Regional Knowledge Network

A Note on Binational Data Compatibility

As a system that aggregates and presents data for multiple geographies, the Regional Knowledge Network regularly grapples with the issue of data compatibility. Simply put, RKN strives to ensure that data shown side-by-side represent “apples-to-apples” comparisons—or as close to it as possible. When comparing two or more places on a given subject, or when observing trends by looking at past data points, an ideal analysis features data that: come from the same source, have been collected using a uniform method, and are updated at consistent intervals.

Using data that do not meet these standards may lead to conclusions that fail to accurately describe reality. Fortunately, statistics on a variety of subjects are regularly collected by federal and state/provincial agencies in the U.S. and Canada—notably the U.S. Census Bureau and Statistics Canada—thus allowing researchers to credibly analyze and compare places or time periods within these counties.

On the other hand, analyses that place U.S. and Canadian data side-by-side are often fraught with compatibility issues, owing to their deviation from these standards, starting with the overall lack of coordinated data collection. Since data do not derive from a common source—nor have agreements been reached to align methods of collection—methodologies and time intervals often (but not always) differ. Such basic differences are reflected by the census timing in the two countries: the U.S. Census occurs at ten years intervals (e.g. 2000 and 2010) while the Canadian Census occurs every five years (e.g. 2001 and 2006), with every second Canadian Census taken one year after the U.S. Census is completed.

Nonetheless, efforts can be made to ensure accurate comparisons on certain types of data. If collection methodologies and timing for two cross-border data sets have been deemed to be similar, a reliable comparison may be feasible. Just as important, however, are similarities in data definitions. “Unemployment” or “senior citizen” may be defined differently by different data sets, thus invalidating a comparison or requiring that one data set be adjusted—if possible—to match the definition of the other.

Data Sources and Notes

Population

Population Estimate, 2009

Description: Population estimate for 2009, based on data for deaths, births and migration.
Sources: Population Estimates Program, Table 4, Estimates for the Population for Incorporated Places, US Census
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 051-0052 Estimates of population by census division, sex and age group, 2006 Census boundaries, annual (table). CANSIM (database). Using E-STAT (distributor)

Population, 2006

Description: Total population in 2006.
Note: Population totals are estimates for the United States.
Sources: Statistics Canada 2006 Community Profiles
Sources: Population Estimates Program, Table 4, Estimates for the Population for Incorporated Places, US Census

% Population Change, 2000 - 2009

Description: Percent change in population 2000-2009.
Calculation = (Population 2009 - Population 2000)/Population 2000
Sources: Summary File 1, Table P1. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000.
Sources: Population Estimates Program, Table 4, Estimates for the Population for Incorporated Places
Sources: Statistics Canada 2001 CD
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 051-0052 Estimates of population by census division, sex and age group, 2006 Census boundaries, annual (table). CANSIM (database). Using E-STAT (distributor)

% Female, 2006

Description: Percentage of total population that is female, 2006.
Note: Population totals are estimates for the United States.
Calculation = Female Population 2006/Total Population 2006
Sources: Statistics Canada 2006 Community Profiles
Sources: Population Estimates Program, Table 4, Estimates for the Population for Incorporated Places, US Census

Age, 2006

% Under 18 and Over 64 Population , 2006

Description: Percentage of population younger than age 18 or aged 65 and older, traditionally considered the ages dependent on the working age population. Age of individual usually obtained based on date of birth information. Reported age used only when date of birth information is not available.
Note: Population figures are estimates for the United States.
Calculation = (Population <18 + Population 65+)/Total Population 2006
Sources: Statistics Canada 2006 Community Profiles
Sources: Population Estimates Program, Table 4, Estimates for the Population for Incorporated Places

Income

% Households with Income greater than $100,000, 1999

Description: Percentage of total households with income greater than $100,000 in 1999(US), 2000(CAN).
Calculation = Households with Income >$100,000/Total Households (US) or Total Occupied Private Dwellings (CAN)
Sources: Summary File 3, Table P52. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000.
Sources: Statistics Canada 2001 CD

Educational Attainment

% with HS Diploma or GED or higher, 2000

Description: Western New York: Percentage of population 25 years and older holding a High School Diploma or equivalent, 2000. Calculation = Population 25+ with HS Diploma or equivalent/Total Population 25+
Canada: Percentage of population 20 years and older holding a High School Diploma, 2001. Calculation = Population 20+ with High School Diploma/Total Population 20+
Sources: Summary File 3, 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000
Sources: Statistics Canada CD 2001

% with Bachelor's Degree or higher, 2000

Description: US: Percentage of population 25 years and older holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher graduate degree, 2000. Graduate degrees include MA and MS master’s degrees, field-specific degrees such as MSW, MEng and MUP, professional degrees in medicine, dentistry, chiropractics, veterinary medicine and law, and the PhD. Calculation = Population 25+ with Bachelor’s degree or higher graduate degree/Population 25+
Canada: Percentage of population 20 years and older holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher graduate degree. Calculation = Population 20+ with Bachelor’s degree or higher graduate degree/Total Population 20+
Sources: Summary File 3, Table P37. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000
Sources: Statistics Canada CD 2001

