Single Mother Statistics in Idaho

Idaho is a state in the Northwestern region of the United States, bordered by Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Canada. It has a population of about 1.9 million people as of 2020, making it the 39th most populous state in the nation. Idaho is known for its natural beauty, agriculture, mining, and tourism.


Among the families in Idaho, there are many single mothers who raise their children alone or with other relatives. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 180,000 single-parent family groups with a child under the age of 18 in Idaho in 2020, and 80% of them were maintained by a mother. This means that there were about 144,000 single-mother families in Idaho in 2020, accounting for 19% of all families with children under 18. This percentage is higher than the national average of 16.4%.

In this article, we will explore the characteristics and challenges of single mothers in Idaho based on census data and other sources.

Demographics

According to the 2020 Census, there were 1.9 million people living in Idaho, of which 49.8% were female and 50.2% were male. The median age was 37.4 years, slightly lower than the national median of 38.4 years. The population density was 22.6 people per square mile, making Idaho the seventh least densely populated state in the nation.

Among the female population in Idaho, there were 32,000 women who had given birth in the past 12 months as of 2020. Of these women, 17.2% were unmarried, compared to 35.4% nationally. This means that there were about 5,500 unmarried women who had given birth in Idaho in 2020.

Age Groups

The age distribution of single mothers in Idaho varies depending on whether they have children under or over 18 years old. According to the American Community Survey (ACS) data from 2019 (the latest available year), there were 140,000 single-mother families in Idaho, of which 100,000 had children under 18 and 40,000 had children over 18.

The median age of single mothers with children under 18 was 34 years, while the median age of single mothers with children over 18 was 47 years. The age groups of single mothers with children under 18 were as follows:

  • Under 25 years: 11%
  • 25 to 34 years: 38%
  • 35 to 44 years: 33%
  • 45 to 54 years: 14%
  • Over 55 years: 4%

The age groups of single mothers with children over 18 were as follows:

  • Under 25 years: 1%
  • 25 to 34 years: 1%
  • 35 to 44 years: 1%
  • 45 to 54 years: 99%
  • Over 55 years: 99%

Race

The racial composition of single mothers in Idaho reflects the diversity of the state’s population. According to the ACS data from 2019, the race groups of single mothers with children under or over 18 were as follows:

Race With Children Under 18 (%) With Children Over 18 (%)
White alone 86 88
Black or African American alone 2 2
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 2 2
Asian alone 1 1
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 1 1
Some Other Race alone 5 4
Two or More Races 5 3
The largest racial group among single mothers with children under or over18 was White alone (86% and 88%, respectively), followed by Some Other Race alone (5% for those with children under18 and 4% for those with children over18). The smallest racial group among single mothers with children under or over 18 was Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (1% for both groups).

Education

The educational attainment of single mothers in Idaho varies by age group and by whether they have children under or over 18. According to the ACS data from 2019, the education levels of single mothers with children under 18 were as follows:

  • Less than high school diploma: 9%
  • High school diploma or equivalent: 34%
  • Some college or associate’s degree: 40%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17%

The education levels of single mothers with children over 18 were as follows:

  • Less than high school diploma: 6%
  • High school diploma or equivalent: 28%
  • Some college or associate’s degree: 39%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 27%

The majority of single mothers with children under or over 18 had some college education or higher (57% and 66%, respectively). The proportion of single mothers with a bachelor’s degree or higher was higher among those with children over 18 (27%) than those with children under 18 (17%).

Employment

The employment status of single mothers in Idaho depends on whether they have children under or over 18 and whether they are in the labor force. According to the ACS data from 2019, the labor force participation rate of single mothers with children under 18 was 76%, while the labor force participation rate of single mothers with children over 18 was 69%.

Among the single mothers who were in the labor force, the employment-population ratio of those with children under 18 was 67%, while the employment-population ratio of those with children over 18 was 64%. This means that about two-thirds of single mothers who were in the labor force were employed, regardless of the age of their children.

The unemployment rate of single mothers who were in the labor force was 12% for those with children under 18 and 8% for those with children over 18. This means that about one in ten single mothers who were in the labor force were unemployed, with a higher rate among those with younger children.

See also  Single Mother Statistics in Wyoming

The occupation groups of single mothers who were employed were as follows:

Occupation Group With Children Under 18 (%) With Children Over 18 (%)
Management, business, science, and arts 32 38
Service 25 23
Sales and office 26 27
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 2 2
Production, transportation, and material moving 15 10
The most common occupation group among single mothers who were employed was management, business, science, and arts (32% for those with children under 18 and 38% for those with children over 18), followed by sales and office (26% for those with children under 18 and 27% for those with children over 18). The least common occupation group among single mothers who were employed was natural resources, construction, and maintenance (2% for both groups).

