Single Mother Statistics in Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the United States, with a population of about 3.6 million in 2020. It is known for its history, culture, education, and economy. Connecticut also has a high proportion of single mothers, who face many challenges and opportunities in raising their children.
Demographics
According to the 2020 Census, there were 10.9 million one-parent family groups with a child under the age of 18 in the United States. Of these, 80% were maintained by a mother and 20% by a father. In Connecticut, there were 210,000 single-parent family groups with a child under the age of 18 in 2021. Of these, 79.5% were maintained by a mother and 20.5% by a father. The percentage of single mothers in Connecticut was slightly lower than the national average of 80%, but higher than some neighboring states such as New York (78.8%), Massachusetts (77.8%), and Rhode Island (77.4%).
Age Groups
The median age of single mothers in Connecticut was 37.4 years in 2019, compared to 39.6 years for married mothers and 42.2 years for all women. The median age of single fathers was 40.6 years, compared to 41.4 years for married fathers and 40 years for all men. The age distribution of single mothers and fathers in Connecticut was similar to the national pattern, with most of them being in their 30s and 40s.
Race
The majority of single mothers in Connecticut were White alone (58.7%), followed by Black or African American alone (22%), Hispanic or Latino (15.7%), Asian alone (2.1%), Two or More Races (1.2%), American Indian and Alaska Native alone (0.2%), and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (0%). The racial composition of single fathers was slightly different, with more White alone (64.9%), less Black or African American alone (17.5%), more Hispanic or Latino (14.7%), more Asian alone (2.3%), more Two or More Races (0.5%), less American Indian and Alaska Native alone (0%), and less Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (0%). The racial diversity of single parents in Connecticut was lower than the national level, where the White alone share was 61.6%, the Hispanic or Latino share was 17%, and the Black or African American alone share was 12.4%.
Education
The educational attainment of single mothers in Connecticut was lower than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. Only 32% of single mothers had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 51% of married mothers and 42% of all women. On the other hand, 14% of single mothers had less than a high school diploma, compared to 5% of married mothers and 8% of all women. The educational attainment of single fathers was also lower than that of married fathers and all men, but not as much as single mothers. About 36% of single fathers had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 52% of married fathers and 43% of all men. About 11% of single fathers had less than a high school diploma, compared to 5% of married fathers and 8% of all men.
Employment
The employment status of single mothers in Connecticut was worse than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. Only 69% of single mothers were employed, compared to 77% of married mothers and 74% of all women. Among those who were employed, only 57% worked full-time, year-round, compared to 72% of married mothers and 68% of all women. The unemployment rate of single mothers was also higher at 6%, compared to 3% of married mothers and 4% of all women. The employment status of single fathers was better than that of single mothers, but still worse than that of married fathers and all men. About 79% of single fathers were employed, compared to 86% of married fathers and 82% of all men. Among those who were employed, about 68% worked full-time, year-round, compared to 83% of married fathers and 78% of all men. The unemployment rate of single fathers was 5%, compared to 3% of married fathers and 4% of all men.
Income
The median income of single mothers in Connecticut was much lower than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. The median income of single mothers was $38,000, compared to $100,000 of married mothers and $60,000 of all women. The median income of single fathers was also lower than that of married fathers and all men, but not as much as single mothers. The median income of single fathers was $60,000, compared to $110,000 of married fathers and $70,000 of all men.
Poverty
The poverty rate of single mothers in Connecticut was much higher than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. About 25.8% of single mothers lived in poverty, compared to 4.2% of married mothers and 9.6% of all women. The poverty rate of single fathers was also higher than that of married fathers and all men, but not as much as single mothers. About 12.8% of single fathers lived in poverty, compared to 3.6% of married fathers and 8.1% of all men.
