Poverty and living standards in Thunder Bay, Canada: official figures
11.6% of people in private households in Thunder Bay, 12,415 in all, were in low income in 2020 by the low-income measure after tax (LIM-AT), joint 24th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site; the rate for Canada was 11.1%.
How many children in Thunder Bay live in poverty?
15.3% of children under 18 in Thunder Bay lived in low-income households in 2020 (LIM-AT), 12th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 11.9%); among residents aged 65 and over the rate was 11.0% (Canada: 15.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyWhat is the low-income cut-off rate in Thunder Bay?
By the stricter low-income cut-offs after tax (LICO-AT), 5.3% of people in Thunder Bay were in low income in 2020 (Canada: 5.2%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Thunder Bay are in core housing need?
8.9% of households in Thunder Bay, 4,240, 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 17th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 10.1%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many households in Thunder Bay spend too much on housing?
16.0% of households in Thunder Bay spent 30% or more of their income on shelter costs in 2021, 7th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site (Canada: 20.9%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many renters in Thunder Bay struggle with housing costs?
Among renter households in Thunder Bay in 2021, 30.4% spent 30% or more of income on shelter, 19.8% were in core housing need and 22.9% lived in subsidized housing; among owners, 9.1% spent 30% or more and 3.8% were in core need (Canada: renters 33.2% and 20.0%, owners 14.8% and 5.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Thunder Bay compares with other cities in Canada
Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Thunder Bay ranks 25 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Prevalence of low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Richmond Hill | 11.8% |
| 23 | Belleville | 11.7% |
| 24 | Saguenay | 11.6% |
| 25 | Thunder Bay | 11.6% |
| 26 | Coquitlam | 11.4% |
| 27 | Kingston | 11.3% |
| 28 | Waterloo | 11.3% |
Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census (2020)
Thunder Bay ranks 12 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 0-17 in low income (LIM-AT), 2020 income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Saskatoon | 15.7% |
| 10 | Montréal | 15.6% |
| 11 | St. Catharines | 15.6% |
| 12 | Thunder Bay | 15.3% |
| 13 | Toronto | 14.7% |
| 14 | Halifax | 14.7% |
| 15 | Regina | 14.4% |
Households in core housing need, 2021 Census (2021)
Thunder Bay ranks 53 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households in core housing need, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Cambridge | 9.3% |
| 51 | Milton | 9.2% |
| 52 | Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo | 9.0% |
| 53 | Thunder Bay | 8.9% |
| 54 | Cape Breton | 8.4% |
| 55 | Longueuil | 8.2% |
| 56 | Whitby | 8.2% |
Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census (2021)
Thunder Bay ranks 63 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households spending 30% or more of income on shelter, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Sherbrooke | 16.4% |
| 61 | Québec | 16.1% |
| 62 | Cape Breton | 16.1% |
| 63 | Thunder Bay | 16.0% |
| 64 | Gatineau | 15.8% |
| 65 | Chatham-Kent | 15.7% |
| 66 | Terrebonne | 13.5% |
More on Thunder Bay: 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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