Waterloo Neighbourhood

Homes for Sale in Columbia Forest

Columbia Forest and Clair Hills sit on the far west side of Waterloo, where the city meets Wilmot Township. It is a newer area with modern homes, Edna Staebler Public School, over 12 km of forest trails right next door, and shopping at Erb and Erbsville and The Boardwalk just minutes away.

By George Dmitrovic, Realtor with Keller Williams Innovation Realty. Updated October 2026. Jump to the Clair Hills guide

Clair Hills at a Glance

Location

West Waterloo; Clair Hills runs between Columbia St, Erbsville Rd, Erb St and Wilmot Line

Homes

Mostly newer, modern homes in a wide range of sizes and prices

Schools

Edna Staebler PS (K-8, French Immersion) and Vista Hills PS, both in the 2026 boundary review; St. Nicholas; Laurel Heights SS; Resurrection CSS

Trails

Westside Trails (about 12 km through the Forest Hill woodlot), Clair Lake Park, Laurel Creek Conservation Area

Shopping

Erb and Erbsville plaza, Costco, The Boardwalk on Ira Needles Blvd

Nearby

Short drive to the University of Waterloo, Laurier and Conestoga College’s Waterloo campus

Columbia Forest and Clair Hills are newer family neighbourhoods on Waterloo’s far west side, built mostly from the early 2000s on. Buyers come for modern detached homes, well-rated schools and trails close by, with The Boardwalk and the Laurelwood shops a few minutes away. Here is what you should know before you buy, including a school boundary review that could affect some addresses from September 2027.

Where Are Columbia Forest and Clair Hills?

As commonly described, Clair Hills is the area west of Erbsville Road between Erb Street West and Columbia Street West, running out toward Wilmot Line at the edge of Wilmot Township. Columbia Forest continues on the north side of Columbia Street, west of Erbsville Road and across from Laurelwood. The City does not publish official neighbourhood boundaries.

The oldest homes date from the early 2000s, and building has continued on the west side in recent years. Most homes are detached two-storey houses, with townhouses and some condominium developments mixed in, across a wide range of sizes and prices.

Homes and prices

In the MLS district that includes Columbia Forest and Clair Hills (443 Columbia Forest/Clair Hills), the median sale price for a detached home was $940,000 over the 12 months to September 2026, based on George’s analysis of ITSO MLS sales. Townhouses had a median of $648,000 and condo apartments $485,000. The detached median is above the Waterloo-wide figure of $859,000. See the full neighbourhood price table.

Getting around

By car: the University of Waterloo is about 10 minutes away, Wilfrid Laurier about 10 to 15 minutes, Highway 7/8 about 5 to 10 minutes and Highway 401 about 20 to 25 minutes, depending on traffic.
By bus: GRT Route 31 Columbia runs along Columbia Street West to University of Waterloo Station, the nearest ION stop. Route 13 Laurelwood runs along Erbsville Road and Columbia to The Boardwalk.
Good to know: the area is not on the ION line, so most households here drive for work and errands.

Everyday amenities

Westside Marketplace, the plaza on Erb Street West near the Erb, Ira Needles and Erbsville roundabout.
The Boardwalk on Ira Needles Boulevard, a large shopping centre with its own GRT station.
Laurelwood Commons (Laurelwood Drive at Erbsville Road), with Food Basics and Shoppers Drug Mart, and Laurelwood Shopping Centre (Columbia Street at Fischer-Hallman), with Sobeys and an LCBO.
John M. Harper Library and Stork Family YMCA (500 Fischer-Hallman Road North), a library branch with a pool, gym and fitness centre in the same building.

Schools in Columbia Forest and Clair Hills

Ratings below are from the Fraser Institute’s latest report cards, which use 2023-2024 results, out of 10.

Edna Staebler Public School (450 Bernay Drive): the WRDSB elementary school in Clair Hills, with English and French Immersion from Grade 2 to Grade 8. It has no rating in the reports I can confirm.
Vista Hills Public School (314 Sweet Gale Street): rated 8.5. French Immersion here is limited enrolment.
St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary School (525 Laurelwood Drive): rated 7.6. Its students go on to Resurrection Catholic Secondary School (rated 6.9).
Laurel Heights Secondary School (650 Laurelwood Drive): the nearest WRDSB high school, rated 8.7, the highest of any high school in Kitchener-Waterloo. It was called Sir John A. Macdonald SS until 2022.

