There鈥檚 prosperity in diversity, or at least money to be made.

No, that鈥檚 not a line from the Capitalist鈥檚 Handbook on Multiculturism, more like the executive summary of Rich Island, Poor Island: Why They Drive Nicer Cars in Greater Victoria.

There is a sharp economic divide on Vancouver Island between the haves and the have-nots, at least in terms of the size of their paycheques.

The haves are huddled comfortably in the suburbs around Greater Victoria. Their less-wealthy cousins are carving out a living in the resource-based communities to the north and west.

According to statistics compiled by Island Health, three Island sub-regions have a median household income level above the B.C. median of $75,797.

Two of those areas 鈥� Sooke and the Western Communities at $84,394 and the Saanich Peninsula at $90,154 鈥� have incomes that are significantly higher.

That contrasts sharply with Alberni-Tofino-Ucluelet, which has a median income of $58,856 and Cowichan Lake, which is even lower at $56,338.

The numbers date back to 2011 and the most recent census.

While raw incomes have likely climbed in the interim, the gaps between the communities are likely still very similar, according to Susan Mowbray, lead author of the

The reason is pretty simple. Income is a reflection of jobs, and communities that offer jobs in a variety of fields are less susceptible to the ups and downs of the economy. And while the economy has improved for forestry and tourism, it hasn't improved enough.

鈥淭he economy around Victoria is very different than the rest of the Island. Beyond Nanaimo lacks diversity,鈥� Mowbray said. 鈥淭he more diversified your economy is, the better.鈥�

Beyond the obvious jobs created directly and indirectly by government, Greater Victoria also offers a healthy tech industry, a Canadian forces base, two large hospitals and a major university.

Institutions like major hospitals, universities and military bases won鈥檛 make a local economy boom, but they are great stabilizers.

鈥淭he new hospitals in the north Island mean they won鈥檛 drop below a certain level,鈥� Mowbray said.

Contrast that with the West Coast, which is basically a two-horse town. One horse, tourism, doesn鈥檛 pay well, while the other, forestry, is not the job-generator it once was.

鈥淏ased on the work we did in 2014-15 (the most depressed economy) was the Alberni area,鈥� Mowbray said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so dependent on forestry and there鈥檚 not a large opportunity to expand. It鈥檚 looking at LNG, but there are a lot of obstacles.鈥�

While comparing salaries makes for good coffee table conversation, Mowbray points out it should not be misconstrued as being synonymous with wealth.

鈥淚ncome, in general, is a terrible indicator of wealth. A group that has low income may have wealth.鈥�

That鈥檚 exactly what is happening in our golden-age capital of Parksville-Qualicum, which ranks low on the income scale, but also scores very well in poverty indictors like social assistance and unemployment.

Sooke and Saanich again ranked the best in those areas, with rural north Island communities joining the West Coast and Cowichan Lake at the opposite end of that scale.

台湾MM裸聊室 half the households in Sooke and Saanich report incomes of more than $80,000. Meanwhile, one in five households in Lake Cowichan reported incomes of less than $20,000.

Mowbray said Vancouver Island can have some success in diversifying by attracting telecommuters, people who have built careers that allow them to work remotely and retirees. But overall, the region is doing well.

鈥淰ancouver Island is a relatively affluent region,鈥� she said.

Median household income by region

Saanich Peninsula $90,154

Sooke-Western Communities $84,394

Victoria-Esquimalt-Oak Bay $78,909

BC overall $75,797

Cowichan $74,049

Vancouver Island overall $73,358

Port Hardy-McNeill-Alice $70,687

Ladysmith-Chemainus $69,208

Comox Valley $68,371

Campbell River $67,933

Nanaimo $67,417

Tahsis-Zeballos-Gold River $65,593

Parksville-Qualicum $64,864

Alberni-Tofino-Ucluelet $58,856

Cowichan Lake $56,338