Median Family Income (after tax)
Definition
Median income of census families (after tax).
Census families: “A married couple and the children, if any, of either and/or both spouses; a couple living common law and the children, if any, of either and/or both partners; or a lone parent of any marital status with at least one child living in the same dwelling and that child or those children (all members of a particular census family live in the same dwelling; a couple may be of opposite or same sex)” Statistics Canada
Family after-tax income is the sum of the after-tax incomes of all members of the census family. A detailed definition of after-tax income is available from the Family data – User Guide.
Median is the middle number in a group of numbers. Where a median income, for example, is given as $26,000, it means that exactly half of the incomes reported are greater than or equal to $26,000, and that the other half is less than or equal to the median amount. For this family-based table, zero values are included in the calculation of medians.
Why This Matters
“After-tax income can determine whether or not a family has enough money to purchase goods and services that are important to wellbeing. Access to food, shelter, and clothing, not to mention higher education and recreation and leisure opportunities, are all examples of resources that are heavily influenced by income. Consequently, higher median incomes can indicate higher levels of wellbeing among a population.” Canadian Index of Well-Being Accessed November 7, 2019
Measurement and Limitations
In Peterborough (CMA) in 2016, the median family income (after-tax) was $49,410. This was an increase of 32.5 percent since 2004 when the median family income (after-tax) was $37,290. The median family income in Peterborough (CMA) was $3,170 less than the provincial average ($52,580) and $1,210 less than the national average ($50,620).
Data Source
Last update: June 2019. Source is updated annually
References
Canadian Index of Wellbeing “After-tax median income of economic families” Accessed November 7, 2019
Statistics Canada “Technical Reference Guide for the Annual Income Estimates for Census Families, Individuals and Seniors” Accessed November 7, 2019
Median Family Income (after tax) in the Sustainable Development Goals
Click on the SDG to reveal more information
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Extreme poverty rates have been cut by more than half since 1990. While this is a remarkable achievement, one in five people in developing regions still live on less than $1.90 a day, and there are millions more who make little more than this daily amount, plus many people risk slipping back into poverty.
Poverty is more than the lack of income and resources to ensure a sustainable livelihood. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion as well as the lack of participation in decision-making. Economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality.
