Poverty in Halton Region: A closer Look at 2023

By Richard Lau

Poverty is often hidden in communities like Halton, which are known for prosperity and rapid growth. Yet, new data from Statistics Canada’s T1 Family File (T1FF)[1] taxfiler data shows that more residents are struggling to make ends meet. In 2023, 13.1% of Halton’s population lived in poverty, as measured by the CFLIM-AT (Census Family Low Income Measure, After Tax)[2]. This translates to over 82,000 people—a number that has steadily increased in recent years.

Behind this regional figure, however, are important differences across age groups, family types, and municipalities. Understanding these trends is critical to addressing the pressures facing households in Halton today.

Poverty Trends in Halton (2018–2023)

Chart showing increasing poverty rates (based on taxfiler data) in Halton between 2018 and 2023

Looking at the past six years, Halton has seen significant fluctuations in poverty rates.

• In 2018, the poverty rate stood at 11.2%.

• Rates remained relatively stable through 2019 (11.3%) before dropping to 9.5% in 2020 during the first year of the pandemic, when temporary income supports helped many households.

• By 2021, as supports ended, the rate rose again to 11.3%, then further to 12.8% in 2022.

• In 2023, Halton reached its highest level in six years at 13.1%.

  
  

This upward trend suggest growing difficulties for households in meeting basic needs. However, Halton continues to fare better than the province overall, but the gap is narrowing:

• Ontario’s poverty rate: 18.5% 

• Halton’s poverty rate: 13.1% 

Poverty Across Halton’s Municipalities

The picture within Halton varies significantly by municipality. Milton currently holds the highest poverty rate in the region at 15.6%, closely followed by Oakville at 15.2%. In contrast, Burlington and Halton Hills report rates below the regional average. Notably, this marks the second consecutive year that Milton’s poverty rate has surpassed Oakville’s.

Table showing the poverty for 2023 (based on taxfiler data) by each of the four municipalities in Halton.

These differences reflect diverse housing markets, demographics, and income distributions across communities in Halton.

Poverty Among Children, Seniors, Lone-Parent Families, and Non-Family Persons

While overall poverty rates provide an important picture of economic well-being in Halton, they do not capture how different groups are affected. Breaking the data down by age and family type shows that some residents face much higher risks of poverty than others. Children, seniors, lone-parent families, and individuals living alone or with non-family members all experience poverty differently, reflecting unique challenges in income security, housing affordability, and household stability.

• Children (0–17 years): Poverty rates rose to 13.5% in 2023, up from 12.6% in 2022, and are now at their highest point in six years. This suggests that families with children are increasingly struggling with affordability pressures. (for a more detailed discussion on child poverty in Halton, please refer to one of CDH’s Community Data Watch[3]).

• Seniors (65+): After peaking at 14.8% in 2021, the rate for seniors declined to 12.4% in 2023. While still significant, this group has seen some relative stability compared to others.

• Lone-parent families: Consistently impacted by poverty, with 25.6% living below the poverty line in 2023. Despite small year-to-year fluctuations, poverty among lone-parent households has remained stubbornly high.

• Non-family persons (including individuals living alone): This group faces the highest risk with 29.8% in poverty in 2023. This has remained persistently close to 30% in recent years, reflecting the challenges of living on a single income.

All groups saw a notable dip in 2020, likely linked to pandemic-related income supports.

• Since then, rates have risen again, particularly for children and lone-parent families, highlighting growing pressures on younger households.

• Non-family persons remain consistently vulnerable, while seniors appear to have benefited somewhat from income stability programs such as pensions.

Conclusion

The latest poverty data for Halton Region paints a disheartening picture; more than one in eight residents are now living below the low-income threshold. Children and lone-parent families are facing growing hardship, while non-family individuals remain persistently vulnerable. Even though Halton continues to report lower poverty rates than Ontario as a whole, the steady rise over the past three years shows that affordability pressures are intensifying locally.

These findings are a reminder that prosperity is not evenly shared. Addressing poverty in Halton will require targeted supports for families and individuals most at risk, investments in affordable housing, and programs that help incomes keep pace with the rising cost of living. In addition, support is required for community services that walk alongside those most vulnerable in our community and collective action is required to ensure that everyone in Halton has access to what they need for health and well-being.

[1] Statistics Canada, T1FF Taxfiler data, https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=4106

[2] CFLIMAT is defined as 50% of the total population median after-tax income. The measure takes into account family size through adjusting for economies of scale. The Census Family Low Income Measure (CFLIM) is a relative measure of poverty that tracks changes in living standards and compares the living standards of low-income individuals and families to that of the rest of society. The CFLIM is calculated using data from the T1 Family File (T1FF) tax file.

[3] Community Development Halton, Child Poverty in Halton, Community Data Watch, February 2025 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pMgjM426CqbIqOev3Ez0TCXQcbAhbkcT/view