Single Mother Statistics in New Hampshire
Introduction
New Hampshire is a state with a population of over 1.3 million people, according to the 2020 Census. Out of this population, about 18.1% are children under 18 years old, and 20.2% are adults 65 years and over. New Hampshire also has a low rate of single mother households, with 6.8% of all families with children under 18 years old being led by a single mother in 2021. This article will explore some of the characteristics and challenges that single mothers face in New Hampshire, focusing on demographics, age groups, race, education, employment, income, poverty, financial situation, housing, veteran status, disability status, place of birth, language spoken at home, occupied housing units, food, transportation, childcare, healthcare, expenses, and conclusion.
Demographics
According to the Census Bureau, there were 540,498 households in New Hampshire in 2017-2021, out of which 36,000 were single mother households. This means that single mother households accounted for 6.7% of all households in New Hampshire. The average household size in New Hampshire was 2.46 persons, while the average family size was 3.01 persons. The average number of children per single mother household was 1.7.
Age Groups
The age distribution of single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: 4.9% were under 25 years old, 31.6% were between 25 and 34 years old, 35.9% were between 35 and 44 years old, and 27.6% were 45 years and over. The median age of single mothers in New Hampshire was 38.8 years. The age distribution of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: 24.4% were under 5 years old, 33.9% were between 5 and 11 years old, 28.8% were between 12 and 17 years old, and 12.9% were 18 years and over. The median age of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was 10.4 years.
Race
The racial composition of single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: 88.7% were White alone (non-Hispanic), 3.4% were Black or African American alone (non-Hispanic), 0.6% were American Indian and Alaska Native alone (non-Hispanic), 2.3% were Asian alone (non-Hispanic), 0.1% were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (non-Hispanic), 3.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race), and 1.6% were Two or More Races (non-Hispanic). The racial composition of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: 81% were White alone (non-Hispanic), 4% were Black or African American alone (non-Hispanic), 0% were American Indian and Alaska Native alone (non-Hispanic), 2% were Asian alone (non-Hispanic), 0% were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (non-Hispanic), 10% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race), and 3% were Two or More Races (non-Hispanic).
Education
The educational attainment of single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: 9% had less than high school diploma, 26% had high school diploma or equivalent, 37% had some college or associate’s degree, and 28% had bachelor’s degree or higher. The educational attainment of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those aged 3 to 4 years old, 48% were enrolled in preschool, among those aged 5 to 17 years old, 97% were enrolled in school, and among those aged 18 to 24 years old, 40% were enrolled in college or graduate school.
Employment
The employment status of single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those aged 16 years and over, 77% were in the labor force, 69% were employed, and 8% were unemployed. The employment status of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those aged 16 to 19 years old, 32% were in the labor force, 28% were employed, and 4% were unemployed. The occupation distribution of employed single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: 32% were in management, business, science, and arts occupations, 24% were in service occupations, 23% were in sales and office occupations, 9% were in natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations, and 12% were in production, transportation, and material moving occupations.
Income
The income distribution of single mother households in New Hampshire was as follows: 11% had income less than $15,000, 14% had income between $15,000 and $24,999, 16% had income between $25,000 and $34,999, 14% had income between $35,000 and $49,999, 17% had income between $50,000 and $74,999, 16% had income between $75,000 and $99,999, and 12% had income of $100,000 or more. The median household income of single mother households in New Hampshire was $49,800. The median earnings of employed single mothers in New Hampshire was $42,000.
Poverty
The poverty status of single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those aged 18 years and over, 17% were in poverty, and among those aged 65 years and over, 6% were in poverty. The poverty status of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those under 18 years old, 25% were in poverty, and among those under 5 years old, 28% were in poverty. The poverty threshold for a single mother household with two children under 18 years old was $21,960 in 2020.
Financial Situation
The financial situation of single mother households in New Hampshire was as follows: 10% received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the past 12 months, 4% received cash public assistance income in the past 12 months, 8% received Supplemental Security Income (SSI), public assistance income, or both in the past 12 months, and 7% had no health insurance coverage at any time during the past 12 months. The financial situation of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: 13% received SNAP benefits in the past 12 months, 6% received cash public assistance income in the past 12 months, 10% received SSI, public assistance income, or both in the past 12 months, and 3% had no health insurance coverage at any time during the past 12 months.
Housing
The housing situation of single mother households in New Hampshire was as follows: among the 36,000 single mother households, 67% were owner-occupied, and 33% were renter-occupied. The median value of owner-occupied housing units of single mother households in New Hampshire was $247,600, and the median gross rent of renter-occupied housing units of single mother households in New Hampshire was $1,200. The housing cost burden of single mother households in New Hampshire was as follows: among owner-occupied housing units with a mortgage, 38% spent 30% or more of their household income on selected monthly owner costs, and among renter-occupied housing units, 54% spent 30% or more of their household income on gross rent.
Veteran Status
The veteran status of single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those aged 18 years and over, 2% were veterans. The veteran status of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: none of them were veterans.
Disability Status
The disability status of single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those aged 18 to 64 years old, 11% had a disability, and among those aged 65 years and over, 29% had a disability. The disability status of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those under 18 years old, 6% had a disability.