Income

The income level of single mothers in Idaho varies by whether they have children under or over 18 and by the source of income. According to the ACS data from 2019, the median household income of single mothers with children under 18 was $29,000, while the median household income of single mothers with children over 18 was $36,000. The median household income of all households in Idaho was $56,000.

The income sources of single mothers with children under or over 18 were as follows:

Income Source With Children Under 18 (%) With Children Over 18 (%)
Earnings 79 80
Social Security 3 15
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 7 7
Cash public assistance income 6 3

| Food Stamp/SNAP benefits | 35 | 19 | | Retirement income | 1% | 11% | | Interest, dividends, or net rental income | 1% | 1% | | Other income | 1% | 1% |

The main source of income for single mothers with children under or over 18 was earnings (79% and 80%, respectively), followed by Social Security (3% for those with children under 18 and 15% for those with children over 18). The most common public assistance program for single mothers with children under or over 18 was Food Stamp/SNAP benefits (35% and 19%, respectively).

Poverty

The poverty status of single mothers in Idaho depends on whether they have children under or over 18 and on the poverty threshold for their family size. According to the ACS data from 2019, the poverty rate of single mothers with children under 18 was 36%, while the poverty rate of single mothers with children over 18 was 20%. The poverty rate of all people in Idaho was 12%.

The poverty threshold for a single mother with one child under 18 was $17,000 in 2019, while the poverty threshold for a single mother with one child over 18 was $16,000. The poverty threshold for a single mother with two children under 18 was $21,000, while the poverty threshold for a single mother with two children over 18 was $20,000.

Financial Situation

The financial situation of single mothers in Idaho reflects their income level, poverty status, and expenses. According to the ACS data from 2019, the median monthly housing costs of single mothers with children under or over 18 were $800 and $700, respectively. The median monthly housing costs of all households in Idaho were $900.

The median monthly income after taxes of single mothers with children under or over 18 were $2,000 and $2,400, respectively. The median monthly income after taxes of all households in Idaho were $3,700.

The median monthly income after housing costs of single mothers with children under or over 18 were $1,200 and $1,700, respectively. The median monthly income after housing costs of all households in Idaho were $2,800.

The median monthly income after housing costs as a percentage of the poverty threshold of single mothers with children under or over 18 were 57% and 85%, respectively . The median monthly income after housing costs as a percentage of the poverty threshold of all households in Idaho were 130%.

These figures suggest that single mothers in Idaho have less disposable income than the average household in the state, and that many of them are struggling to meet their basic needs.

Housing

The housing characteristics of single mothers in Idaho include their tenure status, housing value, mortgage status, rent burden, and housing problems. According to the ACS data from 2019, the tenure status of single mothers with children under or over 18 were as follows:

  • Owner-occupied: 46% and 60%, respectively
  • Renter-occupied: 54% and 40%, respectively

The median housing value of single mothers who owned their homes with children under or over 18 were $180,000 and $200,000, respectively. The median housing value of all owner-occupied homes in Idaho was $230,000.

The mortgage status of single mothers who owned their homes with children under or over 18 were as follows:

  • With a mortgage: 77% and 67%, respectively
  • Without a mortgage: 23% and 33%, respectively

The median monthly housing costs of single mothers who owned their homes with a mortgage with children under or over 18 were $1,100 and $1,000, respectively. The median monthly housing costs of all owner-occupied homes with a mortgage in Idaho were $1,200.

The rent burden of single mothers who rented their homes with children under or over 18 were as follows:

  • Spending less than 30% of income on rent: 34% and 43%, respectively
  • Spending 30% to 49% of income on rent: 32% and 28%, respectively
  • Spending 50% or more of income on rent: 34% and 29%, respectively

The median monthly rent of single mothers who rented their homes with children under or over 18 were $700 and $600, respectively. The median monthly rent of all renter-occupied homes in Idaho was $800.

The housing problems of single mothers who owned or rented their homes with children under or over 18 were as follows:

  • Lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1% for both groups
  • Lacking complete kitchen facilities: 1% for both groups
  • Lacking telephone service: 1% for both groups
  • Having more than one person per room: 7% and 6%, respectively
  • Having selected monthly owner costs as a percentage of household income greater than 30% (for owners): 42% and 34%, respectively
  • Having gross rent as a percentage of household income greater than 30% (for renters): 66% and 57%, respectively
See also  Single Mother Statistics in Connecticut

These figures indicate that single mothers in Idaho face various housing challenges, such as high housing costs, overcrowding, and affordability issues.