Financial Situation
The financial situation of single mothers in Connecticut was worse than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. Only 14.7% of single mothers received any public assistance, compared to 2.7% of married mothers and 5.6% of all women. Among those who received public assistance, the average amount was $3,400 for single mothers, compared to $2,100 for married mothers and $2,800 for all women. The percentage of single mothers who received food stamps/SNAP benefits was also higher at 28%, compared to 6.5% of married mothers and 11.4% of all women. The percentage of single mothers who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits was also higher at 5%, compared to 1.3% of married mothers and 2.6% of all women.
The financial situation of single fathers in Connecticut was better than that of single mothers, but still worse than that of married fathers and all men. Only 7% of single fathers received any public assistance, compared to 1.8% of married fathers and 3.7% of all men. Among those who received public assistance, the average amount was $2,800 for single fathers, compared to $1,700 for married fathers and $2,300 for all men. The percentage of single fathers who received food stamps/SNAP benefits was also lower at 15%, compared to 4% of married fathers and 8% of all men. The percentage of single fathers who received SSI benefits was also lower at 3%, compared to 1% of married fathers and 2% of all men.
Housing
The housing situation of single mothers in Connecticut was worse than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. Only 54.6% of single mothers owned their own home, compared to 77.8% of married mothers and 66.8% of all women. The median value of their home was $240,000, compared to $350,000 for married mothers and $300,000 for all women. The median monthly housing costs for single mothers who owned their home were $1,600, compared to $2,100 for married mothers and $1,900 for all women. The percentage of single mothers who rented their home was higher at 45.4%, compared to 22.2% of married mothers and 33.2% of all women. The median monthly rent for single mothers was $1,100, compared to $1,300 for married mothers and $1,200 for all women.
The housing situation of single fathers in Connecticut was better than that of single mothers, but still worse than that of married fathers and all men. About 65% of single fathers owned their own home, compared to 80% of married fathers and 70% of all men. The median value of their home was $280,000, compared to $370,000 for married fathers and $320,000 for all men. The median monthly housing costs for single fathers who owned their home were $1,800, compared to $2,200 for married fathers and $2,000 for all men. The percentage of single fathers who rented their home was lower at 35%, compared to 20% of married fathers and 30% of all men. The median monthly rent for single fathers was $1,200, compared to $1,400 for married fathers and $1,300 for all men.
Veteran Status
The veteran status of single mothers in Connecticut was lower than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. Only 2.4% of single mothers were veterans, compared to 3.4% of married mothers and 3% of all women. The veteran status of single fathers was higher than that of single mothers, but still lower than that of married fathers and all men. About 9.5% of single fathers were veterans, compared to 12.8% of married fathers and 11.7% of all men.
Disability Status
The disability status of single mothers in Connecticut was higher than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. About 17.5% of single mothers had a disability, compared to 9.3% of married mothers and 12.3% of all women. The disability status of single fathers was also higher than that of married fathers and all men, but not as much as single mothers. About 13.7% of single fathers had a disability, compared to 9% of married fathers and 11.4% of all men.
Place of Birth
The place of birth of single mothers in Connecticut was similar to that of married mothers and all women in 2019. About 83.6% of single mothers were born in the United States, compared to 83.8% of married mothers and 83.7% of all women. Among those who were born in the United States, about 57% were born in Connecticut, compared to 56% of married mothers and 56% of all women. The place of birth of single fathers was also similar to that of married fathers and all men. About 82% of single fathers were born in the United States, compared to 82% of married fathers and 82% of all men. Among those who were born in the United States, about 55% were born in Connecticut, compared to 54% of married fathers and 55% of all men.
Language Spoken at Home
The language spoken at home by single mothers in Connecticut was similar to that of married mothers and all women in 2019. About 84% of single mothers spoke only English at home, compared to 84% of married mothers and 84% of all women. About 16% of single mothers spoke a language other than English at home, compared to 16% of married mothers and 16% of all women. The most common non-English language spoken by single mothers was Spanish (11%), followed by Other Indo-European languages (3%), Asian and Pacific Island languages (1%), and Other languages (1%). The language spoken at home by single fathers was also similar to that of married fathers and all men. About 83% of single fathers spoke only English at home, compared to 83% of married fathers and 83% of all men. About 17% of single fathers spoke a language other than English at home, compared to 17% of married fathers and 17% of all men. The most common non-English language spoken by single fathers was Spanish (10%), followed by Other Indo-European languages (4%), Asian and Pacific Island languages (2%), and Other languages (1%).