Boundaries may change for September 2027. The Waterloo Region District School Board started a West Waterloo Boundary Review on September 28, 2026, covering Edna Staebler, Vista Hills, Abraham Erb and Laurelwood. Its goal is more walkable boundaries. A draft recommendation is due November 16 and a final report December 14, 2026, with no changes before June 2027. Vista Hills and Laurelwood are not accepting out-of-boundary students for 2026-27. Check the exact address with the board before you make an offer, and see homes by school district for more.

Parks and Trails Near Columbia Forest and Clair Hills

Westside Trails: about 12 km of City trails through the Forest Hill woodlot, reached from Laurelwood Drive, in woods that support rare plants and migratory birds.
Clair Lake Park (375 Craigleith Drive): 22 acres with trails, a lake and open green space.
Columbia Forest Court Park (819 Columbia Forest Court): a trail and a playground.
Laurel Creek Conservation Area, a short drive north, for a beach, camping and longer trails.

What’s Changing Nearby

School boundaries. The West Waterloo Boundary Review could change which school some addresses attend from September 2027 (see above).
Erb Street West widening. The Region plans to widen Erb Street to four lanes from Ira Needles Boulevard west to its waste management site, with a new roundabout at the Westside Marketplace exit and bike lanes, with construction scheduled for 2026 to 2027, although the Region still lists the project in design. See the Region’s project page.
New neighbourhoods to the north. The City’s Beaver Creek Meadows and Erbsville North areas are planned for up to about 4,500 homes over the next 10 to 12 years. Expect more traffic on Erbsville Road over time.

Is Columbia Forest a Good Place to Live?

Columbia Forest and Clair Hills suit families who want a newer detached home, a well-rated school nearby and trails close at hand, with the universities and shopping a short drive away. They also suit move-up buyers who want more space than an older central neighbourhood offers.

The trade-offs are real. Detached homes here cost more than the Waterloo median. It is a driving area, with no ION station nearby. The school boundary review means the school for some streets may change in 2027. And road work on Erb Street and new subdivisions to the north will bring construction for a few years. The Region’s waste management site is also further west along Erb Street, which some buyers like to know about.

If you are moving up to a bigger home, my guide to upsizing with a growing family can help you compare areas. Or 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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What Clients Are Saying

Five-star Google reviews from Kitchener-Waterloo buyers and sellers George has helped.

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What’s Your Columbia Forest Home Worth?

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Columbia Forest FAQs

Answers to the questions buyers ask most about living in Columbia Forest.

Where are Columbia Forest and Clair Hills?

They are on Waterloo’s far west side. As commonly described, Clair Hills sits west of Erbsville Road between Erb Street West and Columbia Street West, out toward Wilmot Line and Wilmot Township. Columbia Forest continues north of Columbia Street, west of Erbsville Road, across from Laurelwood. Both are in the same MLS district, 443 Columbia Forest/Clair Hills.

How new are the homes in Clair Hills?

The oldest homes date from the early 2000s, and newer streets on the west side were built more recently. Most are detached two-storey houses, with some townhouses and condominium developments. Over the 12 months to September 2026, the median detached sale price in the district was $940,000, above the Waterloo median.

What schools serve Clair Hills and Columbia Forest?

Edna Staebler Public School on Bernay Drive teaches JK to Grade 8 in English and French Immersion, and Vista Hills Public School is rated 8.5. St. Nicholas is the Catholic elementary school, and Laurel Heights and Resurrection are the high schools. Both Edna Staebler and Vista Hills are part of a boundary review that could change assignments in September 2027.

What trails are near Clair Hills?

The City’s Westside Trails offer about 12 km through the Forest Hill woodlot, reached from Laurelwood Drive. Clair Lake Park on Craigleith Drive covers 22 acres with a lake and trails, and Columbia Forest Court Park has a trail and playground. Laurel Creek Conservation Area, with a beach and campground, is a short drive north.

Where do Clair Hills residents shop?

Westside Marketplace is on Erb Street West near the Ira Needles and Erbsville roundabout, and The Boardwalk on Ira Needles Boulevard covers most bigger shopping trips. North of Columbia, Laurelwood Commons has Food Basics and Shoppers Drug Mart, and Laurelwood Shopping Centre at Fischer-Hallman has Sobeys and an LCBO.

Is Clair Hills close to the universities?

Yes, by car. The University of Waterloo is about 10 minutes away and Wilfrid Laurier about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on traffic. By transit, GRT Route 31 runs along Columbia Street West to University of Waterloo Station. The area is not on the ION line, so the trip is slower by bus than by car.

Is there a community association in Clair Hills?

I could not confirm a currently active neighbourhood association for Clair Hills or Columbia Forest. The City of Waterloo has a Neighbourhoods team that helps residents plan events, find small grants and start projects, and it can tell you whether a group is active on your street. Local school councils are another good way to meet neighbours.