Household Characteristics

% Households Change, 1990 - 2000

Description: Percentage change in number of households for 1990-2000 (US) and 1991-2001 (CAN).
Calculation = (Households 2000 - Households 1990)/Households 1990
Sources: Summary File 1, Table P52. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000.
Sources: Statistics Canada 2001 CD

% Married Couple Households, 2000

Description: Percentage of households composed of a married couple in 2000 (US) and 2001 (CAN). Married couples include those formally married and in common law marriages.
Calculation = Married Couple Households/Total Households
Sources: Summary File 1, Table P18. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000
Sources: Statistics Canada CD 2001

% Single Parent Households, 2000

Description: Percentage of family households composed of a male or female lone parent with no spouse or common law partner present living in a dwelling with one or more of their children under age 18 in 2000 (US) or 2001 (CAN). Definitions in Canada and the United States are similar, with slight variations in terminology.
Calculation = Single-Parent Family Households/Total Households
Sources: Summary File 1, Table P18. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000
Sources: Statistics Canada CD 2001

% Nonfamily Households, 2000

Description: Percentage of households comprised of one person living alone or two or more persons who share a dwelling but do not constitute a family. Persons in nonfamily households are not related by birth, marriage or adoption.
Calculation = Nonfamily Households/Total Households
Sources: Summary File 1, Table P18. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000
Sources: Statistics Canada CD 2001

Government Structure

Municipal Governments Per 10,000 Capita

Description: Number of municipal governments in an area divided by total population (in tens of thousands) in the area.
Sources: Summary File 1, Table P1. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000.
Sources: Statistics Canada CD 2001

Workforce

Labor Force Participation Rate, 2000

Description: Percentage of the population eligible to work that is in the labor force, for 2000 (US) and 2001 (CAN).
Calculation = Labor Force Population/Population Eligible to Work.
Sources: Summary File 3, Table P43. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000.
Sources: Statistics Canada 2001 CD

Female Presence in Labor Force, 2000

Description: Percentage of labor force that is female, in 2000 (US) or 2001 (CAN).
Calculation = Female Labor Force/Total Labor Force
Sources: Summary File 3, Table P43. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000.
Sources: Statistics Canada 2001 CD

% Commuting by Automobile, 2000

Description: Percentage of total commuters who commute to work by automobile as a driver or passenger, in 2000 (US) or 2001 (CAN). Data include commuters in car, van or truck, and exclude persons working at home.
Calculation = Population who travel to work by automobile/Population who travel to work
Sources: Summary File 3, Table P30. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000.
Sources: Statistics Canada 2001 CD

Unemployment

Unemployment Rate, 2006

Description: Percentage of persons in the labor force who are neither working for pay nor self employed. Unemployed persons are those without a job who are available to work and have actively searched for work within the previous four weeks of the reference week reported by Statistics Canada in 2006.
Calculation = (Unemployed Population) / (Labor Force)
Sources: Statistics Canada 2006 Community Profiles
Sources: NYS Department of Labor - Local Area Unemployment Statistics

Air Quality

Number of Air Pollutant Emitters, 2007

Description: Total number of facilities that release air pollutants.
Sources: Envirofacts Data Warehouse - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Sources: Environment Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI).

Housing Characteristics

Owner-Occupied Units, % of Total Units, 2000

Description: Percentage of occupied housing units that are occupied by owner.
Calculation: (Owner-occupied Housing Units / Occupied Housing Units)
Sources: Summary File 1, Table H4. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. US Census Bureau 2000.
Sources: Statistics Canada 2001 CD

Disease (per 100,000 Population)

Lung & Bronchus Cancer Incidence, 2005

Description: Number of cases of Lung and Bronchus Cancer per 100,000 total population.
U.S. Calculation: (2001-2005 Average Annual # of Lung and Bronchus Cancer Instances) / (Population Estimate 2003 / 100,000)
Canada Calculation: (2000-2002 Total, Age-Adjusted, Lung Cancer Incidences) / ((Population Estimate 2001 * 3) / 100,000)
Sources: New York State Cancer Incidence and Mortality Report, 2001-2005
Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) Database and Demography Division

Colorectal Cancer Incidence, 2005

Description: Number of cases of Colorectal Cancer per 100,000 total population.
U.S. Calculation: (2001-2005 Average Annual # of Colorectal Cancer Incidences) / (Population Estimate 2003 / 100,000)
Canada Calculation: (2000-2002 Total, Age-Adjusted, Colorectal Cancer Incidences) / ((Population Estimate 2001 * 3) / 100,000)
Sources: New York State Cancer Incidence and Mortality Report, 2001-2005
Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) Database and Demography Division

