Poverty and living standards in Mississauga, Canada: official figures

9.4% of people in private households in Mississauga, 66,740 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), 25th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.

Low-income rate (LIM-AT, 2020)

9.4%

2020

Households in core housing need (2021)

14.9%

2021

How many children in Mississauga live in poverty?

11.9% of children under 18 in Mississauga lived in low-income households in 2020 (LIM-AT), joint 33rd highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 11.9%); among residents aged 65 and over the rate was 11.8% (Canada: 15.0%).

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

What is the low-income cut-off rate in Mississauga?

By the stricter low-income cut-offs after tax (LICO-AT), 5.9% of people in Mississauga were in low income in 2020 (Canada: 5.2%).

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

How many households in Mississauga are in core housing need?

14.9% of households in Mississauga, 35,085, were in core housing need in 2021, meaning their home was unaffordable, crowded or in need of major repairs and they could not afford an acceptable local alternative; that was 10th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 10.1%).

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

How many households in Mississauga spend too much on housing?

28.0% of households in Mississauga spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs in 2021, 10th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 20.9%).

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

How many renters in Mississauga struggle with housing costs?

Among renter households in Mississauga in 2021, 39.1% spent 30% or more of income on shelter, 28.0% were in core housing need and 12.9% lived in subsidized housing; among owners, 23.5% spent 30% or more and 9.6% were in core need (Canada: renters 33.2% and 20.0%, owners 14.8% and 5.3%).

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

How Mississauga compares with other cities in Canada

Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)

Mississauga ranks 45 of 69, highest first.

Rank	City	Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census
42	Red Deer	9.8%
43	Lethbridge	9.8%
44	Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury	9.5%
45	Mississauga	9.4%
46	Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo	9.3%
47	Calgary	9.0%
48	Ottawa	8.9%

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)

Mississauga ranks 33 of 69, highest first.

Rank	City	Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census
30	Kitchener	12.5%
31	Trois-Rivières	12.0%
32	Lethbridge	12.0%
33	Mississauga	11.9%
34	Markham	11.9%
35	Red Deer	11.8%
36	Longueuil	11.6%

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

Households in core housing need, 2021 Census (2021)

Mississauga ranks 10 of 69, highest first.

Rank	City	Households in core housing need, 2021 Census
7	Richmond Hill	15.6%
8	Surrey	15.4%
9	Oshawa	15.1%
10	Mississauga	14.9%
11	Markham	14.6%
12	Peterborough	14.2%
13	Belleville	13.2%

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census (2021)

Mississauga ranks 10 of 69, highest first.

Rank	City	Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census
7	Brampton	31.0%
8	Burnaby	31.0%
9	Coquitlam	29.1%
10	Mississauga	28.0%
11	Vaughan	27.9%
12	Oshawa	27.6%
13	Kelowna	27.3%

Source: Statistics Canada · saved copy

More on Mississauga: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · all cities in Canada

Sources

Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census subdivisions, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CSD, gender total, counts and rates), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 46d086943a5e…)

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