2011 census data shows Ottawa-Gatineau region has highest median family income: StatsCan

Calgary and Edmonton follow close behind

Ottawa–Gatineau had the highest median total family income (before tax) of all census metropolitan areas (CMAs) in 2011, according to Statistics Canada data derived from personal income tax returns. The median total family income in Ottawa-Gatineau was $93,440.

Calgary followed closely behind with a median total family income of$93,410. In Edmonton, the median was $91,860. This ranking has remained the same since 2009, but the gap between Ottawa–Gatineau and Calgary shrank considerably between 2010 and 2011.

At the national level, median total family income rose 0.5 per cent, with the majority of CMAs seeing a change of less than one per cent. This mirrors what happened in 2010.

In 2011, the largest increases in median total family income compared with 2010 were in the Greater Sudbury region of Ontario, which experience a 4.1 per cent gain, and in St. John's, Nfld., which experience a 3.1 per cent gain. The biggest year-over-year decrease occurred in Brantford, Ont., which fell by 1.4 per cent.

Couple families

For couple families (with or without children), Ottawa–Gatineau, Calgary and Edmonton also had the highest median total family income at $102,610, $101,210 and $100,620 respectively. Greater Sudbury, Ont., experienced the largest increase in median family income for couple families at 4.8 per cent, while the largest decrease occurred in Windsor, Ont., falling by 1.5 per cent.

Lone-parent families

Among lone-parent families, Calgary had the highest median total family income at $46,980. This was followed by Québec City at $46,730 and Ottawa–Gatineau at $46,650. The largest increase in median family income for lone-parent families was in St. John's, Nfld., at 3.8 per cent. The largest decline was in Peterborough, Ont., falling by 4.1 per cent.

Non-census families

For people not in census families, Calgary had the highest median total family income at $35,860. This was followed by Edmonton at $34,260 and Ottawa–Gatineau at $32,930.

The largest increase in median family income for people not in census families was in Greater Sudbury, Ont., and Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo, Ont., where both regions experience a 3.5 per cent increase. The largest decline was in Abbotsford–Mission, Alta., which slipped by 1.3 per cent.

Census agglomerations

Among census agglomerations (CAs), tax filers in Wood Buffalo, Alta., had the highest median total family income at $175,230. This was followed by Yellowknife at $133,670. This ranking is unchanged from 2010. These two CAs have had the highest median total family income since this data series became available at the CA geography level in 2001.

The largest increase among CAs was in Bay Roberts, Nfld., at 6.2 per cent. The largest decline occurred in Leamington, Ont., which fell 6.8 per cent.

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