Breast Cancer Incidence, 2005

Description: Number of cases of Breast Cancer per 100,000 female population.
U.S. Calculation: (2001-2005 Average Annual # of Breast Cancer Instances) / (Female Population Estimate 2003 / 100,000)
Canada Calculation: (2000-2002 Total, Age-Adjusted, Breast Cancer Incidences) / ((Female Population Estimate 2001 * 3) / 100,000)
Sources: New York State Cancer Incidence and Mortality Report, 2001-2005
Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) Database and Demography Division

Prostate Cancer Incidence, 2005

Description: Number of cases of Prostate Cancer per 100,000 male population.
U.S. Calculation: (2001-2005 Average Annual # of Prostate Cancer Instances) / (Male Population Estimate 2003 / 100,000)
Canada Calculation: (2000-2002 Total, Age-Adjusted, Prostate Cancer Incidences) / ((Male Population Estimate 2001 * 3) / 100,000)
Sources: New York State Cancer Incidence and Mortality Report, 2001-2005
Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) Database and Demography Division

Mortality (per 100,000 Population)

General Mortality, 2006

Description: Number of deaths due to all causes per 100,000 total population.
U.S. Calculation: (Total # of Deaths) / (Population Estimate 2006 / 100,000)
Canada Calculation: (1999-2001 Average, Age-Adjusted, Annual Deaths) / ((Population Estimate 2000) / 100,000)
Sources: New York State Department of Health 2006 Vital Statistics Report Table 38
Sources: Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates)

Lung & Bronchus Cancer Mortality, 2006

Description: Number of deaths due to Lung and Bronchus Cancer per 100,000 total population.
U.S. Calculation: (2002-2006 Average Annual # of Lung and Bronchus Cancer Deaths) / (Population Estimate 2004 / 100,000)
Canada Calculation: (1999-2001 Average Annual, Age-Adjusted, Lung Cancer Deaths) / ((Population Estimate 2000) / 100,000)
Sources: New York State Department of Health, 2002-2006 Vital Statistics Data
Sources: Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates)

Colorectal Cancer Mortality, 2006

Description: Number of deaths due to Colorectal Cancer per 100,000 total population.
U.S. Calculation: (2002-2006 Average Annual # of Colorectal Cancer Deaths) / (Population Estimate 2004 / 100,000)
Canada Calculation: (1999-2001 Average Annual, Age-Adjusted, Colon Cancer Deaths) / ((Population Estimate 2000) / 100,000)
Sources: New York State Department of Health, 2002-2006 Vital Statistics Data
Sources: Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates)

Breast Cancer Mortality, 2006

Description: Number of deaths due to Breast Cancer per 100,000 female population.
U.S. Calculation: (2002-2006 Average Annual # of Breast Cancer Deaths) / (Female Population Estimate 2004 / 100,000)
Canada Calculation: (1999-2001 Average Annual, Age-Adjusted, Breast Cancer Deaths) / ((Female Population Estimate 2000) / 100,000)
Sources: New York State Department of Health, 2002-2006 Vital Statistics Data
Sources: Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates)

Prostate Cancer Mortality, 2005

Description: Number of deaths due to Prostate Cancer per 100,000 male population.
U.S. Calculation: (2001-2005 Average Annual # of Prostate Cancer Deaths) / (Male Population Estimate 2003 / 100,000)
Canada Calculation: (1999-2001 Average Annual, Age-Adjusted, Prostate Cancer Deaths) / ((Male Population Estimate 2000) / 100,000)
Sources: New York State Cancer Incidence and Mortality Report, 2001-2005
Sources: Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates)

Health Behaviors

% of Population Who Smoke, 2005

Description: Percentage of the total population who currently smoke (as of survey date).
Sources: WNY Public Health Alliance Health Risk Assessment
Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS 3.1), January to June 2005

% of Population Overweight or Obese, 2005

Description: Percentage of the total population who are overwieght or obese.
Sources: WNY Public Health Alliance Health Risk Assessment
Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS 3.1), January to June 2005

Child Health

Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 Live Births), 2006

Description: Number of infant deaths, under 1 year of age, per 1,000 live births.
Canada Calculation: (1999-2001 Average Annual Infant Deaths up to 1 year old) / (Total Live Births / 1,000)
Sources: New York State Department of Health 2006 Vital Statistics Report Table 45
Sources: Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics 2001, Birth and Death Databases

Mental Health

Suicides (per 100,000 Population), 2006

Description: Number of suicide deaths per 100,000 total population.
U.S. Calculation: ((2004-2006 Total Suicides) / (Population 2005 / 100,000) / 3)
Canada Calculation: (1999-2001 Average, Age-Adjusted, Annual Suicide & Intentional Injury Deaths) / (Population Estimate 2000 / 100,000)
Sources: New York State Department of Health, 2004-2006 Vital Statistics Data
Sources: Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates)