BCBusinEss.CA dECEMBER/JAnuARy 2018 BCBusiness 31
average household
income (10% of total
score)
This figure represents
the average for 2017. To
determine a score out of
10, we gave the top aver-
age income 10 points and
ranked the other cities in
relation to that.
average household
income under 35 (10%)
This number represents the
2017 average household
income for primary income
earners under the age of
35. Again, we gave the
highest average 10 points
and ranked other communi-
ties accordingly.
average household
spending on recre-
ation (10%)
Boats, cable bills, concert
tickets, vacations—
this tally encompasses
all leisure-enhancing
household purchases that
statistics Canada tracks.
Giving the city with the
highest average household
recreational spending a 10,
we ranked the others in
relation to it.
average shelter
(current consumption)
costs (15%)
This number covers
housing-related living
expenses such as mort-
gage payments, rent and
repairs for 2017. we divided
average household income
by current shelter costs,
multiplying that total by
two for a score out of 15.
residents who
walk or bike to
work (10%)
To calculate this score,
we divided the number
of residents in each com-
munity who travel to work
by the number who walk or
bike, for a percentage out
of 10.
Five-year population
growth (10%)
This number covers
the increase from 2012
to 2017. we show the
percentage growth,
with a floor of zero and a
maximum score of 10.
Five-year average
household income
growth (25%)
This figure represents
percentage income growth
from 2012 through 2017.
Giving the expansion a floor
of zero, we scored it out
of 25.
unemployment rate
(10%)
This number uses the
unemployment rate
from statscan's labour
Force survey for septem-
ber 2017. we multiplied
each community's
unemployment rate by
two and subtracted that
amount from 20, giving a
maximum score of 10.
How We Crunched the Numbers
Category weights shown in brackets. Full methodology below
UnemPloy-
menT raTe
(10%)
average
hoUsehold
income (10%
WeighT)
average
hoUsehold
income
Under 35 (10%)
average hoUse-
hold sPending
on recreaTion
(10%)
average
shelTer
sPending
(15%)
Five-year
PoPUlaTion
groWTh
(10%)
Five-year
income
groWTh
(25%)
$139,305 $123,744 $6,502 $26,302 5.80% 3.43% 20.50% 5.20%
$106,440 $88,851 $5,009 $21,666 7.53% 5.17% 20.96% 5.20%
$110,838 $92,987 $5,837 $26,572 5.37% 8.33% 18.66% 4.60%
$94,616 $82,294 $4,449 $17,786 7.92% 0.60% 22.46% 5.60%
$96,365 $76,063 $4,310 $17,658 8.44% –5.74% 22.30% 5.60%
$98,260 $79,928 $5,502 $23,478 4.53% 9.96% 19.39% 7.10%
$97,343 $74,808 $5,511 $23,414 9.31% 5.04% 16.05% 5.20%
$117,507 $93,297 $6,065 $27,085 5.00% 5.97% 13.46% 4.60%
$95,583 $78,614 $4,559 $23,550 9.36% 6.03% 13.72% 4.60%
$117,052 $92,577 $6,144 $26,663 3.14% 5.57% 13.39% 4.60%
$108,040 $92,867 $5,629 $25,504 2.53% 7.46% 13.70% 4.60%
$102,582 $77,702 $4,590 $20,987 5.84% 3.72% 21.58% 8.10%
residenTs
Who bike
or Walk To
Work (10%)
t
o compile the b.C.'s best Cities for Work ranking, we
considered seven economic indicators, giving them
a variety of weightings. this year's methodology also
includes an eighth indicator that speaks to quality of life: the
proportion of residents who walk or bike to work. We didn't
factor in people who use public transit to get to their jobs
because it would give an unfair advantage to Vancouver and
other cities with extensive transit systems.
