The boats are coming out of the water in Lanark Highlands & Perth, but the cottage market has not gone quiet. 215 cottages and recreational properties were for sale on November 1, 2026, with a median asking price of $400,000. 54 sold over the past 90 days.
What shoreline costs in Lanark Highlands & Perth
74% of the cottages and homes listed in Lanark Highlands & Perth are on the water. Waterfront asks a median of $700K against $794K off the water, a premium of about -12%. With a typical frontage of 68 feet, buyers are paying in the region of $10,300 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 Lanark Highlands & Perth compare with the region as a whole.
| Lake | Listed | Median asking | vs region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Lake | 18 | $769K | +92% |
| Mississippi River | 11 | $458K | +14% |
| Patterson Lake | 3 | $600K | +50% |
| Lower Rideau Lake | 3 | $825K | +106% |
| Tay River | 3 | $845K | +111% |
| Big Rideau Lake | 3 | $1.57M | +294% |
| Black Lake | 3 | $2M | +400% |
Cottage sales: this season and last year
Over the last 90 days 54 cottage-country properties sold in Lanark Highlands & Perth at a median of $500,000. In the same 90 days last year there were 54 sales at a median of $466,250, so the median is up 7.2% from last year. Sellers got a median of 97.0% of their asking price, and the typical sale took 35 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lanark Highlands | 51 | $350K |
| Tay Valley | 41 | $375K |
| Drummond/North Elmsley | 40 | $574K |
| Mississippi Mills | 26 | $454K |
| Beckwith | 22 | $479K |
| Montague | 12 | $199K |
| Carleton Place | 6 | $775K |
| Perth | 5 | $349K |
Also listed in Lanark Highlands & Perth: 114 vacant lots (median $249K) and 6 resort condos and fractional units (median $449K). 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
- Bruce Peninsula & Lake Huron North
- Ottawa Valley & Madawaska
- Bancroft & Hastings County
- Land O' Lakes & Frontenac
Cottage questions
How much is a waterfront cottage in Lanark Highlands & Perth?
The median asking price for waterfront in Lanark Highlands & Perth was $699,900 on November 1, 2026, with a typical frontage of about 68 feet.
How long do cottages take to sell in Lanark Highlands & Perth?
Cottages that sold in the last 90 days took a median of 35 days.
Which lake in Lanark Highlands & Perth has the most cottages for sale?
Mississippi Lake, with 18 listed at a median of $768,950.
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 Lanark Highlands & Perth 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 Lanark Highlands and Perth
Live listings from the places in this article.
$925,000592 Caldwell Lane, Lanark Highlands2+1 bed · 2 bath · 917 - Lanark Highlands (Darling) TwpCourtesy of REAL BROKER ONTARIO LTD.
$1,099,000543 French Line Road, Lanark Highlands2 bed · 2 bath · 917 - Lanark Highlands (Darling) TwpCourtesy of COLDWELL BANKER FIRST OTTAWA REALTY
$199,900939 Darling Road, Lanark Highlands0 bath · 913 - Lanark Highlands (Lanark) TwpCourtesy of ROYAL LEPAGE TEAM REALTY
$844,9007A Lewis Street, Perth3 bed · 3 bath · 907 - PerthCourtesy of COLDWELL BANKER FIRST OTTAWA REALTY
$250,000181 DRUMMOND 1 Concession, Perth0 bath · 907 - PerthCourtesy of CENTURY 21 SYNERGY REALTY INC.
$399,00024 Harris Street E, Perth0 bath · 907 - PerthCourtesy of CENTURY 21 SYNERGY REALTY INC.