Waterloo Region City
Homes for Sale in Cambridge
Cambridge is one of the three cities of Waterloo Region, formed in 1973 when the City of Galt, the Towns of Preston and Hespeler and parts of the surrounding townships, including Blair, joined together. Galt, Preston and Hespeler each still have their own downtown and character, and the city sits right on the 401, about an hour from downtown Toronto, with the Grand and Speed rivers running through it.
By George Dmitrovic, Realtor with Keller Williams Innovation Realty. Updated October 2026. Jump to the Cambridge guide
Cambridge at a Glance
Communities
Galt, Preston, Hespeler and Blair, amalgamated in 1973
Population
About 138,000 at the 2021 Census
Largest employer
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, operating since 1988
Things to do
Riverside Park, three historic downtowns, a long-running farmers market in Galt
Commute
On Highway 401, about an hour to downtown Toronto; Highway 8 to Kitchener
Transit
Grand River Transit, the same system as Kitchener-Waterloo
Cambridge is the southern city of Waterloo Region, made up of three older downtowns, Galt, Preston and Hespeler, and the newer subdivisions that grew up between them. Buyers look here for a wide range of homes, from century houses near the rivers to newer family subdivisions, and for direct access to Highway 401. Here is what you should know before you buy.
Where Is Cambridge and How Big Is It?
Cambridge sits on the Grand River where the Speed River joins it, south of Kitchener and along Highway 401. It is one of three cities in the Region of Waterloo, with Kitchener and Waterloo, and shares regional services such as Grand River Transit with them.
Cambridge had 138,479 residents at the 2021 Census. That makes it the second-largest city in the region after Kitchener (256,885), and a little larger than Waterloo (121,436). The whole region had 587,165 people.
The city was created in 1973, when the Ontario government merged the City of Galt, the Towns of Preston and Hespeler and parts of North Dumfries and Waterloo townships, including the small community of Blair. The new name refers to Cambridge Mills, an early name for the settlement. All three former towns grew up around mills on the Grand and Speed rivers, and each kept its own main street.
Neighbourhoods in Cambridge
Most buyers start by choosing one of the three original communities, then narrow down by street and age of home.
- Galt, in the south, was the only one of the three that was already a city. Its downtown on the Grand River has City Hall, the Cambridge Farmers’ Market and the University of Waterloo School of Architecture in the former Riverside Silk Mill. You will find older homes near the river and newer subdivisions toward the edges of the city.
- Preston, in the middle of Cambridge on the Speed River near where it meets the Grand, has its own small downtown and is home to Riverside Park. It is also close to Highway 401 and the route to Kitchener.
- Hespeler, in the northeast on the Speed River, has a historic village core and newer subdivisions around it. Its location near Highway 401 is handy for drives toward Guelph, Milton or the GTA.
- Blair is a small, older community along the Grand River that joined Cambridge in 1973.
Families should start with my guide to the best areas for families in Cambridge. If you will commute to Toronto, see the best areas for commuting from Cambridge. First-time buyers on a tighter budget can compare the most affordable areas in Cambridge.
Getting Around
- By car: Highway 401 runs across the north side of the city, Highway 8 links Cambridge to Kitchener, and Highway 24 heads south toward Brantford. Downtown Kitchener is about 20 to 30 minutes away and downtown Toronto about an hour outside rush hour, often 90 minutes or more at peak times. These are estimates and depend on traffic and where in Cambridge you start.
- By bus: Grand River Transit, the same system that serves Kitchener and Waterloo, runs local routes across Cambridge.
- ION: the ION light rail does not reach Cambridge yet. It runs between Conestoga station in Waterloo and Fairway station in Kitchener. From Fairway, the ION Bus (Route 302) continues to the Ainslie Street Terminal in downtown Galt.
- GO and VIA: there is no GO or VIA train station in Cambridge. GO bus Route 25 (Waterloo to Square One in Mississauga) stops on Hespeler Road at Pinebush Road, with roughly 20 or more trips each weekday on the April 2026 schedule. The nearest GO and VIA trains leave from Kitchener.
Schools
Most Cambridge students attend schools run by the Waterloo Region District School Board (public) or the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, the same boards that serve Kitchener and Waterloo. French-language schools are also an option; see my guide to French schools in Cambridge.
- Public high schools: Galt Collegiate Institute, Glenview Park Secondary School, Jacob Hespeler Secondary School, Preston High School and Southwood Secondary School.
- Catholic high schools: Monsignor Doyle, St. Benedict and St. Augustine Catholic Secondary Schools. My guide to Catholic high schools in Cambridge compares them.
- Post-secondary: the University of Waterloo School of Architecture is at 7 Melville Street South in downtown Galt, and Conestoga College has a Cambridge campus at 850 Fountain Street South. The main University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier and Conestoga Doon campuses are a drive away in Kitchener-Waterloo.
School boundaries change as new neighbourhoods fill in, so always confirm the schools for a specific address with the board before you make an offer.
Jobs and Economy
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada is the city’s best-known employer. Its first Cambridge-built car, a Corolla, came off the line on November 30, 1988. Today its two Cambridge plants build the Toyota RAV4, the Lexus NX and the Lexus RX, and Canadian production of the new sixth-generation RAV4 started in January 2026. TMMC says it employs over 8,500 people across its Cambridge and Woodstock plants.
Cambridge is also a regular filming location. The City promotes its historic neighbourhoods, architecture and river landscapes to producers, and The Handmaid’s Tale was filmed here. Because the city sits on Highway 401, many residents also commute to jobs in Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph and the western GTA.