Place of Birth
The place of birth of single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those aged 15 years and over, 88% were born in the United States (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Island Areas), and 12% were foreign born. The place of birth of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those under 18 years old, 91% were born in the United States (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Island Areas), and 9% were foreign born.
Language Spoken at Home
The language spoken at home by single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those aged 15 years and over who spoke a language other than English at home, 16% spoke Spanish or Spanish Creole, 7% spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, 8% spoke other Indo-European languages, and 69% spoke other languages. The language spoken at home by children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among those under 18 years old who spoke a language other than English at home, 14% spoke Spanish or Spanish Creole, 6% spoke Asian and Pacific Island languages, 6% spoke other Indo-European languages, and 74% spoke other languages.
Occupied Housing Units
The occupied housing units of single mother households in New Hampshire were as follows: among the 36,000 single mother households, 67% lived in single-family homes (detached or attached), 20% lived in multi-unit structures (2 to 9 units), 9% lived in multi-unit structures (10 or more units), and 4% lived in mobile homes, boats, RVs, vans, etc… The occupied housing units of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire were as follows: among the 61,000 children living with single mothers, 67% lived in single-family homes (detached or attached), 20% lived in multi-unit structures (2 to 9 units), 9% lived in multi-unit structures (10 or more units), and 4% lived in mobile homes, boats, RVs, vans, etc.
Food
The food situation of single mother households in New Hampshire was as follows: among the 36,000 single mother households, 10% received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the past 12 months. The food situation of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among the 61,000 children living with single mothers, 13% received SNAP benefits in the past 12 months.
Transportation
The transportation situation of single mother households in New Hampshire was as follows: among the 36,000 single mother households, 90% had access to a vehicle. The mean travel time to work for workers age 16 years and over in single mother households in New Hampshire was 25.8 minutes. The mode of transportation to work for workers age 16 years and over in single mother households in New Hampshire was as follows: 82% drove alone, 8% carpooled, 1% used public transportation, 3% walked, 1% used other means, and 5% worked at home. The transportation situation of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among the 61,000 children living with single mothers, 90% had access to a vehicle. The mode of transportation to school for children age 5 to 17 years old living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: 43% were driven by car, truck, or van, 13% walked, 3% used public transportation, 2% used bicycle, motorcycle, or other means, and 39% were driven by school bus.
Childcare
The childcare situation of single mother households in New Hampshire was as follows: among the 36,000 single mother households with children under 18 years old, 46% had no children under 6 years old. Among the 54% that had children under 6 years old, 38% had all children under 6 years old enrolled in school or organized childcare arrangement. Among the 62% that did not have all children under 6 years old enrolled in school or organized childcare arrangement, 34% had no employed parent present. Among the 66% that had an employed parent present, 32% used relative care (grandparent, sibling, etc.), 24% used nonrelative care (nanny, babysitter, etc.), 23% used center-based care (daycare center, preschool, etc.), and 21% used other care arrangements.
Healthcare
The healthcare situation of single mother households in New Hampshire was as follows: among the 36,000 single mother households, 7% had no health insurance coverage at any time during the past 12 months. The healthcare situation of children living with single mothers in New Hampshire was as follows: among the 61,000 children living with single mothers, 3% had no health insurance coverage at any time during the past 12 months.
Expenses
The expenses of single mother households in New Hampshire were as follows: according to the Economic Policy Institute, the average annual cost of living for a single mother household with two children in New Hampshire was $75,156 in 2020. This cost included housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities. The average annual income of single mother households in New Hampshire was $49,800. This means that single mother households in New Hampshire had an income gap of $25,356, or 34% of their cost of living. Therefore, single mother households in New Hampshire may have to rely on public assistance, savings, debt, or other sources to meet their expenses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, single mother households in New Hampshire face some challenges and difficulties, such as language barriers, housing affordability, food insecurity, transportation costs, childcare availability and quality, healthcare access and coverage, and income inadequacy. These challenges can affect their quality of life, well-being, and opportunities. However, single mother households also have some strengths and resources in New Hampshire, such as diversity, education, employment, social support, government assistance, and community organizations. For example, according to the Census Bureau, 12% of single mother households in New Hampshire were foreign born, which may indicate cultural richness and resilience. According to the Census Bureau, 28% of single mother households in New Hampshire had a bachelor’s degree or higher, which may indicate human capital and potential. According to the Census Bureau, 69% of single mother households in New Hampshire were employed, which may indicate economic contribution and participation. According to the Census Bureau, 10% of single mother households in New Hampshire received cash public assistance income in the past 12 months, which may indicate financial assistance and protection. According to Single Mothers Outreach of New Hampshire (SMONH), there are several nonprofit organizations that provide support and assistance to single mothers in New Hampshire, such as Child and Family Services of New Hampshire, Family Promise of Greater Concord, Family Promise of Greater Nashua, Family Promise of Southern New Hampshire, New Hampshire Catholic Charities, New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, New Hampshire Food Bank, New Hampshire Legal Assistance, New Horizons for New Hampshire, and The Way Home. Therefore, single mother households can access and utilize these strengths and resources to overcome their challenges and improve their situations in New Hampshire.