Family income and income of individuals, related variables: Sub-provincial data, 2010

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In 2010, Ottawa–Gatineau had the highest median total family income (before tax) of all the census metropolitan areas (CMAs), at $90,790, according to data derived from personal income tax returns.

Ottawa–Gatineau was followed by Calgary ($89,490) and Edmonton ($87,930). This ranking was unchanged from 2009.

In 2010, the largest increases in median total family income were in Guelph (+2.1%) and Thunder Bay (+1.8%). The biggest decrease occurred in Vancouver (-2.5%).

Year-over-year percentage changes in median total family income in 2010 for CMAs were generally less pronounced than in the previous year. In 2009, the highest annual increase was in St. John's (+5.0%), while the largest decline was in Greater Sudbury (-5.7%).

For couple families (with or without children), the largest increase occurred in Guelph (+2.6%) and the largest decrease was in Vancouver (-2.4%). Among lone-parent families, the largest increase in median total family income was in Thunder Bay (+6.6%), and the largest decline was in Calgary (-3.2%).

For people not in census families, the largest increase was in St. John's (+2.3%), and the largest decline was in Vancouver (-5.6%).

Among census agglomerations (CAs), taxfilers in Wood Buffalo, Alberta ($169,790) had the highest median total family income, followed by those in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories ($128,810). The largest increase among CAs was in Sept-Îles, Quebec (+5.8%), while the largest decline occurred in Kitimat, British Columbia (-7.3%).

Note to readers

Data for 2010 on family income and related variables derived from personal income tax returns filed in spring 2011 are now available for various sub-provincial geographic areas. Total income includes employment income, investment income, government transfers, pension income and other income. The median is the point at which half of the families' incomes are higher and half are lower.

All data in this release refer to income before the payment of income tax. After-tax income data are also available. All figures for previous years have been adjusted for inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. Data for census families and persons not in census families are derived from income tax data and are not adjusted on the basis of Statistics Canada's population estimates.

This release uses the census family concept for families. 'Census family' refers to a married or a common-law couple, with or without children at home, or a lone-parent of any marital status, with at least one child living at home. There is no restriction on the age of the children. This concept differs from the economic family concept, used by the 2006 Census and the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics.

All data in this release have been tabulated according to the 2006 Standard Geographical Classification used for the 2006 Census.

A census metropolitan area (CMA) or a census agglomeration (CA) is formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centred on a population centre (also known as the core). A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000, of which 50,000 or more must live in the core. A CA must have a core population of at least 10,000.

Table 1

Median total income of census families and persons not in census families, by census metropolitan area

Table 2

Median total income of couple families and lone-parent families, by census metropolitan area

Available without charge in CANSIM: tables CANSIM table111-0004 to 111-0022, CANSIM table111-0024 to 111-0026, CANSIM table111-0032 to 111-0035, CANSIM table111-0043 and CANSIM table111-0044.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number survey number4105.

Data for census Family Income (Catalogue number13C0016, various prices) and Seniors' Income (Catalogue number89C0022, various prices), as well as for the income of individuals including Neighbourhood Income and Demographics (Catalogue number13C0015, various prices), Labour Income Profiles (Catalogue number71C0018, various prices) and Economic Dependency Profiles (Catalogue number13C0017, various prices) are available for Canada, provinces and territories, federal electoral districts, economic regions, census divisions, census metropolitan areas, census agglomerations and census tracts. These custom services are available upon request.

For Census Agglomerations, tables for total median family income showing 2010 data, 2009 data (2009 adjusted in constant 2010 dollars) and the percentage change are also available upon request.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Statistics Canada's National Contact Centre (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 613-951-8116; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or the Media Hotline (613-951-4636; statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@canada.ca).