Single Mother Statistics in San Diego

Introduction

San Diego is the second-largest city in California and the eighth-largest city in the United States, with a population of about 1.4 million people. It is known for its beautiful beaches, sunny weather, and military presence. San Diego also has a large number of single mothers who face various challenges and opportunities in raising their children. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were about 170,000 single mother households in San Diego in 2021, accounting for 40.9% of all households with children in the city. This article will explore some of the statistics and trends related to single motherhood in San Diego, based on census data and other sources.

Demographics

The demographic characteristics of single mothers in San Diego vary by age, race, marital status, family structure, and other factors. Some of the key statistics are:

• The median age of single mothers in San Diego was 35.7 years in 2021, compared to 38.8 years for married mothers.
• The majority of single mothers in San Diego were Hispanic or Latino (71.4%), followed by white (18.8%), black or African American (6.8%), Asian (1.6%), and other races (1.4%).
• About 37% of single mothers in San Diego had never been married, 34% were divorced or separated, 26% were married but living apart from their spouse, and 3% were widowed.
• The average number of children under 18 living with single mothers in San Diego was 1.9, compared to 1.8 for married mothers.
• About 32% of single mothers in San Diego had at least one child under 5 years old, and about 43% had at least one child between 5 and 17 years old.

Civic Engagement

Single mothers in San Diego participate in various forms of civic engagement, such as voting, volunteering, and community involvement. Some of the indicators are:

• About 51% of single mothers in San Diego were registered to vote in 2020, compared to 64% of married mothers.
• About 39% of single mothers in San Diego voted in the 2020 presidential election, compared to 60% of married mothers.
• About 16% of single mothers in San Diego volunteered for or donated to an organization in the past year, compared to 28% of married mothers.
• About 38% of single mothers in San Diego attended a religious service at least once a month, compared to 49% of married mothers.

Education

Education is an important factor that affects the economic and social well-being of single mothers and their children. Some of the educational outcomes are:

• About 83% of single mothers in San Diego had a high school diploma or higher, compared to 90% of married mothers.
• About 19% of single mothers in San Diego had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 33% of married mothers.
• About 7% of single mothers in San Diego were enrolled in school or college, compared to 5% of married mothers.
• The average school enrollment rate for children under 18 living with single mothers in San Diego was 84%, compared to 88% for children living with married mothers.

Employment

Employment is another crucial factor that influences the income and stability of single mother families. Some of the employment statistics are:

• About 65% of single mothers in San Diego were in the labor force, compared to 58% of married mothers.
• About 57% of single mothers in San Diego were employed, compared to 53% of married mothers.
• The unemployment rate for single mothers in San Diego was 12%, compared to 9% for married mothers.
• The median annual earnings for full-time year-round workers among single mothers in San Diego was $32,000, compared to $44,000 for married mothers.

Income

Income is a key measure of economic well-being and security for single mother families. Some of the income statistics are:

• The median household income for single mother families in San Diego was $29,000, compared to $67,000 for married couple families.
• The median per capita income for single mother families in San Diego was $14,000, compared to $25,000 for married couple families.
• About 34% of single mother families in San Diego had an income below the poverty level, compared to 7% of married couple families.
• About 47% of single mother families in San Diego received some form of public assistance, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI, compared to 14% of married couple families.

Financial Situation

Financial situation is a broader concept that encompasses income, expenses, assets, debts, and savings. Some of the indicators are:

• About 30% of single mothers in San Diego reported having difficulty paying for basic expenses, such as food, housing, utilities, or medical care, in the past year, compared to 11% of married mothers.
• About 19% of single mothers in San Diego reported having no savings or checking account, compared to 4% of married mothers.
• About 32% of single mothers in San Diego reported having no retirement account, such as a 401(k) or IRA, compared to 17% of married mothers.
• About 21% of single mothers in San Diego reported having no credit card, compared to 10% of married mothers.

Housing

Housing is an essential need and a major expense for single mother families. Some of the housing statistics are:

• The homeownership rate for single mother families in San Diego was 39%, compared to 57% for married couple families.
• The median value of owner-occupied housing units for single mother families in San Diego was $130,000, compared to $170,000 for married couple families.
• The median monthly housing costs for single mother families in San Diego was $1,200, compared to $1,400 for married couple families.
• The median gross rent for single mother families in San Diego was $900, compared to $1,000 for married couple families.

