Highest Poverty in Ontario

Top 100 cities ranked by highest poverty

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All Countries  ·  Canada  ·  Ontario

Highest Poverty - Ontario

1 Parry Sound 20.9%
2 Hawkesbury 20.6%
3 Elliot Lake 20.0%
4 Cornwall 18.1%
5 Kirkland Lake 17.1%
6 Renfrew 16.8%
7 Pembroke 16.5%
8 Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh 16.5%
9 Smiths Falls 16.4%
10 Chatsworth 16.2%
11 Windsor 15.6%
12 Owen Sound 15.2%
13 Huron-Kinloss 15.0%
14 Brockville 14.6%
15 North Glengarry 14.5%
16 West Nipissing 14.2%
17 Midland 14.2%
18 Perth 14.0%
19 London 13.8%
20 Arran-Elderslie 13.7%
21 Havelock-Belmont-Methuen 13.6%
22 Cochrane 13.5%
23 Southgate 13.4%
24 Toronto 13.2%
25 Temiskaming Shores 13.0%
26 Tweed 13.0%
27 North Bay 12.9%
28 Peterborough 12.8%
29 Aylmer 12.8%
30 Gananoque 12.7%
31 Orillia 12.6%
32 Kapuskasing 12.5%
33 St. Catharines 12.4%
34 Gravenhurst 12.4%
35 Trent Hills 12.4%
36 Minden Hills 12.3%
37 Wellington North 12.1%
38 Port Colborne 12.1%
39 Penetanguishene 12.0%
40 Chatham-Kent 12.0%
41 Welland 12.0%
42 Arnprior 12.0%
43 Goderich 12.0%
44 West Grey 11.9%
45 Lanark Highlands 11.9%
46 Algoma, Unorganized, North Part 11.9%
47 Grey Highlands 11.9%
48 Richmond Hill 11.8%
49 North Huron 11.8%
50 Sault Ste. Marie 11.7%
51 South Bruce Peninsula 11.7%
52 Belleville 11.7%
53 Timmins 11.7%
54 Hanover 11.7%
55 Thunder Bay 11.6%
56 Thunder Bay, Unorganized 11.6%
57 Dysart et al 11.6%
58 Niagara Falls 11.5%
59 Kingston 11.3%
60 Waterloo 11.3%
61 Greater Napanee 11.3%
62 West Elgin 11.2%
63 Whitewater Region 11.2%
64 Stirling-Rawdon 11.1%
65 Fort Erie 11.1%
66 Leamington 11.1%
67 South Dundas 11.1%
68 Fort Frances 10.9%
69 St. Thomas 10.9%
70 Thorold 10.9%
71 Espanola 10.9%
72 Markham 10.8%
73 Brantford 10.8%
74 Hamilton 10.8%
75 Meaford 10.7%
76 Seguin 10.7%
77 Minto 10.7%
78 Bayham 10.5%
79 South Bruce 10.4%
80 Huron East 10.4%
81 Perth East 10.3%
82 Southwest Middlesex 10.3%
83 Oshawa 10.2%
84 Kawartha Lakes 10.2%
85 Dryden 10.1%
86 Central Huron 10.1%
87 Prince Edward 10.1%
88 South Huron 10.0%
89 Norfolk County 10.0%
90 Edwardsburgh/Cardinal 10.0%
91 Lambton Shores 10.0%
92 Kitchener 9.9%
93 Collingwood 9.9%
94 Malahide 9.9%
95 Trent Lakes 9.8%
96 Rideau Lakes 9.8%
97 Stratford 9.7%
98 Norwich 9.7%
99 Brockton 9.7%
100 Cobourg 9.7%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in Ontario face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. Parry Sound has a poverty rate of 20.9%.

High poverty rates impact communities in multiple ways: reduced access to healthcare and healthy food, lower educational outcomes, higher crime rates, and deteriorating infrastructure. These challenges are interconnected and require comprehensive solutions.

Addressing poverty in these cities requires a multi-pronged approach including economic development, affordable housing, quality education, healthcare access, and workforce training programs targeting underserved populations.

Did You Know?

  • 1. In Parry Sound, 20.9% of residents - roughly 1 in 5 people - live below the poverty line.
  • 2. Child poverty rates in these cities are often even higher than the overall rate, sometimes exceeding 40%.
  • 3. Poverty is measured by household income relative to family size - the threshold varies from $15,060 for an individual to $31,200 for a family of four.

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