Chris
Crowell Halifax REALTOR®

Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia · Buying and selling

Cole Harbour real estate

Cole Harbour is an established suburban community about 6 km east of downtown Dartmouth, built largely during the 1970s and 1980s on what was once market garden and dairy farmland. It suits families and buyers who want a settled neighbourhood with schools, Cole Harbour Place and the Salt Marsh Trail close by, plus quick highway access to Dartmouth, Burnside and Halifax.

What's my Cole Harbour home worth?See Cole Harbour homes for sale

Cole Harbour, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

Forest Hills

Forest Hills sits north of Cole Harbour Road and was planned as a new town by the former Nova Scotia Housing Commission, which bought the land in 1971 and opened the first phase in 1974. Its streets are laid out off Forest Hills Parkway, which has a multi-use pathway along its length. Cole Harbour Place, both local high schools and several elementary schools are within the subdivision.

Colby Village

Colby Village is the residential subdivision south of Cole Harbour Road. It includes Bissett Park and the Cole Harbour Outdoor Pool and Tennis Complex, a popular summer spot, and has Colby Village Elementary on Colby Drive. Halifax Transit runs a local route here plus peak-hour express service.

Cole Harbour Road (Route 207) corridor

Cole Harbour Road is the community's main street and business district, with shopping and services along the route. It becomes Portland Street heading into Dartmouth and links to Highway 111. Homes on the side streets off the corridor are close to transit and everyday errands.

Bissett Road and Poplar Drive area

The southern side of the community runs toward the harbour itself, where the Salt Marsh Trailhead on Bissett Road and Cole Harbour Heritage Park offer trails, shoreline and marsh views. The Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum on Poplar Drive keeps the area's farming history on display. This part of Cole Harbour suits buyers who want trail access out the door.

Westphal and Lake Loon edge

To the north and west, Cole Harbour meets Westphal and Lake Loon, which share the same council district (District 4, with Preston and Cherry Brook). Westphal is home to the regional watershed and water filtration plant that supplies Dartmouth and areas east of Halifax Harbour.

Cole Harbour homes for sale

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Selling in Cole Harbour? Start with a free home evaluation

Prices in Cole Harbour vary a lot from one street to the next. Lot size, water and septic or town services, the age of the home and what's been updated all move the number. I pull the recent comparable sales around your street, then sit down with you to go through them and the price range I'd expect. No pressure and no obligation.

What is my Cole Harbour home worth?

Chris will prepare a free comparative market analysis and set up a time to review it with you.

Schools in Cole Harbour

  • Cole Harbour District HighGrades 10-12 (English and French Immersion), 2 Chameau Crescent, Dartmouth · Cole Harbour District
  • Auburn Drive HighGrades 10-12 (English and French), 300 Auburn Drive, Dartmouth · Auburn Drive
  • Sir Robert Borden Junior HighGrades 7-9 (English and Late French Immersion), 16 Evergreen Drive, Dartmouth · Cole Harbour District
  • Astral Drive Junior HighGrades 7-9 (English and Early French Immersion), 238 Astral Drive, Dartmouth · Auburn Drive
  • Robert Kemp Turner ElementaryPre-Primary to Grade 6 (English), 141 Circassion Drive, Cole Harbour · Cole Harbour District
  • George Bissett ElementaryPre-Primary to Grade 6 (English), 170 Arklow Drive, Dartmouth · Cole Harbour District
  • Colby Village ElementaryPre-Primary to Grade 6 (English), 92 Colby Drive, Dartmouth · Auburn Drive
  • Caldwell Road ElementaryPre-Primary to Grade 6 (English), 280 Caldwell Road, Dartmouth · Auburn Drive
  • Joseph Giles ElementaryPre-Primary to Grade 6 (English), 54 Gregory Drive, Dartmouth · Auburn Drive

These are schools located in Cole Harbour, not confirmed catchments; Cole Harbour is split between the Cole Harbour District and Auburn Drive families of schools, and many carry Dartmouth mailing addresses. Check any specific address with the HRCE School Finder before buying.