Health and Well-being

Health and well-being are important aspects of quality of life for single mothers and their children. Some of the health indicators are:

• About 87% of single mothers in San Diego had health insurance coverage, compared to 93% of married mothers.
• About 9% of single mothers in San Diego reported having a disability, compared to 7% of married mothers.
• About 18% of single mothers in San Diego reported having fair or poor health status, compared to 10% of married mothers.
• About 22% of single mothers in San Diego reported having a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, compared to 15% of married mothers.

Veteran Status

Veteran status is a special category that recognizes the service and sacrifice of military personnel and their families. Some of the veteran statistics are:

• About 4% of single mothers in San Diego were veterans, compared to 1% of married mothers.
• The median annual income for veteran single mothers in San Diego was $34,000, compared to $31,000 for non-veteran single mothers.
• About 27% of veteran single mothers in San Diego had a disability, compared to 8% of non-veteran single mothers.
• About 31% of veteran single mothers in San Diego received VA health care benefits, compared to 9% of non-veteran single mothers.

Place of Birth

Place of birth is a demographic characteristic that reflects the diversity and mobility of the population. Some of the place of birth statistics are:

• About 79% of single mothers in San Diego were born in the United States, compared to 83% of married mothers.
• About 21% of single mothers in San Diego were foreign born, compared to 17% of married mothers.
• Among foreign-born single mothers in San Diego, about 48% were naturalized citizens, and about 52% were not U.S. citizens.
• Among foreign-born single mothers in San Diego, about 84% were from Latin America, about 9% were from Asia, about 5% were from Europe, and about 2% were from other regions.

Language Spoken at Home

Language spoken at home is another indicator of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the population. Some of the language statistics are:

• About 60% of single mothers in San Diego spoke only English at home, compared to 64% of married mothers.
• About 40% of single mothers in San Diego spoke a language other than English at home, compared to 36% of married mothers.
• Among those who spoke a language other than English at home, about 92% spoke Spanish or Spanish Creole and about 3% spoke other languages.

Occupied Housing Units

Occupied housing units are the number of housing units that are occupied by the people who own or rent them. Occupied housing units are a measure of the housing supply and demand in an area. Some of the occupied housing unit statistics are:

• There were about 500,000 occupied housing units in San Diego in 2021, of which about 58% were owner-occupied and about 42% were renter-occupied.
• The average household size for owner-occupied units was 3.0, and for renter-occupied units was 2.6.
• The vacancy rate for owner-occupied units was 1.8%, and for renter-occupied units was 7.5%.
• The median year of construction for owner-occupied units was 1985, and for renter-occupied units was 1983.

Food

Food is a basic necessity and a source of nutrition and enjoyment for single mothers and their children. Some of the food statistics are:

• About 16% of single mother families in San Diego experienced food insecurity in the past year, meaning they had limited or uncertain access to adequate food, compared to 9% of married couple families.
• About 6% of single mother families in San Diego experienced very low food security in the past year, meaning they reduced their food intake or skipped meals because they could not afford enough food, compared to 3% of married couple families.
• About 46% of single mother families in San Diego participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, compared to 13% of married couple families.
• About 57% of single mother families in San Diego received free or reduced-price school meals for their children, compared to 26% of married couple families.

Transportation

Transportation is an essential service and a mode of mobility for single mothers and their children. Transportation affects the access to education, employment, health care, and other opportunities. Some of the transportation statistics are:

• About 84% of single mother families in San Diego had access to one or more vehicles, compared to 95% of married couple families.
• The median number of vehicles available per household for single mother families in San Diego was 1.1, compared to 1.8 for married couple families.
• About 66% of single mothers in San Diego drove alone to work, compared to 72% of married mothers.
• The median travel time to work for single mothers in San Diego was 25 minutes, compared to 24 minutes for married mothers.

Childcare

Childcare is a vital service and a major expense for single mother families. Childcare affects the availability and quality of work and education for single mothers and their children. Some of the childcare statistics are:

• About 54% of single mothers in San Diego had one or more children under 6 years old who needed childcare, compared to 45% of married mothers.
• The average monthly cost of childcare for single mothers in San Diego was $900, compared to $800 for married mothers.
• The average monthly cost of childcare as a percentage of income for single mothers in San Diego was 24%, compared to 8% for married mothers.
• About 16% of single mothers in San Diego received childcare assistance from a government program, compared to 4% of married mothers.

