Overall
By Age
By Sex
By Education
By Employment
By Median Income (after-tax)
By Visible Minority status
By Immigrant status
By Recent Immigrant status
Overall
According to Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Market Basket Measure has been adopted as Canada’s Official Poverty Line.
The Market Basket Measure (MBM) is a measure of low income based on the cost of a specific basket of goods and services representing a modest, basic standard of living. It includes the costs of food, clothing, footwear, transportation, shelter and other expenses for a reference family of two adults (aged 25 to 49) and two children (aged 9 and 13).
For example, the market basket measure threshold for a family of two living in rural Ontario is $25,959. This means that it costs $25,959 to purchase goods and services for a basic standard of living for a family of two in this area. If a rural family of two has a disposable income less than this amount, they are considered to be living below the market basket measure. The thresholds are adjusted to accommodate different family sizes and various geographical areas.
According to the 2016 Census, just over 53,350 people (10%) lived below the MBM in Simcoe Muskoka. In comparison, Ontario had a higher proportion of residents living below the MBM (just over 1,830,110 or 14%).
In Simcoe County, approximately 10% (or 47,225) of the population were living below the MBM in 2015. Municipalities with the highest proportion of the population below the MBM included Orillia (14% or 4,100), Midland (14% or 2,235), and Collingwood (2,655 or 13%). The municipalities with the lowest proportion of the population below the MBM included Oro-Medonte (6% or 1,175), Springwater (6% or 1,095), and Adjala-Tosorontio (6% or 675).
In Muskoka District, approximately 11% of the population (or 6,125) were living below the MBM in 2015. Municipalities with the highest proportion of the population below the MBM included Gravenhurst (14% or 1,600) and Lake of Bays (11% or 345). The municipalities with the lowest proportion of the population below the MBM included Muskoka Lakes (9% or 580) and Bracebridge (9% or 1,345).
In Muskoka District, approximately 11% of the population (or 6,125) were living below the MBM in 2015. Municipalities with the highest proportion of the population below the MBM included Gravenhurst (14% or 1,600) and Lake of Bays (11% or 345). The municipalities with the lowest proportion of the population below the MBM included Muskoka Lakes (9% or 580) and Bracebridge (9% or 1,345).
By Age
In 2016, the median age of those living below the MBM, in Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka was 36 and 46 years, respectively. This was younger than the median age of the total population which was 43 years in Simcoe County and 51 years in Muskoka District.
Approximately 11,570 children aged 14 and under (13%) and 4,705 seniors aged 65 years and over (5%) were living below the MBM in Simcoe Muskoka. In comparison, 17% of children aged 14 and under and 8% of seniors aged 65 years and over were living below the MBM in Ontario in 2015.
The age group with the highest proportion living under the MBM in Simcoe Muskoka included children aged 0 to 4 years (14% or 3,820). The age group with the lowest proportion living under the MBM was seniors aged 65 years and over (5% or 4,705).
Approximately 11% (or 12,510) of reproductive aged women (ages 15 to 49) were living below the MBM in Simcoe Muskoka in 2015.
By Sex
Approximately 10% (28,075) of females and 10% (or 25,270) of males (all ages) were living below the MBM in Simcoe Muskoka. In comparison, 14% of females and 14% of males were living below the MBM in Ontario in 2015.
By Education
Approximately 45% (or 13,500) of Simcoe Muskoka adults (aged 25-64) who were living below the MBM reported completing a post-secondary school certificate, diploma or degree in 2015. In comparison, 58% of the overall adult Simcoe Muskoka population (aged 25-64) reported completing a post-secondary school certificate, diploma or degree.
A higher proportion of those living below the MBM in Simcoe Muskoka reported not having a certificate, diploma or degree (22% or 6,485) compared to the overall Simcoe Muskoka population (12% or 34,055).
By Employment
According to the Census, in 2015, 53% (or 22,025) of the Simcoe Muskoka population aged 15 years and older living below the MBM were part of the labour force. Just under half (45% or 18,700) of the population aged 15 years and older were employed, less than the overall population in Simcoe Muskoka which was 60% (or 267,275).
Among the Simcoe Muskoka population that were living below the MBM (15 years or older) who worked, 31% (or 6,675) worked full-time for the full year and 69% (or 14,950) worked part-time and/or part of the year in 2015. This is different from the overall Simcoe Muskoka population (53% and 47%, respectively).
The unemployment rate in Simcoe Muskoka for the population aged 15 years and older living below the MBM was higher than the unemployment rate for the overall population 15 years and older in Simcoe Muskoka, 15% and 7% respectively.
By Median Income (after-tax)
The median after-tax income in 2015 for the Simcoe Muskoka population aged 15 years and older living below the MBM in Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka was $13,035 and $12,693, respectively. In comparison, the 2015 median after-tax income for the total population ages 15 years and over in Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka was $30,900 and $29,400 respectively.
By Visible Minority Status
Simcoe Muskoka residents that identified themselves as a visible minority had a higher proportion of the population living below the MBM (15% or 5,215) compared to the population overall (10% or 53,350).
By Immigrant Status
The same proportion of Simcoe Muskoka residents that identified themselves as immigrants were living below the MBM (10% or 6,675) as the overall population of Simcoe Muskoka (10% or 53,350).
By Recent Immigrant Status
Simcoe Muskoka residents that identified themselves as a recent immigrant (i.e. immigrated within the past 5 years of the Census) had a higher proportion of the population living below the MBM (21% or 910) compared to the population overall (10% or 53,350).
More data on low income can be found on the Low Income Measures page.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit conducts an annual survey that assesses the cost of a nutritious food basket. More details are available on the Nutritious Food Basket page. The results from the MBM are not directly comparable to results from the Nutritious Food Basket survey due to differing methodologies.