Best Neighbourhoods in Coquitlam
Coquitlam Neighbourhood Condo, Townhouse and Single-Family Guide
Written By: Mariko Baerg, REALTOR of Bridgewell Real Estate Group
If you’re looking for a realtor to help you purchase a property, call me today!
If you’re looking for information on the best neighbourhoods in Coquitlam, then you’ve come to the right place.
Because not every subarea in Coquitlam has condos, townhouses, and single family homes, we’ve separated the best neighbourhoods in Coquitlam based on the style of home you’re looking for.
This blog goes through our opinion of the best Coquitlam neighbourhooods based on inventory, transit, schools, amenities nearby, outdoor space, and more.
To learn more about the best neighbourhoods in Coquitlam when buying a home, keep reading below!
Best neighbourhoods in Coquitlam for condos
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North Coquitlam
Why we love this subarea: North Coquitlam is the perfect neighbourhood for anyone looking for something central, as this area is also known as city centre or downtown Coquitlam. This area is seen as a community hub because you’re within walking distance to Coquitlam Centre Mall, the public library, the skytrain, restaurants, coffee shops and more.
There’s a great mix of commercial businesses and residential, as well as nature nearby! Lafarge Lake and Town Centre Park are within walking distance, which offer a running track, soccer field, a man-made lake that you can walk around, and more. This is also where the popular Lights at Lafarge Christmas light event is held every year, as well as many other events!
Types of homes you’ll usually find in North Coquitlam: You will typically find high-rise concrete condos in North Coquitlam, with the main street being Glen Drive.
Coquitlam West (also known as Lougheed-Burquitlam)
Why we love this subarea: Coquitlam West is the closest neighbourhood in Coquitlam to Lougheed Mall, the freeway, and the skytrain station with access to the Millenium and Expo Line for easy access in to downtown. With the upcoming expansion of Lougheed and redevelopment of the mall, this area is in the process of being revitalized to become the new hot spot. (much like Brentwood or Metrotown)
One of the best things about this area is accessibility to nearby cities and reduced travel time for those that work in the Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, or even the Fraser Valley. The infamous Vancouver Golf Club is located in Coquitlam West, you’re close to biking and hiking trails at Simon Fraser University, and North Road (the main road through Coquitlam West) links up to Port Moody for a ton of outdoor amenities, the famous “Brewer’s Row” and Rocky Point Park.
Types of homes you’ll usually find in Coquitlam West for condos: There is a huge variety of condos in Coquitlam West, and while the bulk of the new developments are high-rise concrete condos with tons of amenities (and many with sweeping views); there are also some low-rise 4-6 storey buildings in the mix as well.
New Horizons
Why we love this subarea: The condos in New Horizons are lovely, and many have private access to the Nakoma Club which has amenities such as a swimming pool, basketball court, gym, and more included in the monthly maintenance fee. Busses are within a short walk, and the skytrain is also within walking distance (although a little further than for North Coquitlam residents).
New Horizons is home to Town Centre Park & Lafarge Lake, which are popular places to enjoy the outdoors or take a walk for residents of this neighbourhood. It’s a very family-friendly neighbourhood with access to all levels of schools, so if you are a younger couple or family then you would match this demographic well!
Types of homes you’ll usually find in New Horizons for condos: New Horizons is mainly newer condos (2000+) that are low-rise; however, there are a few high rises that came up around 2018.
Other Coquitlam neighbourhoods to consider with condo options:
- Westwood Plateau – The only reason why Westwood Plateau didn’t make our top list is because it’s a bit further of a walk from the skytrain, or you have to take a bus to get to rapid transit. Westwood Plateau is a large subarea that consists of all styles of homes, but the lower part of Westwood Plateau has a number of low rise condos ranging from 4-6 stories with ages ranging from the 1990s to about 2010. A number of these homes are good quality builds, a little more serene, and offer amazing views!
- Canyon Springs – Mainly consists of older low-rise buildings built in the 1990s with 4 stories. Also offers some age restricted buildings (55+) on streets like Princess Crescent.
- Central Coquitlam, specifically Austin Heights – In the past, Central Coquitlam has been mostly older low rise buildings that are a mix of owner-occupiers, low-income housing or rental buildings. However, the City has a redevelopment plan for the area off of Austin (hence the name “Austin Heights” and the area between Blue Mountain and Gatensbury is changing rapidly! With the new Austin Heights by Beedie highrises and a number of other developments, this could be a great area to invest that is just a short drive or bus ride to Lougheed skytrain station.
Best neighbourhoods in Coquitlam for townhouses
Burke Mountain
Why we love this subarea: Burke Mountain is a relatively new subarea for townhouses, so the units that you see in this subarea are newer across the board when compared to other neighbourhoods. The area is extremely family friendly, so it’s a great area for growing families and is very safe. There are tons of hiking trails nearby including the massive Minnekhada Regional Park!
Recent expansions in the area include new schools, added bus routes, and additional amenities/centres in the works and there are 4 new neighbourhoods that are being introduced: Smiling Creek, Partington Creek, Upper Hyde Creek and Lower Hyde Creek. We’re confident that there is a lot to come for this subarea in the future, and for now it’s the perfect mix of being nestled in the trees close to trails while still being close to what you need!
Types of homes you’ll usually find in Burke Mountain for townhouses: A common Burke Mountain layout is a 3 storey home around 1400-1600 sqft with 2-4 bedrooms on the top level, the dining/living/kitchen on the 2nd (main) level, and a double tandem garage and foyer on the entry level.
