is closer for most commuters, about 25 kilometres from Kanata. Fitzroy Harbour sits further west, closer to Arnprior.
Public elementary students from both attend Stonecrest Public School in Woodlawn. Fitzroy Harbour also has St. Michael’s Catholic School in the village.
Both have low-lying riverfront regulated as flood plain. Risk depends on the exact lot, so check with the conservation authority and get an insurance quote.
