Changing Patterns in Canadian Homeownership and Shelter Costs, 2006 Census: Comparing shelter costs to income

Percentage of households spending 30% or more of their income on shelter up marginally

In 2006, an estimated 3 million households, or 24.9% of the total, spent 30% or more of their income on shelter. This was up marginally from 24.1% in 2001, but lower than the height of 26.6% in 1996, at the end of the economic downturn experienced in the early 1990s.

Households that rented comprised just over half of these households (50.9%), while 41.0% were households that owned a home with a mortgage. The remaining 8.1% were households that owned a home without a mortgage.

The median annual shelter costs for households spending 30% or more of their income on shelter in 2006 were $17,497 for owners with mortgages, $6,027 for mortgage-free owners and $8,481 for renters.

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