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

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According to family income data derived from 2009 personal income tax returns, Ottawa–Gatineau was the census metropolitan area (CMA) with the highest median total family income ($89,410), followed by Calgary ($88,410), Edmonton ($86,250) and Regina ($83,550).

The largest percentage increases in median total family income between 2008 and 2009 in CMAs were in St. John's (+5.0%), Saint John (+2.9%), Ottawa–Gatineau (+2.3%), Regina (+2.3%) and Saguenay (+2.1%). Notable decreases in median total family income occurred in Greater Sudbury (-5.7%) and Windsor (-4.9%).

Among CMAs, the largest increases in median total family income for couple families were recorded in St. John's (+4.4%) and Regina (+2.4%), while the largest decrease was in Greater Sudbury (-6.7%). As for the median total family income of lone-parent families and persons not in census families, the largest increases also occurred in St. John's (+5.5% and +4.5% respectively) and Regina (+4.6% and +3.7% respectively). The largest decrease for the median total family income of lone-parent families was in Kelowna (-3.6%), while for persons not in census families, the largest decrease was observed in Vancouver (-3.7%) (correction).

Among census agglomerations, the largest percentage increase in median total family income was in Petawawa, Ontario (+8.2%), while the largest decrease was in Brooks, Alberta (-8.7%). The biggest advance in median total family income for couple families was in Petawawa, Ontario (+8.8%). For lone-parent families, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (+11.3%), had the largest increase in median total family income, while for persons not in census families, the largest gain was in Petawawa, Ontario (+12.3%). The largest decrease occurred in Brooks, Alberta (-9.2%) for median total family income for couple families, in Cobourg, Ontario (-9.6%) for lone-parent families, and in Fort St. John, British Columbia (-6.3%) for persons not in census families.

Note: The 2009 data on family income and related variables derived from personal income tax returns filed in the spring of 2010 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 where half of the families' incomes are higher and half are lower.

All the income 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.

In this release, the census family concept is used 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, which was used for the release of 2006 Census and Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics data.

All data in this release have been tabulated according to the 2006 Standard Geographical Classification used for the 2006 Census. Census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs) are areas consisting of one or more neighbouring municipalities situated around a major urban core. A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more live in the urban core. A CA must have an urban core population of at least 10,000.

Available on CANSIM: tables 111-0004 to 111-0022, 111-0024 to 111-0026, 111-0032 to 111-0035, 111-0043 and 111-0044.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 4105.

Data for census Family Income (13C0016, various prices) and Seniors' Income (89C0022, various prices), as well as for the income of individuals including Neighbourhood Income and Demographics (13C0015, various prices), Labour Income Profiles (71C0018, various prices) and Economic Dependency Profiles (13C0017, various prices) are available for letter carrier routes, census tracts, urban forward sortation areas (the first three characters of the postal code), cities, towns, federal electoral districts, census agglomerations, census divisions, census metropolitan areas, economic regions, provinces, territories and Canada.

For further information, contact Statistics Canada's National Contact Centre (613-951-8116; toll-free 1-800-263-1136; infostats@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-888-297-7355; 613-951-7355; income@statcan.gc.ca), Income Statistics Division.