Westwood Plateau
Why we love this subarea: There is a ton of variety when it comes to townhomes in Westwood Plateau, and many of the layouts and sizes are very unique and hard to find in other neigbhourhoods let alone other cities. You’ll find some gated communities here, as well as options for large townhouses that can be up to almost 3000 sqft! Westwood Plateau is a little further up the hill in Coquitlam, so many of the homes boast beautiful views of the rest of the city and more.
The area itself is very peaceful, quiet, and right in the heart of nature. With that being said, many of the townhouses in the neighbourhood still have good access to busses off of the main road that will take you directly to the skytrain station. You’ll also just a short drive to the mall, grocery stores & shops, and many of the townhouses are within walking distance to many prestigious schools.
Types of homes you’ll usually find in Westwood Plateau for townhouses: The types of homes in Westwood Plateau really range as there is lots of variety of townhouses. You’ll consistently find bigger townhouses in the 1800+ square footage range with options all the way up to 3000 sqft.
Other Coquitlam neighbourhoods to consider with townhouse options:
- Eagle Ridge & Upper Eagle Ridge: Most of the homes in this area are single-family, but there are some older options (1980s) for townhouses off of Eagle Ridge, Falcon, and Lansdowne Drive. They’ve also recently released a parcel of newer townhouses at the Dwell24 complex, but there is limited inventory.
- New Horizons: There isn’t much in terms of townhouses in the New Horizons area, but the bulk of them are on Kensal Place and are also a part of the Nakoma Community Club that was mentioned in the condo section.
- Maillardville: This area is a re-developing area, and also the oldest neighbourhood in Coquitlam! Some of the townhouses here are revitized heritage homes. You have super easy access to the freeway, and are close to amenities like the movie theatre, Superstore, Mackin Park and more.
- Coquitlam West: While the townhouse options in Coquitlam West aren’t typically right in the Lougheed-Burquitlam community hubs, they do offer easy access to the freeway and transportation. Just beware that many of these townhouses are not your traditional townhouse with an attached garage, as many of them are moving towards the condo/new style where even though the unit has its own separate entrance and 2 stories you’re often parking in an underground garage and there are condos above you.
Best neighbourhoods in Coquitlam for single-family homes
Chineside
Why we love this subarea: Chineside is a very desirable, family oriented area within walking distance to all levels of reputable schools. The area is private, has a great catchment area, and the homes are often a comfortable size (“not too big, not too small”) and on larger lots around 8000-11,000 sqft. The area has easy access to the rest of Coquitlam as well as Port Moody by just heading down Thermal.
You’re close to Mundy Park, which is the perfect place to take Fido or the kids for a stroll or go for a run along the perimeter trail! Como Lake Village is also within a few minutes drive or a brisk walk, and has affordable No Frills grocery store, Starbucks, banks, local stores, and more.
Types of homes you’ll usually find in Chineside for single-family homes: This neighbourhood has homes built primarily in the 1960s and 70s, often with large lots and homes in the low to mid 2000 sqft interior range.
Canyon Springs & Scott Creek
Why we love this subarea: The single-family home section of Canyon Springs is right below Scott Creek, so these neighbourhoods are typically combined when searching for a detached house in either neighbourhood. They’re both great family-oriented neighbourhoods, with many residents staying for years and raising families here long-term. All levels of schools are nearby, and both Scott Creek Elementary and Walton Elementary are well known. What’s more – Walton Elementary School is one of the first schools in the Tri-Cities to implement a Mandarin Immersion program for kids!
These areas have great access to busses, schools, the mall, parks, and more. Because it’s just north of the mall, you’re far enough from all of the mayhem but still close enough to enjoy the convenience.
Types of homes you’ll usually find in Canyon Springs or Scott Creek for single-family homes: This area is characterized by homes that are primarily built in the late 80s and early 90s, with lots ranging from 5000-7000 sqft. The size of the homes are typically larger (specifically in Scott Creek) and are often 3000-4000 sqft interior size with home.
New Horizons
Why we love this subarea: New Horizons makes the list again! For single-family homes, this area is one of the best priced neighbourhoods for detached homes in all of Coquitlam. For this reason, it is a popular choice for move-up buyers coming from townhouses or young-families. It is common to see a 2 storey home in this area, and many of them have suites or are easily suitable. Due to the smaller lot and house size, these are often viewed as entry-level homes.
The neighbourhoods has easy access to busses, and homes on the Northern side are within a short walk to the skytrain station, Lafarge Lake, Town Centre Park, all levels of schools & Douglas College, Coquitlam Centre Mall, and larger grocery stores like Superstore or Save-On Foods. It offers a ton of outdoor space like Lafarge Lake or the Coquitlam River trail, and some of the detached homes are even on a greenbelt!
Types of homes you’ll usually find in New Horizons for single-family homes: The homes here are typically on a modest lot ranging from 4000-6000 sqft, and are typically 2 storey homes with a main level/basement entry.
Other Coquitlam neighbourhoods to consider with single-family house options:
- Pretty much every area in Coquitlam (with very few exceptions) offers some single-family home options. There’s too many to list! For a more in-depth analysis of the different options within Coquitlam to choose from, you can also check out our complete Coquitlam guide for a full list of Coquitlam Neighbourhoods by clicking here: Coquitlam Neighbourhood Guide
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Looking for more information on what neighbourhood to move to in Coquitlam? As your top local Coquitlam realtors, we know all the best neighbourhoods in Coquitlam for condos, townhouses, and single-family homes, as well as schools, outdoor life, access to transit and more!
For help picking what Coquitlam neighbourhood is best for you to move to, give us a call at 604-765-0376, text 604-319-0200 or email [email protected]. We’d be happy to help you buy your next Coquitlam home !
