Definition

9. Median household income

All income values are in constant (2005) dollars.

Household total income - The total income of a household is the sum of the total incomes of all members of that household.

Total income refers to the total money income received from the following sources during calendar year 2005 by persons 15 years of age and over:

• wages and salaries (total)
• net farm income
• net non-farm income from unincorporated business and/or professional practice
• child benefits
• Old Age Security pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement
• benefits from Canada or Quebec Pension Plan
• benefits from Employment Insurance
• other income from government sources
• dividends, interest on bonds, deposits and savings certificates, and other investment income
• retirement pensions, superannuation and annuities, including those from RRSPs and RRIFs
• other money income.

Receipts not counted as income - The income concept excludes gambling gains and losses, lottery prizes, money inherited during the year in a lump sum, capital gains or losses, receipts from the sale of property, income tax refunds, loan payments received, lump-sum settlements of insurance policies, rebates received on property taxes, refunds of pension contributions as well as all income 'in kind,' such as free meals and living accommodations, or agricultural products produced and consumed on the farm.

Median income of families (census/economic), persons 15 years of age and over not in families, and households - The median income of a specified group of families (census/economic), persons 15 years of age and over not in families, or households is that amount which divides their income size distribution, ranked by size of income, into two halves. That is, the incomes of the first half of the families, persons 15 years of age and over not in families, or households are below the median, while those of the second half are above the median. Median incomes of families (census/economic), persons 15 years of age and over not in families, or households are normally calculated for all units in the specified group, whether or not they reported income.

Canadian censuses were conducted in 1996, 2001 and 2006. Income data from these censuses relate to the calendar year prior to the census year, i.e., 1995, 2000 and 2005, respectively. For additional information, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 92-566-XWE.