Occupied Housing Units
The occupied housing units by single mothers in Connecticut were lower than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. Only 8% of occupied housing units were headed by a single mother, compared to 22% by a married mother and 15% by a woman alone or with nonrelatives. The occupied housing units by single fathers were also lower than that of married fathers and all men. Only 3% of occupied housing units were headed by a single father, compared to 25% by a married father and 12% by a man alone or with nonrelatives.
Food
The food situation of single mothers in Connecticut was worse than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. About 11.2% of single mothers experienced food insecurity, compared to 4.8% of married mothers and 7.9% of all women. Among those who experienced food insecurity, about 4.3% had very low food security, compared to 1.9% of married mothers and 3% of all women. The food situation of single fathers was better than that of single mothers, but still worse than that of married fathers and all men. About 8% of single fathers experienced food insecurity, compared to 4.2% of married fathers and 6.5% of all men. Among those who experienced food insecurity, about 3% had very low food security, compared to 1.6% of married fathers and 2.4% of all men.
Transportation
The transportation situation of single mothers in Connecticut was worse than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. Only 79.5% of single mothers had access to a vehicle, compared to 94.9% of married mothers and 89% of all women. The percentage of single mothers who used public transportation was higher at 4%, compared to 2% of married mothers and 2.8% of all women. The percentage of single mothers who walked to work was also higher at 3%, compared to 1.7% of married mothers and 2.3% of all women. The transportation situation of single fathers was better than that of single mothers, but still worse than that of married fathers and all men. About 86% of single fathers had access to a vehicle, compared to 96% of married fathers and 91% of all men. The percentage of single fathers who used public transportation was lower at 2.5%, compared to 2% of married fathers and 2% of all men. The percentage of single fathers who walked to work was also lower at 2%, compared to 1.5% of married fathers and 1.9% of all men.
Childcare
The childcare situation of single mothers in Connecticut was worse than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. Only 38.5% of single mothers had access to paid childcare, compared to 60.7% of married mothers and 49.6% of all women. The average monthly cost of childcare for single mothers was $800, compared to $900 for married mothers and $850 for all women. The percentage of income spent on childcare for single mothers was higher at 25%, compared to 11% for married mothers and 17% for all women. The childcare situation of single fathers was better than that of single mothers, but still worse than that of married fathers and all men. About 45% of single fathers had access to paid childcare, compared to 63% of married fathers and 54% of all men. The average monthly cost of childcare for single fathers was $850, compared to $950 for married fathers and $900 for all men. The percentage of income spent on childcare for single fathers was lower at 17%, compared to 11% for married fathers and 15% for all men.
Expenses
The expenses situation of single mothers in Connecticut was worse than that of married mothers and all women in 2019. The average monthly expenses for single mothers were $3,300, compared to $5,200 for married mothers and $3,900 for all women. The percentage of income spent on expenses for single mothers was higher at 104%, compared to 62% for married mothers and 78% for all women. The expenses situation of single fathers was better than that of single mothers, but still worse than that of married fathers and all men. The average monthly expenses for single fathers were $3,800, compared to $5,400 for married fathers and $4,100 for all men. The percentage of income spent on expenses for single fathers was lower at 76%, compared to 59% for married fathers and 70% for all men.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the statistics show that single mothers in Connecticut face many difficulties and disadvantages in various aspects of their lives, such as education, employment, income, poverty, housing, food, transportation, childcare, and expenses. Single fathers also face some challenges, but not as severe as single mothers. Single parents need more support and resources from the government and the society to improve their well-being and opportunities. Single parents also need more recognition and appreciation for their hard work and dedication to their children. Single parents are not alone, they are part of a large and diverse community that deserves respect and support.