Updated: April 2025  |  bremo.io financial guides

Montreal Commuter Towns 2025 — Best Suburbs for Commuters

Choosing the right commuter town around Montreal can make the difference between a manageable daily journey and an exhausting grind. With the expansion of rapid transit (REM, extended metro, commuter trains), more suburban municipalities now offer genuine transit options alongside traditional car commuting. This guide ranks and profiles the best commuter towns in the Montreal area for 2025.

Evaluating Commuter Options

We assess commuter towns on four dimensions: transit access quality, car commute time, housing affordability, and overall quality of life. The best commuter towns score well across all four — a town with a 30-minute commute is not valuable if you cannot afford to live there.

Tier 1: Excellent Transit + Reasonable Prices

Laval (Laval-des-Rapides / Chomedey near Montmorency)

Transit: Orange Line metro — 20–25 min to downtown Montreal
Car commute: 30–45 min
Price: Condo from $280K, detached from $550K
Verdict: Best overall transit access outside of Montreal island. Metro to downtown is fast and reliable. Pay a premium over further suburbs but get city-quality transit.

Brossard (Panama REM area)

Transit: REM — 20 min to downtown Montreal (Gare Centrale)
Car commute: 25–40 min
Price: Condo from $300K, detached from $580K
Verdict: REM is transformative for Brossard. For commuters to downtown or Montréal-Trudeau airport, the REM is exceptionally convenient. The DIX30 area is increasingly urban.

Longueuil (near Yellow Line stations)

Transit: Yellow Line metro — 15–20 min to downtown
Car commute: 20–35 min
Price: Condo from $250K, detached from $480K
Verdict: Best value for metro-accessible commuting on the South Shore. Some areas have absorbed commercial sprawl but metro access is strong.

Tier 2: Commuter Train Access

Blainville

Transit: EXOMTL Saint-Jérôme train — 45–55 min to Gare Centrale
Car commute: 40–55 min
Price: Condo from $280K, detached from $550K
Verdict: Premium North Shore lifestyle with train option. One of the best quality-of-life suburbs. Worth the commute for families who prioritize environment over speed.

Sainte-Thérèse / Boisbriand

Transit: EXOMTL Saint-Jérôme train — 40–50 min to Gare Centrale
Car commute: 35–50 min
Price: Detached from $480K
Verdict: Good value on the North Shore with solid transit option. Less premium than Blainville but comparable commute.

Deux-Montagnes area

Transit: EXOMTL Deux-Montagnes line — 40–55 min to Gare Centrale
Car commute: 40–55 min
Price: Detached from $430K
Verdict: Affordable North Shore commute option. More accessible pricing than Laval or Blainville.

Tier 3: Car-Dependent but Accessible

Terrebonne

Transit: EXOMTL Mascouche line (Lachenaie station) — 55–70 min
Car commute: 40–55 min via A-25
Price: Detached from $420K
Verdict: Good value, some train access, growing local economy reduces need to commute.

Repentigny

Transit: Limited express bus connections
Car commute: 35–50 min via A-40
Price: Detached from $420K
Verdict: Best suited for buyers who work in east Montreal or Lanaudière region, or remote workers.

Saint-Eustache

Transit: Bus to Deux-Montagnes train; limited direct service
Car commute: 40–60 min via A-640 + A-13
Price: Detached from $380K
Verdict: Most affordable North Shore option with some transit capability. Best for those with flexible work arrangements.

Making Your Choice

The right commuter town depends on where you work in Montreal, how often you commute, and your budget. If you commute daily to downtown or the West Island, prioritize transit access (Laval, Brossard, Longueuil). If you commute 2–3 days per week or work in the suburbs, car-dependent towns like Terrebonne or Saint-Eustache offer the best value.