Single Mother Statistics in New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States, with a population of over 20 million people as of 2020. It is the fourth most populous state in the country, and the most diverse, with a diversity index of 64.7. New York is also home to the largest city in the nation, New York City, which accounts for more than 40% of the state’s population.
Among the various types of families and households in New York, single mothers are a significant and growing group. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 1.2 million single mothers living with their own children under 18 years old in New York state in 2020. This represents 17% of all families with children, and 28% of all one-parent family groups in the state. Single mothers are more prevalent in New York than in the nation as a whole, where they constitute 15% of all families with children, and 24% of all one-parent family groups.
Single mothers face many challenges and opportunities in their lives, such as raising their children, pursuing their education and careers, managing their finances, and accessing various resources and services. In this article, we will explore some of the key statistics and trends related to single mothers in New York state, based on the latest census data available.
Demographics
The number of single mothers in New York state has increased by 9% from 2010 to 2020, from 1.1 million to 1.2 million. This is slightly lower than the national growth rate of 10% for single mothers during the same period. The proportion of single mothers among all families with children has also increased from 16% to 17% in New York state, and from 14% to 15% in the nation.
The average size of single-mother families in New York state is 2.7 persons, which is lower than the average size of all families with children (3.3 persons) and all one-parent family groups (2.8 persons) in the state. The average size of single-mother families in New York is also lower than the national average of 2.9 persons for single-mother families.
The majority (61%) of single mothers in New York state have never been married, followed by those who are divorced (25%), separated (8%), widowed (5%), or married but spouse absent (1%). The marital status distribution of single mothers in New York is similar to that of the nation, except that New York has a higher percentage of never-married single mothers (61% vs. 56%) and a lower percentage of divorced single mothers (25% vs. 29%).
Age Groups
The median age of single mothers in New York state is 37 years old, which is higher than the median age of all women in the state (38 years old) and the nation (39 years old). The median age of single mothers in New York is also higher than the median age of all parents with children under 18 years old in the state (36 years old) and the nation (35 years old).
The age distribution of single mothers in New York state shows that most (57%) are between 25 and 44 years old, followed by those who are 45 years and over (30%), and those who are under 25 years old (13%). The age distribution of single mothers in New York is similar to that of the nation, except that New York has a lower percentage of young single mothers under 25 years old (13% vs. 16%) and a higher percentage of older single mothers over 45 years old (30% vs. 27%).
Race
The racial composition of single mothers in New York state reflects the diversity of the state’s population. According to the census data, which allows respondents to identify with more than one race category, the majority (51%) of single mothers in New York are White alone or in combination with another race, followed by those who are Black or African American alone or in combination with another race (28%), Hispanic or Latino of any race (23%), Asian alone or in combination with another race (6%), and other races alone or in combination with another race (5%). The racial composition of single mothers in New York is different from that of the nation, where the majority (57%) of single mothers are White alone or in combination with another race, followed by those who are Hispanic or Latino of any race (28%), Black or African American alone or in combination with another race (24%), Asian alone or in combination with another race (4%), and other races alone or in combination with another race (3%).
Education
The educational attainment of single mothers in New York state shows that most (62%) have completed high school or higher, followed by those who have some college or associate’s degree (25%), bachelor’s degree or higher (10%), and less than high school (3%). The educational attainment of single mothers in New York is similar to that of the nation, except that New York has a higher percentage of single mothers with a bachelor’s degree or higher (10% vs. 8%) and a lower percentage of single mothers with less than high school (3% vs. 5%).
The percentage of single mothers who have completed high school or higher in New York state has increased from 58% in 2010 to 62% in 2020. This is slightly lower than the national increase from 60% to 64% for single mothers during the same period.
Employment
The employment status of single mothers in New York state shows that most (66%) are in the labor force, either employed (55%) or unemployed (11%), while the rest (34%) are not in the labor force. The employment status of single mothers in New York is similar to that of the nation, except that New York has a higher percentage of unemployed single mothers (11% vs. 9%) and a lower percentage of employed single mothers (55% vs. 58%).
The percentage of single mothers who are in the labor force in New York state has decreased from 69% in 2010 to 66% in 2020. This is slightly higher than the national decrease from 68% to 66% for single mothers during the same period.
The median earnings of single mothers who are employed full-time, year-round in New York state are $40,000, which is higher than the median earnings of all women who are employed full-time, year-round in the state ($39,000) and the nation ($37,000). The median earnings of single mothers who are employed full-time, year-round in New York are also higher than the median earnings of all parents who are employed full-time, year-round in the state ($38,000) and the nation ($36,000).
The median earnings of single mothers who are employed full-time, year-round in New York state have increased by 14% from 2010 to 2020, from $35,000 to $40,000. This is slightly lower than the national increase of 16% for single mothers during the same period, from $32,000 to $37,000.
Income
The median household income of single-mother families in New York state is $32,000, which is lower than the median household income of all families with children ($75,000) and all one-parent family groups ($38,000) in the state. The median household income of single-mother families in New York is also lower than the national median household income of single-mother families ($36,000), all families with children ($79,000), and all one-parent family groups ($42,000).
The median household income of single-mother families in New York state has increased by 10% from 2010 to 2020, from $29,000 to $32,000. This is slightly lower than the national increase of 12% for single-mother families during the same period, from $32,000 to $36,000.
Poverty
The poverty rate of single-mother families in New York state is 33%, which is higher than the poverty rate of all families with children (13%) and all one-parent family groups (25%) in the state. The poverty rate of single-mother families in New York is also higher than the national poverty rate of single-mother families (30%), all families with children (12%), and all one-parent family groups (23%).
The poverty rate of single-mother families in New York state has decreased by 4 percentage points from 2010 to 2020, from 37% to 33%.