March 27, 2009
Prosperity Scorecard for
Kitchener, Ontario
Dr. Kevin Stolarick
Research Director
2
1. Summary Statistics
2. Overall Performance
3. Technology
4. Talent
5. Tolerance / Inclusiveness
6. Territorial Assets / Quality of
Place
Outline / Approach
3
Benchmark Peers
Peer Selection
20 peer states/
provinces for
Ontario based on
population.
10 cities/regions
selected with
populations
approximately the
same as Kitchener.
4
• Ann Arbor, MI
• Canton, OH
• Fort Wayne, IN
• Lansing, MI
• Peoria, IL
• Reading, PA
• Santa Barbara, CA
• Spokane, WA
• Tallahassee, FL
• Victoria, BC
• Kitchener, ON
5
Summary Statistics
Summary Statistics
6
Summary StatisticsPeer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
N.A. Average of
Urban Regions
Total Population, 2006 330,088 396,000 454,000 546,000
GDP (CAD millions) 2006 $14,000 $18,000 $22,000 $29,000
Median Age, 2006 33 36.6 43.1 37.5
Overall Cost of Living 0.5 0.6 0.7 101.588.7
Kitchener, ON451,000
$22,000
36.4
Total Population
7
451,000
330,000
338,000
344,000
370,000
400,000
401,000
409,000
410,000
447,000
454,000
Victoria, BC
Tallahassee, FL
Ann Arbor, MI
Peoria, IL
Santa Barbara, CA
Reading, PA
Fort Wayne, IN
Canton, OH
Spokane, WA
Kitchener, ON
Lansing, MI
Total PopulationKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006004. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
Total GDP (100,000 CA $)
8
$21,800
$13,900
$15,000
$15,400
$15,600
$17,400
$18,000
$18,700
$20,200
$20,900
$20,900
Tallahassee, FL
Canton, OH
Victoria, BC
Reading, PA
Peoria, IL
Spokane, WA
Fort Wayne, IN
Lansing, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Santa Barbara, CA
Kitchener, ON
GDP (CAD Millions)Kitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006004. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2008 Survey. (2006).
Median Age
9
33.4
33.5
33.8
34.6
35.6
36.1
36.4
37.4
38.1
40.2
43.1
Ann Arbor, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Santa Barbara, CA
Lansing, MI
Fort Wayne, IN
Spokane, WA
Kitchener, ON
Peoria, IL
Reading, PA
Canton, OH
Victoria, BC
Median AgeKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-551-xcb2006012. U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey.
Overall Cost of Living
10
0.00
88.99
92.89
93.30
96.23
97.81
100.45
100.45
101.43
104.95
107.38
88.65 Kitchener, ON
Ann Arbor, MI
Canton, OH
Peoria, IL
Santa Barbara, CA
Lansing, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Spokane, WA
Reading, PA
Fort Wayne, IN
Victoria, BC
Overall Cost of Living IndexKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
11
Overall Performance
Overall Performance
12
Overall PerformanceKitchener,
ON
Peer
Ranking
Peer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
N.A. Average of
Urban Regions Population Growth (00-05) 8.9% 1 0% 4.5% 8.9% 5.7%
Job Growth (00-05) 6.2% 4 -3.3% 4.3% 11.6% 9.3%
GDP per capita, 2006 $48,000 4 37,500 $47,000 $65,200 $45,000
Change in Average Wage (00-05) 2.2% 3 -8.8% 0.1% 9.0% 0.1%
Creativity Index 0.69 5 0.36 0.61 0.83 NA
Population Growth
13
0.2%
0.8%
0.9%
1.4%
4.8%
5.5%
5.8%
6.6%
6.9%
7.4%
8.9%
Santa Barbara, CA
Canton, OH
Peoria, IL
Lansing, MI
Fort Wayne, IN
Tallahassee, FL
Victoria, BC
Ann Arbor, MI
Spokane, WA
Reading, PA
Kitchener, ON
Population GrowthKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, (00-05)
Source: Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007 and Statistics Canada
Catalogue no. 95-f0495-xcb-01004 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006)
and US Census, 2000
Job Growth
14
6.2%
-3.3%
0.1%
1.0%
2.2%
2.4%
3.4%
6.1%
7.1%
10.4%
11.6%
Lansing, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Fort Wayne, IN
Canton, OH
Peoria, IL
Santa Barbara, CA
Tallahassee, FL
Kitchener, ON
Victoria, BC
Reading, PA
Spokane, WA
Job GrowthKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, (00-05)
Source: Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006004 and .95-F0495-xcb-01004. US, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2000 and 2006.
GDP per Capita
15
$48,300
$37,500
$40,700
$42,300
$43,700
$46,500
$46,700
$47,300
$48,600
$54,500
$65,200
Canton, OH
Reading, PA
Spokane, WA
Tallahassee, FL
Lansing, MI
Victoria, BC
Fort Wayne, IN
Kitchener, ON
Peoria, IL
Santa Barbara, CA
Ann Arbor, MI
GDP per CapitaKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006004. Bureau of
Economic Analysis, 2008 Survey. (2006).
Change in Average Wage
16
2.2%
-8.8%
-4.0%
-3.7%
-0.9%
-0.3%
-0.1%
1.6%
1.9%
0.0%
3.7%
9.0%
Canton, OH
Fort Wayne, IN
Reading, PA
Lansing, MI
Spokane, WA
Peoria, IL
Ann Arbor, MI
Victoria, BC
Kitchener, ON
Tallahassee, FL
Santa Barbara, CA
Change in Average WageKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006004 and .95-F0495-xcb-01004. US,
Bureau of Labor Statistics 2000 and 2006.
Creativity Index
17
0.69
0.36
0.39
0.44
0.50
0.57
0.67
0.70
0.70
0.83
0.83
Peoria, IL
Reading, PA
Canton, OH
Fort Wayne, IN
Spokane, WA
Lansing, MI
Kitchener, ON
Santa Barbara, CA
Tallahassee, FL
Victoria, BC
Ann Arbor, MI
Creativity IndexKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US Census
Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
18
Technology
Technology
19
TechnologyKitchener,
ON
Peer
Ranking
Peer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
N.A. Average of
Urban RegionsTotal Patents, 2005 113 4 31 115 394 517
Patents per 10,000, 2005 2.50 4 0.9 3.00 11.45 2.46
Patent Growth, Short Term (00-05) #REF! 3 -12.7% 2.0% 17.5% -0.5%
North American High Tech LQ, 2006 1.14 3 0.26 0.83 1.87 0.63
North American Tech Pole Index 0.260 3 0.008 0.119 0.385 0.189
Total Patents
20
113
31
46
55
55
68
70
96
0
134
206
394
Victoria, BC
Tallahassee, FL
Spokane, WA
Reading, PA
Peoria, IL
Lansing, MI
Fort Wayne, IN
Kitchener, ON
Canton, OH
Santa Barbara, CA
Ann Arbor, MI
Total PatentsKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2005
Source: MPI and Dieter Franz Kogler Analysis. USPTO (1975-07).
Patents per 10,000
21
2.50
0.94
1.23
1.36
1.37
1.54
1.84
2.35
3.27
5.15
11.45
Victoria, BC
Spokane, WA
Tallahassee, FL
Reading, PA
Lansing, MI
Peoria, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Kitchener, ON
Canton, OH
Santa Barbara, CA
Ann Arbor, MI
Patents per 10,000Kitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2005
Source: MPI and Dieter Franz Kogler Analysis. USPTO (1975-07).
Patent Growth, Short-term
22
Source: MPI and Dieter Franz Kogler Analysis. USPTO (1975-07).