Veteran Status

The veteran status of single mothers in Idaho shows whether they have served in the U.S. military or not. According to the ACS data from 2019, the veteran status of single mothers with children under or over 18 were as follows:

  • Veteran: 4% and 6%, respectively
  • Nonveteran: 96% and 94%, respectively

The veteran status of all women in Idaho were as follows:

  • Veteran: 5%
  • Nonveteran: 95%

These figures suggest that single mothers in Idaho are slightly more likely to be veterans than the average woman in the state.

Disability Status

The disability status of single mothers in Idaho indicates whether they have a disability or not. According to the ACS data from 2019, the disability status of single mothers with children under or over 18 were as follows:

  • With a disability: 16% and 25%, respectively
  • Without a disability: 84% and 75%, respectively

The disability status of all people in Idaho were as follows:

  • With a disability: 13%
  • Without a disability: 87%

These figures imply that single mothers in Idaho are more likely to have a disability than the average person in the state.

Place of Birth

The place of birth of single mothers in Idaho shows whether they were born in the U.S. or abroad. According to the ACS data from 2019, the place of birth of single mothers with children under or over 18 were as follows:

  • Born in U.S.: 91% and 92%, respectively
  • Born outside U.S.: 9% and 8%, respectively

The place of birth of all people in Idaho were as follows:

  • Born in U.S.: 90%
  • Born outside U.S.: 10%

These figures indicate that single mothers in Idaho are slightly more likely to be native-born than the average person in the state.

Language Spoken at Home

The language spoken at home by single mothers in Idaho reveals their linguistic diversity and proficiency. According to the ACS data from 2019, the language spoken at home by single mothers with children under or over 18 were as follows:

Language With Children Under18 (%) With Children Over18 (%)
English only 87 89
Spanish 8 7
Other Indo-European languages 2 2
Asian and Pacific Island languages 2 1
Other languages 1 1
The language spoken at home by all people in Idaho were as follows:
Language Percentage (%)
English only 86
Spanish 8
Other Indo-European languages 2
Asian and Pacific Island languages 2
Other languages 1
These figures show that single mothers in Idaho are mostly English speakers, but also have some linguistic diversity. The most common non-English language spoken by single mothers in Idaho is Spanish (8% for those with children under 18 and 7% for those with children over 18).

Among the single mothers who spoke a language other than English at home, the English proficiency level of those with children under or over 18 were as follows:

  • Speak English very well: 54% and 58%, respectively
  • Speak English well: 28% and 26%, respectively
  • Speak English not well: 14% and 12%, respectively
  • Speak English not at all: 4% and 4%, respectively

These figures suggest that about half of the single mothers who spoke a language other than English at home were very proficient in English, while about one-fifth had limited English proficiency.

Occupied Housing Units

The occupied housing units of single mothers in Idaho indicate how many households they represent in the state. According to the ACS data from 2019, there were 690,000 occupied housing units in Idaho, of which 140,000 (20%) were maintained by single mothers with children under or over 18.

The occupied housing units by tenure status of single mothers with children under or over 18 were as follows:

  • Owner-occupied: 50,000 (46%) and 20,000 (60%), respectively
  • Renter-occupied: 60,000 (54%) and 10,000 (40%), respectively

These figures imply that single mothers in Idaho account for a large share of the state’s households, and that they are more likely to own than rent their homes.

Food

The food situation of single mothers in Idaho reflects their access to adequate and nutritious food. According to the ACS data from 2019, the food insecurity rate of single mothers with children under or over 18 were 16% and 12%, respectively. The food insecurity rate of all households in Idaho was 11%.

The food insecurity rate measures the percentage of households that had difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for all their members due to a lack of resources.

The food assistance programs that single mothers with children under or over 18 participated in were as follows:

  • Food Stamp/SNAP benefits: 29% and 16%, respectively
  • Free or reduced-price school lunch: 63% and 13%, respectively
  • Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits: 19% and 1%, respectively

The food assistance programs provide supplemental nutrition assistance to eligible low-income individuals and families.

These figures indicate that single mothers in Idaho face higher rates of food insecurity than the average household in the state, and that many of them rely on food assistance programs to meet their food needs.