Social Security

Social Security is a federal program that provides income support and insurance benefits to eligible workers and their dependents. Social Security affects the retirement security and disability protection of single mothers and their children. Some of the Social Security statistics are:

• About 12% of single mother families in San Diego received Social Security income, compared to 22% of married couple families.
• The median annual Social Security income for single mother families in San Diego was $13,000, compared to $24,000 for married couple families.
• About 4% of single mother families in San Diego received Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a means-tested program for low-income people who are aged, blind, or disabled, compared to 3% of married couple families.
• The median annual SSI income for single mother families in San Diego was $9,000, compared to $10,000 for married couple families.

Child Support and Custody

Child support and custody are legal issues that affect the rights and responsibilities of parents and their children. Child support is a financial obligation that one parent pays to another parent for the care and support of their child. Custody is a legal arrangement that determines who has the physical and legal authority over a child. Some of the child support and custody statistics are:

• About 39% of single mothers in San Diego had a legal or informal child support agreement with the other parent of their child, compared to 10% of married mothers.
• The median monthly child support received by single mothers in San Diego was $400, compared to $600 for married mothers.
• The median monthly child support paid by single mothers in San Diego was $200, compared to $400 for married mothers.
• About 72% of single mothers in San Diego had sole physical custody of their child, compared to 8% of married mothers.

Healthcare

Healthcare is a service and a right that affects the health and well-being of single mothers and their children. Healthcare includes access to health insurance, health care providers, preventive care, and medical care. Some of the healthcare statistics are:

• About 88% of single mothers in San Diego had health insurance coverage, compared to 94% of married mothers.
• About 69% of single mothers in San Diego had private health insurance, compared to 82% of married mothers.
• About 39% of single mothers in San Diego had public health insurance, such as Medicaid or Medicare, compared to 21% of married mothers.
• About 12% of single mothers in San Diego were uninsured, compared to 6% of married mothers.

Expenses

Expenses are the costs of living and consumption for single mother families. Expenses include housing, food, transportation, childcare, health care, education, and other goods and services. Some of the expense statistics are:

• The average monthly expenses for single mother families in San Diego were $3,800, compared to $5,800 for married couple families.
• The average monthly expenses as a percentage of income for single mother families in San Diego were 102%, compared to 76% for married couple families.
• The largest expense categories for single mother families in San Diego were housing (32%), food (18%), and transportation (17%).
• The smallest expense categories for single mother families in San Diego were education (4%), entertainment (4%), and personal care (3%).

Domestic Violence and Abuse

Domestic violence and abuse are serious social problems that affect the safety and well-being of single mothers and their children. Domestic violence and abuse include physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, or financial harm or threats by a current or former intimate partner. Some of the domestic violence and abuse statistics are:

• About 26% of single mothers in San Diego reported experiencing domestic violence or abuse in their lifetime, compared to 17% of married mothers.
• About 11% of single mothers in San Diego reported experiencing domestic violence or abuse in the past year, compared to 7% of married mothers.
• About 9% of single mothers in San Diego reported seeking help from a domestic violence or abuse service provider in the past year, compared to 4% of married mothers.
• About 7% of single mothers in San Diego reported having a restraining order against a current or former intimate partner in the past year, compared to 3% of married mothers.

Conclusion

Single motherhood is a complex and diverse phenomenon that affects millions of women and children in the United States. Single mothers in San Diego face various challenges and opportunities in raising their children and achieving their goals. This article has provided a brief overview of some of the statistics and trends related to single motherhood in San Diego, based on census data and other sources. However, this article is not comprehensive or conclusive, and more research and analysis are needed to understand the full scope and impact of single motherhood in San Diego.

References

: U.S. Census Bureau. (2021). QuickFacts: San Diego city, California. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/sandiegocitycalifornia

: U.S. Census Bureau. (2021). American Community Survey: 2021 Data Profiles: San Diego city, California. Retrieved from [https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?q=San+Diego+city,+California&g=1600000US0666000&tid=ACSDP1Y2021.DP02]