6.8%)
-12.7%
-9.3%
-6.5%
-0.6%
1.3%
3.0%
4.7%
4.9%
0.0%
13.2%
17.5%
Reading, PA
Peoria, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Lansing, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Spokane, WA
Canton, OH
Santa Barbara, CA
Kitchener, ON
Tallahassee, FL
Victoria, BC
Patent Growth, Short TermKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, (00-05)
North American High-Tech LQ
23
1.14
0.26
0.27
0.43
0.53
0.65
0.66
0.68
0.90
1.73
1.87
Canton, OH
Peoria, IL
Lansing, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Reading, PA
Spokane, WA
Fort Wayne, IN
Victoria, BC
Kitchener, ON
Santa Barbara, CA
Ann Arbor, MI
North American High Tech LQKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-559-XCB2006009. County
Business Patterns, 2006
North American Tech-Pole Index
24
0.260
0.008
0.009
0.022
0.023
0.046
0.059
0.066
0.115
0.319
0.385
Canton, OH
Peoria, IL
Lansing, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Reading, PA
Spokane, WA
Fort Wayne, IN
Victoria, BC
Kitchener, ON
Santa Barbara, CA
Ann Arbor, MI
North American Tech Pole IndexKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-559-XCB2006009. County
Business Patterns, 2006
25
Talent
Talent
26
TalentKitchener,
ON
Peer
Ranking
Peer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
N.A. Average of
Urban Regions Creative Class as % of Workforce, 2006 27.9% 6 25.3% 30.1% 38.2% 26.1%
Super Creative Core as % of Workforce, 2006 15.9% 3 9.4% 13.2% 18.6% 11.0%
Pop > 25, Above High School below BA, 2006 55.7% 8 41.2% 57.6% 67.5% 59.0%
Talent Index (Pop > 25, BA and above), 2006 20.8% 10 18.1% 28.1% 51.7% 21.7%
Pop > 25, Graduate and/or Professional Degree, 2006 8.3% 8 6.0% 11.0% 26.2% 7.5%
Brain Drain/Gain Index, 2006 0.59 11 0.59 0.88 1.27 NA
Creative Class
27
27.9%
25.3%
25.4%
26.7%
27.0%
27.3%
29.0%
33.2%
34.3%
36.7%
38.2%
Reading, PA
Canton, OH
Peoria, IL
Spokane, WA
Fort Wayne, IN
Kitchener, ON
Santa Barbara, CA
Victoria, BC
Lansing, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Creative Class as % of WorkforceKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
Super Creative Core
28
15.9%
9.4%
9.8%
10.0%
10.0%
10.7%
12.9%
15.2%
15.6%
17.0%
18.6%
Canton, OH
Peoria, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Reading, PA
Spokane, WA
Santa Barbara, CA
Lansing, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Kitchener, ON
Ann Arbor, MI
Victoria, BC
Super Creative Core as % of WorkforceKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
Above High School, Below BA
29
55.7%
41.2%
49.4%
53.3%
55.9%
59.5%
59.6%
63.3%
63.7%
64.8%
67.5%
Ann Arbor, MI
Santa Barbara, CA
Tallahassee, FL
Kitchener, ON
Victoria, BC
Reading, PA
Lansing, MI
Spokane, WA
Peoria, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Canton, OH
Pop > 25, Above High School below BAKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
Talent Index (BA and above)
30
20.8%
18.1%
21.4%
23.8%
25.3%
26.1%
27.9%
30.4%
31.7%
32.2%
51.7%
Canton, OH
Kitchener, ON
Reading, PA
Fort Wayne, IN
Peoria, IL
Victoria, BC
Spokane, WA
Santa Barbara, CA
Lansing, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Ann Arbor, MI
Talent Index (Pop > 25, BA and above)Kitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
Graduate / Professional Degrees
31
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
8.3%
6.0%
7.2%
8.1%
8.6%
9.2%
10.9%
11.2%
12.4%
13.2%
26.2%
Canton, OH
Reading, PA
Fort Wayne, IN
Kitchener, ON
Peoria, IL
Spokane, WA
Victoria, BC
Santa Barbara, CA
Lansing, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Ann Arbor, MI
