CAF Posting · Neighbourhood Comparison · August 2026
Both are popular with families relocating to Ottawa, but your DND work location, commute, budget and HHT priorities can make one a much better fit than the other.
In this guide
Why CAF families compare themDND commuteHomes and lifestyleHHT strategyWhich should you choose?If you have been posted to Ottawa and are comparing Barrhaven and Stittsville, start with one question before looking at houses: where will you actually report to work?
Ottawa does not have one single military base. CAF and DND personnel can work at Carling, downtown, Leitrim, Uplands and other National Capital Region locations. That can completely change which side of the city makes sense for your family. Use our DND locations in Ottawa map before building your housing shortlist.
I'm Dwayne Desveaux. I served 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces and now help military families relocate to Ottawa as a REALTOR® and approved BGRS/SIRVA third-party supplier. My goal during an HHT is not to sell you on a neighbourhood. It is to help you eliminate the ones that do not fit your posting.
Both communities offer suburban housing, schools, parks, recreation, shopping and family-oriented neighbourhoods. The difference is geography. Stittsville sits farther west, close to Kanata and the Highway 417 corridor. Barrhaven sits southwest, with access to Highway 416 and Ottawa's south end.
| Military relocation factor | Barrhaven | Stittsville |
|---|---|---|
| Natural worksite fit | Often worth considering for Leitrim, Uplands and south-end locations | Often worth considering for NDHQ Carling and west-end locations |
| Community feel | Large suburban community with extensive everyday amenities | West-end suburban growth with Main Street and a smaller-community feel |
| Road access | Strong access to Highway 416 and south Ottawa | Strong access to Highway 417, Kanata and west Ottawa |
| HHT question | Does the south-west location work for both household commutes? | Does the west-end location work for both household commutes? |
Posted to NDHQ Carling? Stittsville deserves serious consideration because it keeps you in Ottawa's west end. Barrhaven may still work, but you should test the actual commute before making a decision.
Posted to CFS Leitrim or a south-end DND location? Barrhaven becomes much more compelling geographically. Depending on your exact worksite, you should also compare Riverside South and Findlay Creek.
Working downtown or at another NCR location? Do not assume either community wins automatically. Transit, parking, your spouse's commute and your family's routine can matter more than the distance shown on a map.
Barrhaven is hard to beat for sheer everyday convenience. It has a broad range of suburban housing, shopping, restaurants, recreation and services. For a military family arriving on a short HHT, having so much within the community can make settling in easier.
Stittsville combines newer suburban development with established areas, trails, greenspace and the character around Stittsville Main Street. Its proximity to Kanata is also useful when a spouse works in Ottawa's west-end employment and technology corridor.
For the complete non-military comparison, including the latest 2026 Ottawa housing data, read our full Barrhaven vs Stittsville 2026 neighbourhood guide.
Do not spend your HHT randomly driving across Ottawa. Once we know your reporting location, budget and home requirements, we can decide whether both communities deserve time on your shortlist.
If they do, tour them on the same day. Drive the route to your worksite. Check your spouse's commute. Visit the shopping areas and recreation facilities you would actually use. Then compare real homes that fit your budget rather than comparing neighbourhoods in the abstract.
Start with Stittsville if your posting is at Carling or your household needs to stay west.
Start with Barrhaven if your work and family routine pull you toward Ottawa's south or southwest.
Compare both if the commute works either way and the decision comes down to the home, budget and lifestyle.
There is no universal winner. For a CAF posting, the right answer is the community that makes the entire posting work, not just the morning drive.
Send us your work location, COS date, budget, family needs and the type of home you are looking for. We can help you build a realistic neighbourhood shortlist before you arrive.