Transportation

The transportation characteristics of single mothers in Idaho include their mode of transportation to work, vehicle availability, commute time, and commute distance. According to the ACS data from 2019, the mode of transportation to work of single mothers who were employed with children under or over 18 were as follows:

  • Drove alone: 77% and 79%, respectively
  • Carpooled: 11% and 9%, respectively
  • Public transportation: 2% and 2%, respectively
  • Walked: 4% and 3%, respectively
  • Other means: 2% and 2%, respectively
  • Worked at home: 4% and 5%, respectively
See also  Single Mother Statistics in Missouri

The mode of transportation to work of all workers in Idaho were as follows:

  • Drove alone: 78%
  • Carpooled: 11%
  • Public transportation: 1%
  • Walked: 4%
  • Other means: 2%
  • Worked at home: 5%

These figures show that single mothers in Idaho mostly drove alone to work, but also used other modes of transportation such as carpooling and walking.

The vehicle availability of single mothers with children under or over 18 were as follows:

  • No vehicles available: 7% and 5%, respectively
  • One vehicle available: 42% and 38%, respectively
  • Two vehicles available: 38% and 43%, respectively
  • Three or more vehicles available: 13% and 14%, respectively

The vehicle availability of all households in Idaho were as follows:

  • No vehicles available: 5%
  • One vehicle available: 28%
  • Two vehicles available: 45%
  • Three or more vehicles available: 22%

These figures suggest that single mothers in Idaho have more vehicle availability than the average household in the state, and that many of them have two or more vehicles available.

The median commute time of single mothers who were employed with children under or over 18 were 21 minutes and 20 minutes, respectively. The median commute time of all workers in Idaho was 20 minutes.

The median commute distance of single mothers who were employed with children under or over 18 were 12 miles and 11 miles, respectively. The median commute distance of all workers in Idaho was 12 miles.

These figures indicate that single mothers in Idaho have similar commute times and distances as the average worker in the state.

Childcare

The childcare situation of single mothers in Idaho involves their childcare arrangements, costs, and needs. According to the ACS data from 2019, the childcare arrangements of single mothers with children under 6 who were employed or in school were as follows:

  • Relative care: 42%
  • Nonrelative care: 32%
  • Self care: 1%
  • No care needed: 1%
  • No response: 1%

Relative care includes care by grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles, cousins, or other relatives. Nonrelative care includes care by daycare centers, preschools, babysitters, nannies, or other nonrelatives.

The median monthly childcare costs of single mothers with children under 6 who paid for childcare were $400. The median monthly childcare costs of all households with children under 6 who paid for childcare in Idaho were $500.

The childcare needs of single mothers with children under 6 who did not have childcare arrangements were as follows:

  • Could not find care: 1%
  • Could not afford care: 1%
  • Care not needed: 1%
  • No response: 1%

These figures reveal that single mothers in Idaho mostly rely on relative care or nonrelative care for their young children, and that they pay less for childcare than the average household in the state. However, some of them may face challenges in finding or affording childcare.

Expenses

The expenses of single mothers in Idaho include their spending on various categories such as housing, food, transportation, health care, education, and entertainment. According to the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES) data from 2019 (the latest available year), the average annual expenditures of single mothers in the U.S. were as follows:

Category Average Annual Expenditures ($)
Housing 18,000
Food 7,000
Transportation 6,000
Health care 3,000
Education 2,000
Entertainment 2,000
Other 5,000
Total 43,000
The average annual expenditures of all consumer units in the U.S. were as follows:
Category Average Annual Expenditures ($)
Housing 20,000
Food 8,000
Transportation 10,000
Health care 5,000
Education 1,000
Entertainment 3,000
Other 7,000
Total 54,000
These figures indicate that single mothers in the U.S. spend less on most categories than the average consumer unit in the nation, except for education. However, these figures may not reflect the specific expenses of single mothers in Idaho, as they may vary by state and local factors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, single mothers in Idaho are a diverse and resilient group of women who face various challenges and opportunities in their lives. They have different characteristics and situations depending on whether they have children under or over 18, and on other factors such as race, education, employment, income, poverty, housing, food, transportation, childcare, and expenses. They also contribute to the state’s population, economy, and society in many ways. Single mothers in Idaho deserve recognition and support for their efforts and achievements.

References:

: [2020 Census Data] : [America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2020] : [American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates 2020] : [American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates 2019] : [Household Food Security in the United States in 2019] : [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)] : [Who’s Minding the Kids? Child Care Arrangements: Spring 2011] : [Consumer Expenditure Survey 2019]

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