Parks, lakes and recreation

  • Cole Harbour Heritage Park: about 400 acres with seven looped trails, drumlin lookouts and shoreline, trailhead at 256 Bissett Road
  • Salt Marsh Trail: 9 km one way on a former rail causeway across the marsh, part of the Trans Canada Trail, with four bridges and links to the Shearwater Flyer and Atlantic View trails
  • Cole Harbour Place, 51 Forest Hills Parkway: two arenas, an aquatics complex, squash courts, a fitness centre and the Cole Harbour Public Library
  • Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum, 471 Poplar Drive: a volunteer-run museum of the area's market garden and dairy past
  • Bissett Park and the Cole Harbour Outdoor Pool and Tennis Complex in Colby Village
  • Rainbow Haven Beach Provincial Park, 2248 Cow Bay Road: a sand and cobble Atlantic beach a short drive south, with lifeguards scheduled in July and August (check the park page for current construction advisories)

Getting around from Cole Harbour

Cole Harbour Road (Route 207) runs west into Portland Street and Highway 111, and Forest Hills Parkway connects north to Highway 107 toward Burnside and Bedford. Outside rush hour, the drive to downtown Halifax over one of the harbour bridges is often in the 20 to 30 minute range, though peak traffic on Highway 111 and the bridges can add a good deal of time. Halifax Transit serves the area with local routes and weekday peak express buses, including routes 59, 159, 179 and 401 near Cole Harbour Road. Halifax Stanfield International Airport is reachable by Highway 107 and Highway 102.

Cole Harbour FAQ

Is Cole Harbour part of Halifax Regional Municipality?

Yes. Cole Harbour was an unincorporated village in the Municipality of the County of Halifax until the 1995 amalgamation that created HRM. Canada Post recognizes most residents as living in Dartmouth, so many addresses use a Dartmouth mailing address. It is in Council District 4 along with Preston, Westphal and Cherry Brook.

Do homes in Cole Harbour have municipal water and sewer?

Most of Cole Harbour's suburban subdivisions are served by Halifax Water, which posts service notices for the Westphal and Cole Harbour area. Water for Dartmouth and areas east of the harbour is treated at the filtration plant in neighbouring Westphal. Buyers looking at properties on the rural edges should confirm services on the listing.

What schools are in Cole Harbour?

Cole Harbour has two high schools (Cole Harbour District High and Auburn Drive High), junior highs including Sir Robert Borden and Astral Drive, and several elementary schools such as Robert Kemp Turner, George Bissett, Colby Village, Caldwell Road and Joseph Giles. Schools fall into the Cole Harbour District and Auburn Drive families. Catchments vary by street, so check an address with the HRCE School Finder.

How long is the commute from Cole Harbour to Halifax?

Outside rush hour, downtown Halifax is often 20 to 30 minutes away by Highway 111 and one of the harbour bridges, and downtown Dartmouth is about 6 km west. Forest Hills Parkway connects to Highway 107 for Burnside and Bedford. Halifax Transit runs local and peak express routes through the community.

When was most of Cole Harbour built?

Extensive residential and commercial development took place in the 1970s and 1980s, after Highway 111 was completed and Cole Harbour Road was widened. Forest Hills was planned by the Nova Scotia Housing Commission as a new town, with its first phase opened in 1974. Before that, Cole Harbour was a farming community supplying Halifax.

What is there to do outdoors in Cole Harbour?

The Salt Marsh Trail and Cole Harbour Heritage Park are the big draws, with flat rail trail riding across the marsh and looped walking trails over drumlins and along the shore. Cole Harbour Place has arenas, pools and a fitness centre, and Rainbow Haven Beach in nearby Cow Bay is a short drive away. The Shearwater Flyer and Atlantic View trails connect for longer rides.

What is it like to sell a home in Cole Harbour?

Cole Harbour's established subdivisions, schools and trail access draw steady interest from families, first-time buyers and people moving up within Dartmouth. Because many homes date from the same era, condition, updates and presentation make a real difference in how a listing stands out. A local pricing review that compares similar homes on nearby streets is the best place to start.

Where can I see homes for sale in Cole Harbour?

Current Cole Harbour listings are on this page and on the map search. Ask for listing alerts and Chris will email you when a home that fits comes up, or book a showing and he will meet you there.

Who can help me buy or sell a home in Cole Harbour?

Chris Crowell, REALTOR® with REMAX NOVA, works out of the REMAX NOVA office at 397 Bedford Highway and helps buyers and sellers in Cole Harbour and across HRM. Call or text 902-914-5455 or book a call on this site.

Sources

Community information is a general guide compiled from public sources in November 2026. Confirm school catchments, services and zoning for a specific property before you buy or sell.

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