Moving to London, Ontario? Complete Relocation Guide
The GTA exodus is no longer a trend story. Around six in ten of our new patients last year were families relocating from somewhere east of the 401, mostly from Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, and the western edge of Hamilton.
They came for the same reasons: real space, real schools, and a mortgage that does not require both parents to skip lunch for the next thirty years.
If you are mid-move (or just opened a London listing and started doing the math), this guide is for you. We cover the actual timeline, the bureaucratic deadlines most newcomers miss, the cost-of-living reality in 2026, and the family services you should line up before, not after, the moving truck arrives.
If you want the neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood breakdown first, see our guide to the best neighbourhoods in London for families.
Why Families Are Choosing London Right Now
The financial argument is the easy part.
According to housing markets, the average home price in London in March 2026 was $627,112, with single-family homes averaging $674,000, townhouses around $482,000, and condos at $303,000. The MLS benchmark price for a typical London home was $563,000, down 7.4 percent year-over-year. As of May 2026, the lowest five-year variable mortgage rates in the city had eased to roughly 3.3 percent.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2026 outlook keeps the door open. CMHC expects Southwestern Ontario to lag the Greater Toronto Area’s price recovery this year, with a more meaningful pickup forecast for 2027 and 2028. In plain language, the affordability window in London is open now, not later.
What the numbers do not capture is the rest of it: a two-hour drive to Toronto on the 401, two universities, two major hospitals, and a downtown small enough that you actually run into the same people twice. The honest trade-off is that salaries are lower, public transit is thinner, and winters are cool, dry, windy, and mostly cloudy. Most relocating families decide that is a fair deal.
Before You Arrive: The 30-Day Checklist
Book your move for May, June, or September.
Movers double-book in summer and triple their prices. January and February sound cheap until the freezing rain hits and the driveway freezes shut.
Pre-register the kids for school.
Both the Thames Valley District School Board and the London District Catholic School Board accept online pre-registration, but you still need to bring proof of address and immunization records once you arrive.
Notify your current province's health plan.
If you are coming from another province, your old health card may cover you for the first three months in Ontario while OHIP processes your application.
Line up family healthcare in advance.
Family doctors are the hardest. Many take 12 to 18 months on the Health Care Connect waitlist. Dentists, pediatricians, and pharmacists are faster, but new-patient appointments still book two to three weeks out at busy practices.
Your First Week in London
For most families, the first-week priorities from that list are:
- Set up essential services: utilities (water, heat, electricity), insurance, and telephone
- Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Apply for an Ontario Health Card (OHIP)
- Apply for the Canada Child Benefit and the GST/HST Credit (both are monthly, and neither starts until you apply)
- Open a Canadian bank account
- Register the kids for school
Your First Month: Settling the Family In
Week one was the legal and logistical setup. Week two through four is where families actually become Londoners, and where the cracks tend to show.
The urgent stuff stops being urgent, and the things parents quietly postpone, like their own check-up, the kids’ new family doctor, and the dental appointment they have been meaning to book start sliding into next year.
Three are worth flagging for families with kids at home:
- Family doctor. Ontario’s Health Care Connect is the provincial program that refers residents to a family doctor or nurse practitioner accepting new patients. Get on the list early. The line only moves if you are on it.
- Driver’s licence. Ontario gives new residents 60 days from establishing residency to exchange a valid out-of-province or international licence. For Canadian licences, the exchange is usually paperwork with no road test required.
- Child care. London has long waitlists for licensed care. The City runs a Child Care fee subsidy program for eligible families. The one many relocating families forget is the family dentist. It is worth booking in the first month, since “we will find one when we need one” usually translates to a year of postponement.
We Smile Dentistry: One Less Thing to Set Up
We Smile Dentistry
Website:
Hours
Monday: 10 AM to 7 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM to 6 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM to 5 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Friday: 8:30-11:30 AM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Prepared by the team at We Smile Dentistry, a family-owned general dentistry practice serving London, Ontario families. Housing figures and government rules are current as of May 2026 and may change; verify current details with the City of London, ServiceOntario, and a licensed real estate broker before relying on them.
Explore London, Ontario Guides & Neighborhoods
Discover everything about living in London, Ontario—from family-friendly neighborhoods to relocation guides, local hotspots, and lifestyle insights. Explore the articles below to learn more:
➤ Best Neighborhoods to Live in London, Ontario for Families
➤ Top Family-Friendly Neighborhoods in London, Ontario
➤ Why More People Are Moving to London, Ontario
➤ Top Events and Festivals in London, Ontario
➤ Downtown London, Ontario vs North London: Which Is Better?