Single Mother Statistics in San Jose

Introduction

San Jose is the largest city in Northern California and the 10th largest city in the United States, with a population of about 1 million people. It is known for its innovation, diversity, and high-tech industry. San Jose 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 70,000 single mother households in San Jose in 2021, accounting for 28.6% of all households with children in the city. This article will explore some of the statistics and trends related to single motherhood in San Jose, based on census data and other sources.

Demographics

The demographic characteristics of single mothers in San Jose 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 Jose was 37.4 years in 2021, compared to 39.7 years for married mothers.
• The majority of single mothers in San Jose were Asian (47.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (32.5%), white (13.7%), black or African American (3.3%), and other races (2.7%).
• About 30% of single mothers in San Jose had never been married, 35% were divorced or separated, 31% were married but living apart from their spouse, and 4% were widowed.
• The average number of children under 18 living with single mothers in San Jose was 1.8, compared to 1.9 for married mothers.
• About 28% of single mothers in San Jose had at least one child under 5 years old, and about 46% had at least one child between 5 and 17 years old.

Civic Engagement

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

• About 54% of single mothers in San Jose were registered to vote in 2020, compared to 66% of married mothers.
• About 42% of single mothers in San Jose voted in the 2020 presidential election, compared to 64% of married mothers.
• About 18% of single mothers in San Jose volunteered for or donated to an organization in the past year, compared to 30% of married mothers.
• About 41% of single mothers in San Jose attended a religious service at least once a month, compared to 53% 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 87% of single mothers in San Jose had a high school diploma or higher, compared to 92% of married mothers.
• About 32% of single mothers in San Jose had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 45% of married mothers.
• About 8% of single mothers in San Jose were enrolled in school or college, compared to 6% of married mothers.
• The average school enrollment rate for children under 18 living with single mothers in San Jose was 86%, compared to 90% 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 69% of single mothers in San Jose were in the labor force, compared to 61% of married mothers.
• About 62% of single mothers in San Jose were employed, compared to 56% of married mothers.
• The unemployment rate for single mothers in San Jose was 10%, compared to 8% for married mothers.
• The median annual earnings for full-time year-round workers among single mothers in San Jose was $40,000, compared to $50,000 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 Jose was $40,000, compared to $85,000 for married couple families.
• The median per capita income for single mother families in San Jose was $19,000, compared to $30,000 for married couple families.
• About 22% of single mother families in San Jose had an income below the poverty level, compared to 5% of married couple families.
• About 35% of single mother families in San Jose received some form of public assistance, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI, compared to 10% 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 24% of single mothers in San Jose reported having difficulty paying for basic expenses, such as food, housing, utilities, or medical care, in the past year, compared to 9% of married mothers.
• About 15% of single mothers in San Jose reported having no savings or checking account, compared to 3% of married mothers.
• About 26% of single mothers in San Jose reported having no retirement account, such as a 401(k) or IRA, compared to 14% of married mothers.
• About 17% of single mothers in San Jose reported having no credit card, compared to 8% 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 Jose was 49%, compared to 63% for married couple families.
• The median value of owner-occupied housing units for single mother families in San Jose was $750,000, compared to $900,000 for married couple families.
• The median monthly housing costs for single mother families in San Jose was $2,300, compared to $2,600 for married couple families.
• The median gross rent for single mother families in San Jose was $1,800, compared to $2,000 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 90% of single mothers in San Jose had health insurance coverage, compared to 94% of married mothers.
• About 8% of single mothers in San Jose reported having a disability, compared to 7% of married mothers.
• About 15% of single mothers in San Jose reported having fair or poor health status, compared to 9% of married mothers.
• About 20% of single mothers in San Jose reported having a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, compared to 13% 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 3% of single mothers in San Jose were veterans, compared to 1% of married mothers.
• The median annual income for veteran single mothers in San Jose was $35,000, compared to $32,000 for non-veteran single mothers.
• About 25% of veteran single mothers in San Jose had a disability, compared to 7% of non-veteran single mothers.
• About 28% of veteran single mothers in San Jose received VA health care benefits, compared to 8% 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 66% of single mothers in San Jose were born in the United States, compared to 70% of married mothers.
• About 34% of single mothers in San Jose were foreign born, compared to 30% of married mothers.
• Among foreign-born single mothers in San Jose, about 54% were naturalized citizens, and about 46% were not U.S. citizens.
• Among foreign-born single mothers in San Jose, about 72% were from Asia, about 19% were from Latin America, about 7% 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 51% of single mothers in San Jose spoke only English at home, compared to 55% of married mothers.
• About 49% of single mothers in San Jose spoke a language other than English at home, compared to 45% of married mothers.
• Among those who spoke a language other than English at home, about 64% spoke an Asian language and about 29% spoke Spanish or Spanish Creole.