Parks and Things to Do
- Cambridge Farmers’ Market (40 Dickson Street, beside City Hall in Galt): open every Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm, all year. The City calls it one of the oldest markets in Canada.
- Riverside Park in Preston: a park along the Speed River with ball diamonds, sports fields, picnic areas and playgrounds.
- Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory (2500 Kossuth Road): an indoor tropical greenhouse with free-flying butterflies, open year round.
- Three historic downtowns: Galt, Preston and Hespeler each have their own main street, shops and riverside walks. The City also offers an interactive walking tour of The Handmaid’s Tale filming sites.
Home Prices
I do not publish Cambridge price figures on this page. My district price analysis covers Kitchener and Waterloo only, and Cambridge prices vary a lot between an older home near downtown Galt, a newer detached home in Hespeler and a townhouse elsewhere in the city.
If you want to know what a particular home or street is likely to sell for, ask me for a free home evaluation or a price review based on recent Cambridge sales.
What’s Changing
- ION light rail to Cambridge. Stage 2 would extend ION about 17 km from Fairway station to downtown Cambridge, with seven new stations, replacing the ION Bus. Regional Council approved the extension in November 2025 and the project is now in detailed design and pre-construction work. The Region is still seeking full provincial and federal funding, and no construction date has been set. Details are on the Region’s Stage 2 ION page.
- Cambridge Recreation Complex. A new complex at 655 Wesley Boulevard in the south end is under construction and expected to open in 2027. It will have a 10-lane, 25-metre pool, a warm-water leisure pool, three gyms, an indoor track and a library branch, on a campus shared with new public and Catholic elementary schools. See the City’s project page.
- New Toyota models. Canadian production of the sixth-generation RAV4 began in January 2026, which keeps the city’s largest employer busy.
Is Cambridge a Good Place to Live?
Cambridge suits buyers who want quick access to Highway 401, a choice between historic river towns and newer subdivisions, and the services of Waterloo Region without living in Kitchener or Waterloo. It works well for people who drive to work in the GTA, Guelph or Kitchener, and for families who want a detached home with a yard.
The trade-offs are real. Much of Cambridge is car-dependent: there is no GO train, and ION light rail is still years away with no construction date. Highway 401 traffic can make the Toronto commute long at rush hour. The city has three separate downtowns rather than one central core, and the main university campuses are in Kitchener-Waterloo.
If you are deciding between Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo, or between Galt, Preston and Hespeler, book a free call and we’ll talk it through.
Originally written by Will Kummer for WRX Property Group and fully updated by George Dmitrovic in October 2026.
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Cambridge FAQs
Answers to the questions buyers ask most about living in Cambridge.
What communities make up Cambridge, Ontario?
Cambridge was created in 1973 by joining the City of Galt with the Towns of Preston and Hespeler and parts of the surrounding townships, including the small community of Blair. Galt is in the south on the Grand River, Preston is in the middle near where the Speed River meets the Grand, and Hespeler is in the northeast. Newer subdivisions now fill much of the land between them.
How far is Cambridge from Toronto?
By car, most of Cambridge is about an hour from downtown Toronto on Highway 401 outside rush hour, and often 90 minutes or more at peak times. There is no GO train in Cambridge. GO bus Route 25 stops on Hespeler Road at Pinebush Road and runs to Square One in Mississauga, where you can connect onward. Kitchener has the nearest GO and VIA trains.
Is Cambridge part of Kitchener-Waterloo?
Not exactly. Cambridge is its own city with its own mayor and council, but it belongs to the Region of Waterloo along with Kitchener, Waterloo and four townships. The three cities share Grand River Transit, regional roads and the same public and Catholic school boards. Many people live in one city and work in another, so buyers often compare all three.
Who are the biggest employers in Cambridge?
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada is the best known. Its first Cambridge-built Corolla rolled off the line in November 1988, and its two Cambridge plants now build the Toyota RAV4, Lexus NX and Lexus RX. TMMC says it employs over 8,500 people across Cambridge and Woodstock. Many Cambridge residents also commute to jobs in Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph and the western GTA.
Is the ION light rail in Cambridge?
Not yet. ION trains run between Conestoga station in Waterloo and Fairway station in Kitchener. From Fairway, the ION Bus (Route 302) continues to the Ainslie Street Terminal in downtown Galt. Regional Council approved Stage 2, a 17 km rail extension to Cambridge with seven new stations, in November 2025. It is in detailed design, still needs full government funding and has no construction date.
What is there to do in Cambridge?
Start with the Cambridge Farmers’ Market beside City Hall in Galt, open every Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm all year. Riverside Park in Preston has ball diamonds, sports fields and picnic areas, and the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory on Kossuth Road is open year round. Each of the three historic downtowns is worth a walk, and a new recreation complex is due in 2027.
Why is Cambridge a popular film location?
The City of Cambridge points to its historic neighbourhoods, older architecture and river landscapes, all within easy reach of Toronto’s film industry. The Handmaid’s Tale is the best-known series shot here, and the City offers an interactive walking tour of its filming sites. Producers need a City film permit, applied for at least 30 business days before shooting, and residents get notices about upcoming filming.
What school boards serve Cambridge?
Most students attend the Waterloo Region District School Board (public) or the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, the same boards that serve Kitchener and Waterloo. Public high schools include Galt CI, Glenview Park, Jacob Hespeler, Preston and Southwood. Catholic high schools include Monsignor Doyle, St. Benedict and St. Augustine. French-language schools are also available. Always confirm an address’s schools with the board.