How We Ranked the Cities – The Calculations
A total of 105 points was up for grabs. Each category (below) was allotted a number of points depending on the importance of the category. For example, employment statistics are worth 10 points while sales taxes are worth 1 point. Some categories are further broken into subcategories. For example, the crime category is determined by statistics in the subcategories of violent crime, crime severity and total crime.
The top city in each category received the maximum number of points, and the rest of the cities received descending incremental points based on their ranking.
Categories and Points
WALK/BIKE TO WORK: 7 points – This represents the percentage of people who walked or took their bike to work. Source: 2006 Statistics Canada reports
WEATHER: 18 points – (6 for each : amount of precipitation, number of wet days, days below 0°C). Ideal volume of precipitation is considered to be 700 mm per year. Source: Environment Canada
AIR QUALITY: 2 points – One point for parts per million of ozone and one point for levels of suspended fine particulate matter, both of which are major components of smog. Source: Monitoring stations in or nearest to each city as reported by the National Air Pollution Surveillance Network.
POPULATION GROWTH: 10 points – Results are based on the average Canadian population growth rate from 2006-2011 of 5.9% plus 2%. Higher growth rates create problems as cities struggle to provide services to growing populations. Lower growth rates means less opportunities. Cities with negative growth received 0 points. Source: 2011 Statistics Canada figures
UNEMPLOYMENT: 10 points – 2011 data from Statistics Canada when provided and 2012 estimates derived from Canadian Demographics.
HOUSING: 15 points – (7.5 for average house prices and 7.5 for time to buy a house) House price averages from reports and listings by MLS, Canadian Real Estate Association, and the Real Estate Boards of Toronto, Fraser Valley, Vancouver, Edmonton and Quebec. Time to buy was derived from average price divided by average 2012 estimated household income sourced from Canadian Demographics.
HOUSEHOLD INCOME: 4 points – Based on 2012 estimates. Source: Canadian Demographics.
DISCRETIONARY INCOME: 4 points – Discretionary household income as a percentage of total household income derived from 2012 estimates. Using a percentage figure adjusts for higher cost of living and tax factors. Source: Canadian Demographics.
NEW CARS: 4 points – 2009-2011 model year vehicles as a percent of total vehicles as per Canadian Demographics.
INCOME TAXES: 2 points – Cities ranked (lower is better) according to the rate of combined federal and provincial (or territorial) income tax paid on a single person income of $50,000. Source:
www.taxtips.ca.
SALES TAXES: 1 point – Cities ranked (lower is better) according to the rate of provincial or territorial sales tax.
CRIME: 5 points – Violent crime rates (2 points), total crime rates per 100,000 people (2 points) and crime severity rates (1 point) for 2010. (Lower is better in all three cases.) Source: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
DOCTORS: 6 points – Number of general practice and specialist physicians per community and converted to doctors per 1,000 people. Source: Canadian Medical Association
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: 4 points – Percentage of people in each city who are employed in health occupations. Source: 2006 Census
TRANSIT: 5 points – Based on the percentage of the workforce utilizing public transit. Source: 2006 Census
AMENITIES: 3 points – One point each for a hospital, university and college. Cities in a CMA area received credit if a particular institution was located anywhere in the CMA.
CULTURE: Bonus points – A city could receive up to 5 points based on the percentage of people employed in arts, culture, recreation and sports. Source: 2006 Census
Best Places to Live 2012 displays cities’ rankings in each category and total rankings out of 190 cities, not points.
All data and calculations are on this downloadable
spreadsheet.
Sub-list: Best Places for Jobs
This calculation was adjusted to account for services and requirements for those looking for work. The list eliminates weather, air quality, walk/ bike to work, new cars, culture and crime categories.
The point system;
| Employment | 25 |
| Housing | 15 |
| Income | 15 |
| Discret. Income | 15 |
| Taxes | 10 |
| Transit | 7 |
| Doctors | 6 |
| Population | 5 |
| Health Pros | 4 |
| Ammenities | 3 |
| Total | 105 |
Sub-list: Best Places to Raise Kids
This calculation included the following additional categories;
- child care spaces
- population 14 and under
- percentage of students
Note, some of the statistics are available only province to province instead of city by city. Sources: Canadian Demographics 2012 edition childcare space statistics 2008 report published by the Childcare Resource and Research Unit
www.childcarecanada.org, Statistics Canada Summary Public School Indicators and 2010 Provincial population projections
The point system;
| POPULATION 14 AND UNDER | 7 |
| DAYCARE SPACES | 5 |
| STUDENT AS A % POPULATION | 3 |
| AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE | 9 |
| TIME TO BUY A HOUSE | 9 |
| HOUSEHOLD INCOME | 6 |
| DISCRETIONARY INCOME | 4 |
| INCOME TAXES | 2 |
| SALES TAXES | 1 |
| POPULATION GROWTH | 5 |
| CRIME | 5 |
| DOCTORS | 6 |
| HEALTH PROFESSIONALS | 4 |
| UNEMPLOYMENT | 10 |
| WEATHER | 12 |
| AIR QUALITY | 2 |
| TRANSIT | 7 |
| AMENITIES | 3 |
| CULTURE (Bonus) | 5 |
| TOTAL | 105 |
Sub-list: Best Places to Retire
The calculations were adjusted to emphasize services and conditions for retirees.
The point system;
| WALK/BIKE TO WORK | 7 |
| CLIMATE | 30 |
| POP. GROWTH | 10 |
| HOUSING | 15 |
| INCOME TAXES | 3 |
| SALES TAXES | 2 |
| CRIME | 5 |
| DOCTORS/1000 | 12 |
| HEALTH PROS | 8 |
| TRANSIT | 5 |
| AMENITIES | 3 |
| CULTURE (Bonus) | 5 |
| TOTAL | 105 |