Pop > 25, Graduate and/or Professional DegreeKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Brain Drain / Gain Index
32
0.59 0.00
0.71
0.74
0.80
0.80
0.82
0.93
0.96
1.01
1.08
1.27
Kitchener, ON
Lansing, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Victoria, BC
Canton, OH
Santa Barbara, CA
Reading, PA
Ann Arbor, MI
Spokane, WA
Peoria, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Brain Drain/Gain IndexKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007 and AUCC
Enrollment numbers 2007. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
33
Tolerance / Inclusiveness
Tolerance / Inclusiveness
34
ToleranceKitchener,
ON
Peer
Ranking
Peer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
N.A. Average of
Urban RegionsVisible Minorities (% Pop), 2006 13.6% 7 9.2% 17.0% 37.7% 11.1%
Mosaic Index (% Pop), 2006 22.8% 2 2.2% 9.8% 23.6% 7.9%
Gay and Lesbian Index, 2006 0.78 7 0.59 0.94 1.62 0.81
Bohemian Index, 2006 1.01 3 0.35 0.73 1.60 0.69
Integration Index, 2006 0.77 4 1 0.71 0.90
Visible Minorities
35
13.6%
9.2%
9.7%
10.3%
12.9%
15.1%
15.8%
15.9%
22.2%
24.2%
37.7%
Spokane, WA
Canton, OH
Victoria, BC
Peoria, IL
Kitchener, ON
Reading, PA
Fort Wayne, IN
Lansing, MI
Santa Barbara, CA
Ann Arbor, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Visible Minorities (% Pop)Kitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
Mosaic Index
36
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
22.8%
2.2%
2.4%
4.5%
4.8%
4.9%
6.0%
6.9%
11.4%
18.8%
23.6%
Canton, OH
Peoria, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Spokane, WA
Tallahassee, FL
Lansing, MI
Reading, PA
Ann Arbor, MI
Victoria, BC
Kitchener, ON
Santa Barbara, CA
Mosaic Index (% Pop)Kitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Gay / Lesbian Index
37
0.78
0.59
0.62
0.71
0.75
0.85
0.95
0.97
1.15
1.29
1.62
Canton, OH
Peoria, IL
Reading, PA
Fort Wayne, IN
Kitchener, ON
Spokane, WA
Lansing, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Santa Barbara, CA
Ann Arbor, MI
Victoria, BC
Gay and Lesbian IndexKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-553-XWE2006002 and 97-
552-XCB2006007. US Census (2006).
Bohemian Index
38
1.01
0.35
0.43
0.43
0.52
0.54
0.58
0.63
0.85
1.02
1.60
Reading, PA
Lansing, MI
Peoria, IL
Spokane, WA
Canton, OH
Tallahassee, FL
Santa Barbara, CA
Fort Wayne, IN
Kitchener, ON
Ann Arbor, MI
Victoria, BC
Bohemian IndexKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-559-XCB2006011 and 97-
F0012-XCB-01049. US, County Business Patterns, 2006
Integration Index
39
0.77
0.54
0.57
0.65
0.67
0.68
0.71
0.73
0.80
0.82
0.90
Santa Barbara, CA
Tallahassee, FL
Ann Arbor, MI
Reading, PA
Fort Wayne, IN
Lansing, MI
Peoria, IL
Kitchener, ON
Victoria, BC
Canton, OH
Spokane, WA
Integration IndexKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007 and 94-580-XCB2006005. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
40
Territorial Assets / Quality of Place
Territorial Assets / Quality of Place
41
Territorial Assets Kitchener,
ON
Peer
Ranking
Peer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
Social and Cultural AssetsArts and Cultural Establishments per 10,000 4.45 2 0.77 2.08 6.85
Resturants and Bars per 1,000 2.24 2 1.67 2.00 2.75
Student/teacher Ratio 16.73 6 11.37 16.50 21.63
Doctor's per 1,000 0.41 10 0.20 0.94 1.86
Civic AssetsVoter Turnout (%) 66% 6 54% 64% 71%
Crime per Capita 0.05 7 0.03 0.05 0.09
Housing and Transportation AssetsPopulation Density (Km^2) 546 8 52.78 184.08 545.58
Median Housing Value to Income Ratio $3.69 2 $2.44 $4.61 $12.82
Auto Dependency 8.89 11 3.47 18.74 37.98
