Waterloo Neighbourhood

Homes for Sale in Laurelwood

Laurelwood is one of the largest and most sought-after neighbourhoods in Waterloo, in the city’s northwest between Conservation Drive, Columbia Street, Fischer-Hallman Road and Erbsville Road. It is known for highly ranked schools, the Laurel Creek Conservation Area, a modern library and YMCA, and shopping right inside the neighbourhood.

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

Laurelwood at a Glance

Location

Northwest Waterloo, between Conservation Dr, Columbia St, Fischer-Hallman/Bearinger/Westmount Rd and Erbsville Rd

Schools

Abraham Erb PS, Laurelwood PS (both French Immersion), St. Nicholas, Laurel Heights SS

Nature

Laurel Creek Conservation Area, Laurelwood Park, Old Oak Park

Recreation

John M. Harper Library and Stork Family YMCA

Shopping

Laurelwood Shopping Centre (Sobeys), Laurelwood and Erbsville plaza (Food Basics)

Homes

Suburban family homes, including streets right beside the conservation area

Laurelwood is a family neighbourhood in northwest Waterloo, built mostly from the mid-1990s through the 2000s. Buyers come here for three things: well-rated schools, the Laurel Creek Conservation Area on its doorstep, and everyday shopping, a library and a YMCA without leaving the neighbourhood. Here is what you should know before you buy.

Where Is Laurelwood?

Laurelwood sits in northwest Waterloo between Columbia Street to the south, Fischer-Hallman Road, Bearinger Road and Westmount Road to the east, Erbsville Road to the west and Conservation Drive to the north. The built-up part mostly stops at the conservation area and Beaver Creek Road. The land north of that, toward Conservation Drive, is where the City’s next big growth areas are planned.

Most homes are detached two-storey houses on curving family streets, with some townhouses, condos and retirement residences mixed in. Streets around Beaver Creek Road back right onto the conservation area.

Getting around

By car: the University of Waterloo is about 5 to 10 minutes away, the Conestoga Parkway about 10 to 15 minutes and Highway 401 about 20 to 25 minutes, depending on traffic.
By transit: GRT Route 13 Laurelwood runs through the neighbourhood to University of Waterloo Station, the nearest ION stop. Route 31 Columbia and the iXpress 201 run along the south edge.
Good to know: Laurelwood is not on the ION line, so most families here drive for work and errands outside the neighbourhood.

Everyday amenities

Laurelwood Shopping Centre (Columbia Street at Fischer-Hallman): Sobeys, LCBO, banks, Starbucks and more.
Laurelwood Commons (Laurelwood Drive at Erbsville Road): Food Basics and Shoppers Drug Mart.
John M. Harper Library (500 Fischer-Hallman Road North): a Waterloo Public Library branch that opened in 2011.
Stork Family YMCA, in the same building as the library: a pool, gym, indoor track and fitness centre, which added a larger fitness area in April 2026.

Schools in Laurelwood

Schools are the main reason many families choose Laurelwood. Ratings below are from the Fraser Institute’s latest report cards, which use 2023-2024 results, out of 10.

Abraham Erb Public School (JK to Grade 6): rated 8.6, second among public elementary schools in Kitchener-Waterloo. French Immersion for Grades 2 to 6.
Laurelwood Public School (JK to Grade 8): rated 8.5. French Immersion for Grades 2 to 8. Since 2019, Abraham Erb’s Grade 6 graduates move to Laurelwood for Grades 7 and 8.
St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary School (JK to Grade 8): rated 7.6.
Laurel Heights Secondary School: rated 8.7, the highest of any high school in Kitchener-Waterloo. It opened in 2004 as Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School and was renamed in 2022.

Boundaries may change for September 2027. The Waterloo Region District School Board started a West Waterloo Boundary Review in September 2026 covering Abraham Erb, Laurelwood, Vista Hills and Edna Staebler. A draft recommendation is due in November and a final report in December 2026. Laurelwood and Vista Hills are also not accepting out-of-boundary students for 2026-27. If schools matter to you, check the exact address with the board before you make an offer, and ask me to help you follow the review. See homes by school district for more.

Parks and Nature in Laurelwood

Laurel Creek Conservation Area covers about 300 hectares (750 acres) on the neighbourhood’s north side. Run by the Grand River Conservation Authority, it is open year round, with trails through forest and wetland, a reservoir with a sandy beach (swimming is allowed, but there are no lifeguards), and a campground that is open from May to mid-October. A day-use fee applies.

