Worcester Ranks Poorly for Single Moms

Friday, April 08, 2016

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Life for singe moms in Worcester is not easy. For women raising children alone in the City, Worcester is one of the most difficult cities in the United States, ranking 129th out of 150 cities ranked.

“Not long ago, the two-parent system standardized our family-centric society.Single moms and single parents in general were a bit of a social rarity, even frowned upon by mainstream groups,” writes the study’s author WalletHub.

A quarter of all households are led by single mothers in the U.S. According to data there are 10 million single moms and less than 2 million single dads.

Worcester single moms face significant challenges living in Worcester. The city is the worst ranked in New England. Providence is the next poorly ranked city in New England at 113. Boston ranks 100th.

Worcester ranks poorly in both major measures:

Economic & Social Well Being Rank: 111th

Child-Friendly Environment Rank: 135th

“In 2014, the median income for a home led by an unmarried mom totaled $24,403, not even a third of the $84,541 for families headed by married parents, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. And solo-mom families are more likely than single-dad units to live under poverty, with child-care costs that exceed the cost of rent in every state eating a good chunk of their earnings.”

Source: WalletHub

Methodology:

Single Moms’ Economic & Social Well-Being – Total Points: 70

Working Single Moms: Full Weight (~5.83 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of employed single moms with underaged children.
Median Annual Income for Single Moms (Adjusted for Cost of Living): Full Weight (~5.83 Points)
Cost of a Babysitter: Full Weight (~5.83 Points)
Housing Affordability for Single Moms: Full Weight (~5.83 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as (“Median Annual Income for Single Moms” divided by “Median House Price”) plus (Median Annual Income for Single Moms” divided by “Median Price of Rent”)
Financial Insecurity of Single-Mom Households: Double Weight (11.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of single moms with underaged children living below the poverty level.
Access to Welfare for Single Moms*: Half Weight (~2.92 Points)
Note: This metric measures the state’s welfare generosity toward single moms.
Single Moms’ Educational Attainment: Full Weight (~5.83 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of single moms who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree.
Lack of Access to Health Insurance for Single Moms: Full Weight (~5.83 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of single moms without health-insurance coverage.
Single Moms’ Mental-Health Status*: Half Weight (~2.92 Points)
WalletHub “Women’s Equality” Ranking*: Half Weight (~2.92 Points)
WalletHub “Working Moms” Ranking*: Half Weight (~2.92 Points)
WalletHub “Singles” Ranking: Full Weight (~5.83 Points)
Social Support for Single Moms: Full Weight (~5.83 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of single-parent groups per number of single moms.

Children-Friendly Environment – Total Points: 30

Childcare Workers to Children Ratio: Full Weight (~7.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of childcare workers per 1,000 children aged 13 and younger.
Access to Adequate Child Care: Full Weight (~7.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of child- and day-care establishments per 1,000 children aged 13 and younger.
Outdoor Fun for Kids: Full Weight (~7.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of playgrounds per 10,000 children aged 13 and younger.
Access to Parks: Full Weight (~7.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures parkland acreage as a percentage of city area.

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