Poverty and living standards in Saint John, Canada: official figures
17.8% of people in private households in Saint John, 12,100 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), the highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
How many children in Saint John live in poverty?
24.4% of children under 18 in Saint John lived in low-income households in 2020 (LIM-AT), the highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 11.9%); among residents aged 65 and over the rate was 20.8% (Canada: 15.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the low-income cut-off rate in Saint John?
By the stricter low-income cut-offs after tax (LICO-AT), 6.4% of people in Saint John were in low income in 2020 (Canada: 5.2%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Saint John are in core housing need?
8.2% of households in Saint John, 2,575, 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 joint 13th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 10.1%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Saint John spend too much on housing?
18.6% of households in Saint John spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs in 2021, 15th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 20.9%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many renters in Saint John struggle with housing costs?
Among renter households in Saint John in 2021, 27.1% spent 30% or more of income on shelter, 13.9% were in core housing need and 16.1% lived in subsidized housing; among owners, 11.4% spent 30% or more and 3.6% were in core need (Canada: renters 33.2% and 20.0%, owners 14.8% and 5.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Saint John compares with other cities in Canada
Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Saint John ranks 1 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint John | 17.8% |
| 2 | Montréal | 17.4% |
| 3 | Cape Breton | 17.4% |
| 4 | Richmond | 15.9% |
| 5 | Windsor | 15.6% |
| 6 | Moncton | 15.4% |
| 7 | Trois-Rivières | 15.0% |
Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Saint John ranks 1 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint John | 24.4% |
| 2 | Cape Breton | 21.9% |
| 3 | Windsor | 21.1% |
| 4 | Moncton | 20.8% |
| 5 | St. John's | 19.1% |
| 6 | Winnipeg | 17.7% |
| 7 | London | 17.4% |
Households in core housing need, 2021 Census (2021)
Saint John ranks 57 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households in core housing need, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Cape Breton | 8.4% |
| 55 | Longueuil | 8.2% |
| 56 | Whitby | 8.2% |
| 57 | Saint John | 8.2% |
| 58 | Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury | 8.1% |
| 59 | Waterloo | 8.0% |
| 60 | Burlington | 7.9% |
Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census (2021)
Saint John ranks 55 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Ottawa | 20.1% |
| 53 | Regina | 19.3% |
| 54 | Kamloops | 19.0% |
| 55 | Saint John | 18.6% |
| 56 | Ottawa - Gatineau | 18.4% |
| 57 | Laval | 17.3% |
| 58 | Longueuil | 17.3% |
More on Saint John: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.