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 300,000 occupied housing units in San Jose in 2021, of which about 58% were owner-occupied and about 42% were renter-occupied.
• The average household size for owner-occupied units was 3.1, and for renter-occupied units was 2.7.
• The vacancy rate for owner-occupied units was 1.6%, and for renter-occupied units was 6.8%.
• The median year of construction for owner-occupied units was 1987, and for renter-occupied units was 1985.

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 13% of single mother families in San Jose experienced food insecurity in the past year, meaning they had limited or uncertain access to adequate food, compared to 7% of married couple families.
• About 5% of single mother families in San Jose 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 2% of married couple families.
• About 38% of single mother families in San Jose participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, compared to 9% of married couple families.
• About 51% of single mother families in San Jose received free or reduced-price school meals for their children, compared to 22% 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 88% of single mother families in San Jose had access to one or more vehicles, compared to 96% of married couple families.
• The median number of vehicles available per household for single mother families in San Jose was 1.2, compared to 1.9 for married couple families.
• About 63% of single mothers in San Jose drove alone to work, compared to 69% of married mothers.
• The median travel time to work for single mothers in San Jose was 24 minutes, compared to 23 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 50% of single mothers in San Jose had one or more children under 6 years old who needed childcare, compared to 42% of married mothers.
• The average monthly cost of childcare for single mothers in San Jose was $1,000, compared to $900 for married mothers.
• The average monthly cost of childcare as a percentage of income for single mothers in San Jose was 20%, compared to 7% for married mothers.
• About 14% of single mothers in San Jose received childcare assistance from a government program, compared to 3% 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 11% of single mother families in San Jose received Social Security income, compared to 21% of married couple families.
• The median annual Social Security income for single mother families in San Jose was $12,000, compared to $23,000 for married couple families.
• About 3% of single mother families in San Jose received Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a means-tested program for low-income people who are aged, blind, or disabled, compared to 2% of married couple families.
• The median annual SSI income for single mother families in San Jose was $8,000, compared to $9,000 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 36% of single mothers in San Jose had a legal or informal child support agreement with the other parent of their child, compared to 9% of married mothers.
• The median monthly child support received by single mothers in San Jose was $400, compared to $500 for married mothers.
• The median monthly child support paid by single mothers in San Jose was $200, compared to $300 for married mothers.
• About 70% of single mothers in San Jose had sole physical custody of their child, compared to 7% 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 91% of single mothers in San Jose had health insurance coverage, compared to 95% of married mothers.
• About 71% of single mothers in San Jose had private health insurance, compared to 84% of married mothers.
• About 37% of single mothers in San Jose had public health insurance, such as Medicaid or Medicare, compared to 19% of married mothers.
• About 9% of single mothers in San Jose were uninsured, compared to 5% 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 Jose were $4,000, compared to $6,000 for married couple families.
• The average monthly expenses as a percentage of income for single mother families in San Jose were 80%, compared to 60% for married couple families.
• The largest expense categories for single mother families in San Jose were housing (34%), food (16%), and transportation (15%).
• The smallest expense categories for single mother families in San Jose were education (3%), entertainment (3%), and personal care (2%).

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 24% of single mothers in San Jose reported experiencing domestic violence or abuse in their lifetime, compared to 16% of married mothers.
• About 10% of single mothers in San Jose reported experiencing domestic violence or abuse in the past year, compared to 6% of married mothers.
• About 8% of single mothers in San Jose reported seeking help from a domestic violence or abuse service provider in the past year, compared to 3% of married mothers.
• About 6% of single mothers in San Jose reported having a restraining order against a current or former intimate partner in the past year, compared to 2% 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 Jose 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 Jose, 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 Jose.

References

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

: U.S. Census Bureau. (2021). American Community Survey: 2021 Data Profiles: San Jose city, California. Retrieved from https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?q=San+Jose+city,+California&g=1600000US0668000&tid=ACSDP1Y2021.DP02