Winnipeg neighbourhood income

Average total income by neighbourhood, classified into named income bands rather than numeric quantiles

Academic coursework  /  2021-2022

Discipline
Demographic cartography
Tools
ArcGIS
Methods
choropleth mapping, dissemination area aggregation, named-class design, no-data handling
Data
City of Winnipeg Open Data Portal

Notes on method

Two decisions carry this map.

The classes are named. Labelling a band “working poor” rather than giving its dollar range makes a claim that the numeric version hides behind, and a claim like that should be made visibly or not at all. It also means the legend has to be defended, which is the right pressure to be under.

No-data neighbourhoods are their own grey. The common alternatives both lie: drop them and the map implies the city is fully covered; fold them into the lowest class and the map invents poverty. Absence of data is a finding about the data, and it belongs in the legend.

Choropleth of Winnipeg neighbourhoods shaded by average total income, with classes labelled from working poor through to rich and a distinct grey for neighbourhoods with no data.
Classes are named, not numbered. No-data neighbourhoods get their own grey rather than being dropped or lumped into the lowest band.Base data: City of Winnipeg Open Data PortalOpen larger (1669px)