Arts and Cultural Establishments per 10,000
42
4.45
0.77
0.81
0.90
0.95
1.07
1.30
1.30
1.48
2.97
6.85
Lansing, MI
Fort Wayne, IN
Canton, OH
Reading, PA
Tallahassee, FL
Peoria, IL
Spokane, WA
Ann Arbor, MI
Santa Barbara, CA
Kitchener, ON
Victoria, BC
Arts and Cultural Establishments per 10,000Kitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: Canadian Business Patterns, June 2007 Establ. Counts by CA/CMA, Industry Groups &
Emp. Size Ranges. US, County Business Patterns 2006
Restaurants and Bars per 1,000
43
2.24
1.67
1.72
1.74
1.79
1.82
1.91
2.02
2.14
2.20
2.75
Reading, PA
Tallahassee, FL
Lansing, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Fort Wayne, IN
Canton, OH
Spokane, WA
Peoria, IL
Santa Barbara, CA
Kitchener, ON
Victoria, BC
Resturants and Bars per 1,000Kitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: Canadian Business Patterns, June 2007 Establ. Counts by CA/CMA, Industry Groups &
Emp. Size Ranges. US, County Business Patterns 2006
Student / Teacher Ratio
44
16.73
21.63
18.08
17.05
16.93
16.90
16.50
15.77
15.73
14.78
11.37
Reading, PA
Victoria, BC
Ann Arbor, MI
Spokane, WA
Fort Wayne, IN
Kitchener, ON
Canton, OH
Santa Barbara, CA
Lansing, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Peoria, IL
Student/Teacher RatioKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-559-XCB2006011 and 97-
F0012-XCB-01049. US, County Business Patterns, 2006
Doctors per 1,000
45
0.41
0.20
0.47
0.76
0.92
1.04
1.10
1.13
1.15
1.26
1.86
Santa Barbara, CA
Kitchener, ON
Reading, PA
Fort Wayne, IN
Spokane, WA
Tallahassee, FL
Lansing, MI
Peoria, IL
Canton, OH
Victoria, BC
Ann Arbor, MI
Doctor's per 1,000Kitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-559-XCB2006011 and 97-
F0012-XCB-01049. US, County Business Patterns, 2006
Federal Voter Turnout
46
65.7%
53.8%
55.8%
59.5%
61.7%
63.7%
66.4%
68.7%
68.8%
69.7%
71.1%
Fort Wayne, IN
Reading, PA
Santa Barbara, CA
Spokane, WA
Peoria, IL
Kitchener, ON
Canton, OH
Lansing, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Victoria, BC
Tallahassee, FL
Federal Voter Turnout (%)Kitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2004/2006
Source: MPI Analysis. Elections Canada
Official Voting Results of the 39th General Election – Poll-by-Poll Results. US, POLIDATA
(www.polidata.us )
Crime (Violent + Property) per Capita
47
Population Density (population per km^2)
48
546
53
56
57
97
102
115
162
179
184
475
Tallahassee, FL
Santa Barbara, CA
Peoria, IL
Spokane, WA
Lansing, MI
Fort Wayne, IN
Canton, OH
Reading, PA
Ann Arbor, MI
Victoria, BC
Kitchener, ON
Population Density (KM^2)Toronto, ON and Peer Regions, 2005
Source: MPI Analysis (2008). Statistics Canada, Catalogue No. 94-581-X2006005
Median Housing Value to Income Ratio
49
3.69
12.82
8.17
4.15
3.93
3.84
3.20
3.01
2.99
2.44
2.44
Santa Barbara, CA
Victoria, BC
Ann Arbor, MI
Tallahassee, FL
Spokane, WA
Kitchener, ON
Lansing, MI
Canton, OH
Reading, PA
Fort Wayne, IN
Peoria, IL
Median Housing Value to Income RatioKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2005
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-559-XCB2006011 and 97-
F0012-XCB-01049. US, American Community Survey 2006
Drivers per Other Modes
50
8.89
37.98
37.18
27.67
26.49
16.16
15.25
14.17
10.52
8.32
3.47
Peoria, IL
Fort Wayne, IN
Tallahassee, FL
Canton, OH
Reading, PA
Spokane, WA
Lansing, MI
Santa Barbara, CA
Kitchener, ON
Ann Arbor, MI
Victoria, BC
Drivers per Other ModesKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Source: Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US Census Bureau, American
Community Survey. (2006).
