Data: Income divergence index (D-index) by census tract, 2017

Released: 2020-06-22

Statistics Canada has produced an index that measures the level of neighbourhood income mixing. The index measures the degree to which families of varying income levels are represented in neighbourhoods. It can be used by analysts to examine, for instance, whether the income mix of a neighbourhood is associated with outcomes such as residents' neighbourhood satisfaction or where to focus new investments in social and affordable housing.

Released today, the divergence index (D-index) compares neighbourhood discrete income distributions to a base distribution (income quintiles of the neighbourhood's census metropolitan area) to describe the level of neighbourhood income mixing. Neighbourhoods are defined using census tracts, which are small, relatively stable geographic areas that usually have a population between 2,500 and 8,000.

This work was initiated and funded by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which also contributed in an advisory capacity.

For more information on the D-index, refer to the reference document Neighbourhood, Dwelling and Apartment Building Income Mixing: Measures and Experimental Estimates Across Census Metropolitan Areas.

Products

This information is available in Table 11-10-0074-01. In the near future, these data will also be made available in the Canadian Statistical Geospatial Explorer Hub which will allow users to visualize the differences in this income mixing measure across census tracts.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).