Next door, the Laurel Creek Nature Centre runs outdoor education programs for schools and families. In 2026 the conservation authority agreed to transfer the property to the City of Waterloo, which plans to keep it as parkland, and the programs are set to continue during a five-year transition.

Inside the neighbourhood, Laurelwood Park on Gatestone Boulevard has trails, a ball diamond and a playground, and Old Oak Park on Laurelwood Drive has sports fields, trails and a playground.

What’s Changing Nearby

New neighbourhoods to the north and west. The City’s Beaver Creek Meadows and Erbsville North areas are planned for up to about 4,500 new homes over the next 10 to 12 years, including a new school. Expect more construction and traffic on Erbsville Road and Conservation Drive.
Road work. Fischer-Hallman Road and Bearinger Road have been widened to four lanes, and the rebuild of Beaver Creek Road and Conservation Drive, with a roundabout and multi-use path, is due to finish in fall 2026.
New townhouses. Council approved about 170 townhouse and stacked townhouse units near Erbsville Road and Conservation Drive in March 2026, and the former Erbsville Kartway site, which closed in 2021, is being sold for new homes.

Is Laurelwood a Good Place to Live?

For families who put schools and outdoor space first, Laurelwood is one of the best fits in Waterloo. It works especially well if you want a newer detached home, a short drive to the universities and everyday errands close by.

The trade-offs are worth knowing. Homes here usually cost more than similar homes in many other parts of Kitchener-Waterloo, largely because of the schools. It is a driving neighbourhood, not a walk-to-transit one. And with new neighbourhoods coming to the north and west and a school boundary review under way, the area will keep changing over the next few years.

If you’re weighing Laurelwood against other family areas, my guide to upsizing with a growing family and the Kitchener-Waterloo neighbourhoods guide can help you compare. Or book a free call and we’ll talk through it.

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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Laurelwood FAQs

Answers to the questions buyers ask most about living in Laurelwood.

Where is Laurelwood in Waterloo?

Laurelwood is in northwest Waterloo. It runs from Conservation Drive in the north to Columbia Street in the south, and from Fischer-Hallman, Bearinger and Westmount Roads in the east to Erbsville Road in the west, making it one of the largest neighbourhoods in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Are the schools in Laurelwood good?

Yes. In the Fraser Institute’s latest report cards, based on 2023-2024 results, Abraham Erb rates 8.6 out of 10, Laurelwood Public School 8.5 and St. Nicholas 7.6, and Laurel Heights Secondary rates 8.7, the highest of any high school in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Which schools serve Laurelwood?

Abraham Erb Public School (JK to Grade 6) and Laurelwood Public School (JK to Grade 8) both offer French Immersion starting in Grade 2. St. Nicholas Catholic School serves JK to Grade 8, and Laurel Heights Secondary School (formerly Sir John A. Macdonald) is the local public high school. A West Waterloo boundary review could change some boundaries for September 2027, so confirm any address with the board.

What is the Laurel Creek Conservation Area?

It is a Grand River Conservation Authority park of about 300 hectares (750 acres) on Laurelwood’s north side, open year round, with trails, forest and wetland, a reservoir with an unsupervised sandy beach and a campground open from May to mid-October. A day-use fee applies. Several streets around Beaver Creek Road back right onto it.

What recreation facilities are in Laurelwood?

The John M. Harper branch of the Waterloo Public Library at 500 Fischer-Hallman Road North opened in 2011, and the Stork Family YMCA in the same building has a pool, gym, indoor track and fitness centre, which was expanded in April 2026.

Where do Laurelwood residents shop?

The Laurelwood Shopping Centre at Fischer-Hallman and Columbia has a Sobeys, banks and a Starbucks. Laurelwood Commons, at Laurelwood Drive and Erbsville Road, has a Food Basics, Shoppers Drug Mart and more. Uptown Waterloo, the universities and Conestoga Mall are a short drive away.

Who is Laurelwood a good fit for?

Families who prioritize schools and outdoor space. Between the conservation area, the YMCA and library, and everyday shopping inside the neighbourhood, it offers a classic suburban lifestyle within easy reach of the rest of Waterloo.