The boats are coming out of the water in Northumberland & Trent Hills, but the cottage market has not gone quiet. 394 cottages and recreational properties were for sale on November 1, 2026, with a median asking price of $549,900. 69 sold over the past 90 days.
What shoreline costs in Northumberland & Trent Hills
89% of the cottages and homes listed in Northumberland & Trent Hills are on the water. Waterfront asks a median of $699K against $1.38M off the water, a premium of about -49%. With a typical frontage of 55 feet, buyers are paying in the region of $12,700 for each foot of shoreline. Use that as a rough yardstick when you compare two waterfront listings of different widths.
Lake by lake
Two cottages a few kilometres apart can be priced very differently because of the lake they face. Here is how the busiest lakes in Northumberland & Trent Hills compare with the region as a whole.
| Lake | Listed | Median asking | vs region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trent River | 46 | $608K | +11% |
| Lake Ontario | 43 | $1.05M | +91% |
| Rice Lake | 39 | $598K | +9% |
| Seymour Lake | 7 | $699K | +27% |
Cottage sales: this season and last year
Over the last 90 days 69 cottage-country properties sold in Northumberland & Trent Hills at a median of $545,000. In the same 90 days last year there were 58 sales at a median of $565,000, so the median is down 3.5% from last year. Sellers got a median of 94.9% of their asking price, and the typical sale took 49 days, longer than in the city, because cottage buyers wait for the right water and the right road.
Towns and townships with the most listings
| Town | Listed | Median asking |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Township | 123 | $625K |
| Trent Hills | 114 | $487K |
| Alnwick/Haldimand | 62 | $494K |
| Cramahe | 27 | $329K |
| Brighton | 22 | $549K |
| Cobourg | 20 | $614K |
| Port Hope | 9 | $499K |
Also listed in Northumberland & Trent Hills: 202 vacant lots (median $399K) and 16 resort condos and fractional units (median $519K). A lot lets you build to your own plan, but budget for the well, septic, hydro connection and road before you compare it with a finished cottage.
Buying a cottage in fall
- Fall viewings show you what spring photos hide: how the property drains after rain, how much light reaches the cottage once the sun is lower, and whether the road is being maintained.
- Ask the seller when the cottage was last opened and closed for the season, and who did the work. Winterizing records tell you a lot about how it has been cared for.
- Many sellers who listed in summer and did not sell are open to offers now, before they pay another winter of carrying costs.
Other cottage regions this month
Cottage questions
How much is a waterfront cottage in Northumberland & Trent Hills?
The median asking price for waterfront in Northumberland & Trent Hills was $699,000 on November 1, 2026, with a typical frontage of about 55 feet.
How long do cottages take to sell in Northumberland & Trent Hills?
Cottages that sold in the last 90 days took a median of 49 days.
Which lake in Northumberland & Trent Hills has the most cottages for sale?
Trent River, with 46 listed at a median of $608,450.
Is fall a good time to buy a cottage?
Many sellers who listed in summer and did not sell are open to offers now, before they pay another winter of carrying costs.
Asking prices and frontage are from cottage listings on Cottage Connect on November 1, 2026. Sales are totals of MLS® sales in the Northumberland & Trent Hills region over 90 days, compared with the same window last year. Price per foot of frontage is a rough guide only.
Cottages for sale in Trent Hills right now
Live listings from the area this article covers.
$189,90022 Winter Road, Trent Hills0 bath · Rural Trent HillsCourtesy of RE/MAX HALLMARK EASTERN REALTY
$939,888275 Muskie Mile Lane, Trent Hills5 bed · 2 bath · Rural Trent HillsCourtesy of HOUSESIGMA INC.
$239,90065 Cedar Lane, Trent Hills3 bed · 2 bath · Rural Trent HillsCourtesy of RIGHT AT HOME REALTY
$239,90067 Cedar Lane, Trent Hills2 bed · 1 bath · Rural Trent HillsCourtesy of RIGHT AT HOME REALTY
$795,0001551B Reynolds Road, Trent Hills3 bed · 3 bath · Rural Trent HillsCourtesy of Exit Realty Group
$870,000180 Greenly Road, Trent Hills5 bed · 2 bath · CampbellfordCourtesy of ROBIN HOOD REALTY LIMITED