For More Information
51
Summary StatisticsPeer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
N.A. Average of
Urban Regions
Total Population, 2006 330,088 396,000 454,000 546,000
GDP (CAD millions) 2006 $14,000 $18,000 $22,000 $29,000
Median Age, 2006 33 36.6 43.1 37.5
Overall Cost of Living 0.5 0.6 0.7 101.5
Overall PerformanceKitchener,
ON
Peer
Ranking
Peer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
N.A. Average of
Urban Regions Population Growth (00-05) 8.9% 1 0% 4.5% 8.9% 5.7%
Job Growth (00-05) 6.2% 4 -3.3% 4.3% 11.6% 9.3%
GDP per capita, 2006 $48,000 4 37,500 $47,000 $65,200 $45,000
Change in Average Wage (00-05) 2.2% 3 -8.8% 0.1% 9.0% 0.1%
Creativity Index 0.69 5 0.36 0.61 0.83 NA
TechnologyKitchener,
ON
Peer
Ranking
Peer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
N.A. Average of
Urban RegionsTotal Patents, 2005 113 4 31 115 394 517
Patents per 10,000, 2005 2.50 4 0.9 3.00 11.45 2.46
Patent Growth, Short Term (00-05) #REF! 3 -12.7% 2.0% 17.5% -0.5%
North American High Tech LQ, 2006 1.14 3 0.26 0.83 1.87 0.63
North American Tech Pole Index 0.260 3 0.008 0.119 0.385 0.189
TalentKitchener,
ON
Peer
Ranking
Peer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
N.A. Average of
Urban Regions Creative Class as % of Workforce, 2006 27.9% 6 25.3% 30.1% 38.2% 26.1%
Super Creative Core as % of Workforce, 2006 15.9% 3 9.4% 13.2% 18.6% 11.0%
Pop > 25, Above High School below BA, 2006 55.7% 8 41.2% 57.6% 67.5% 59.0%
Talent Index (Pop > 25, BA and above), 2006 20.8% 10 18.1% 28.1% 51.7% 21.7%
Pop > 25, Graduate and/or Professional Degree, 2006 8.3% 8 6.0% 11.0% 26.2% 7.5%
Brain Drain/Gain Index, 2006 0.59 11 0.59 0.88 1.27 NA
ToleranceKitchener,
ON
Peer
Ranking
Peer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
N.A. Average of
Urban RegionsVisible Minorities (% Pop), 2006 13.6% 7 9.2% 17.0% 37.7% 11.1%
Mosaic Index (% Pop), 2006 22.8% 2 2.2% 9.8% 23.6% 7.9%
Gay and Lesbian Index, 2006 0.78 7 0.59 0.94 1.62 0.81
Bohemian Index, 2006 1.01 3 0.35 0.73 1.60 0.69
Integration Index, 2006 0.77 4 1 0.71 0.90
Territorial Assets Kitchener,
ON
Peer
Ranking
Peer Min
Value
Peer
Average
Peer Max
Value
Social and Cultural AssetsArts and Cultural Establishments per 10,000 4.45 2 0.77 2.08 6.85
Resturants and Bars per 1,000 2.24 2 1.67 2.00 2.75
Student/teacher Ratio 16.73 6 11.37 16.50 21.63
Doctor's per 1,000 0.41 10 0.20 0.94 1.86
Civic AssetsVoter Turnout (%) 66% 6 54% 64% 71%
Crime per Capita 0.05 7 0.03 0.05 0.09
Housing and Transportation AssetsPopulation Density (Km^2) 546 8 52.78 184.08 545.58
Median Housing Value to Income Ratio $3.69 2 $2.44 $4.61 $12.82
Auto Dependency 8.89 11 3.47 18.74 37.98
88.7
Benchmark Summary: Kitchener vs Peer Regions
Kitchener, ON451,000
$22,000
36.4
For More Information
• Richard Florida’s books–“The Rise of the Creative Class”
–“The Flight of the Creative Class”
–“Who’s Your City?”
• www.martinprosperity.org
• www.creativeclass.com
52
Creative Class
54
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Kitchener CMA
Kitchener Cambridge Waterloo Other
Occupation Composition of Kitchener (CMA) and its Municipalities
Farming/Fishing/Forestry
Service Class
Working Class
Creative Class
Talent Index (BA and above)
55
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
13.7%
17.7%
18.4%
20.8%
36.1%
Cambridge
Other
Kitchener (CD)
Kitchener CMA
Waterloo
Talent Index (Pop >25 with BA or Above), Kitchener (CMA) and its Municipalities
Graduate / Professional Degrees
56
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
4.7%
6.1%
7.0%
8.3%
16.2%
Cambridge
Other
Kitchener (CD)
Kitchener CMA
Waterloo
Pop > 25, Graduate and/or Professional DegreeKitchener, ON and Peer Regions, 2006
Visible Minorities
57
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).
Mosaic Index
58
Source: MPI Analysis (2008) . Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 94-581-XCB2006007. US
Census Bureau, American Community Survey. (2006).