Children & Youth (2024)

Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

What does this measure?

The number of single-parent families with children under 18, as a percent of all families with children under 18 and reported by various racial and ethnic groups.

Why is this important?

Single-parent families may experience more stress and economic strain than dual-parent households with two incomes. Children in these families can be at risk of poorer health and educational outcomes. However, children may also have opportunities to build resilience and experience a larger community through the support of extended family and friends.

How is our region performing?

In 2017-21, the share of families headed by single parents was 76% among African American families, 59% among Hispanic families, 39% among white families and 31% among Asian families. Rates were higher in the City of Rochester than in the region as a whole, with the largest differences coming among white families (61% in the city, 22 points higher than for the region) and Hispanic residents (69% in the city, 10 points higher than regionally). Most racial and ethnic groups in the region and the City of Rochester saw increases from 2000 to 2017-21. In 2017-21, across all racial/ethnic groups, the region had larger proportions of families headed by single parents than in the state as a whole and the nation.

Why do these disparities exist?

Explanations about why more children of color are growing up in single parent households include the deliberate dismantling of Black families during slavery and its enduring influence on family structure. The high incarceration rates of men of color, economic strain and changing attitudes about marriage also influence these disparities.

Notes about the data

The multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval).

The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Poverty status is not reported for people in institutions, including college dormitories and military barracks, and people in living situations without conventional housing. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the fourth quarter.

Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21

	Asian	Black or African American	Latino or Hispanic	White
NYS	20%	68%	53%	33%
NYS (excluding NYC)	16%	65%	43%	34%
Region	31%*	76%	59%	39%
Monroe	24%*	77%	66%	39%
Surrounding Counties	63%***	66%*	31%*	39%
Genesee	0%***	48%***	31%***	36%
Livingston	100%***	69%***	33%***	38%
Ontario	54%***	61%**	33%**	41%
Orleans	N/A***	77%***	39%***	47%
Seneca	39%***	81%***	9%***	40%
Wayne	60%***	62%***	30%**	39%
Wyoming	83%***	100%***	20%***	37%
Yates	100%***	N/A***	0%***	30%*
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester	31%**	82%	69%	61%
Brighton	28%***	49%***	49%***	34%*
Chili	0%***	86%**	73%***	42%*
Clarkson	N/A***	100%***	33%***	44%**
East Rochester	N/A***	100%***	100%***	52%*
Gates	65%***	51%***	56%***	40%*
Greece	13%***	63%*	68%*	44%
Hamlin	N/A***	N/A***	0%***	33%*
Henrietta	31%***	66%**	84%***	35%*
Irondequoit	0%***	76%*	56%**	39%
Mendon	0%***	0%***	0%***	26%**
Ogden	0%***	86%***	100%***	31%*
Parma	N/A***	0%***	63%***	27%**
Penfield	3%***	74%***	43%***	22%*
Perinton	48%***	86%***	31%***	28%*
Pittsford	3%***	0%***	0%***	17%*
Riga	0%***	N/A***	100%***	28%**
Rush	N/A***	N/A***	0%***	29%***
Sweden	0%***	N/A***	63%***	48%*
Webster	36%***	48%***	87%**	43%*
Wheatland	N/A***	100%***	100%***	37%**
Brockport (V)	0%***	N/A***	N/A***	42%***
Churchville (V)	0%***	N/A***	100%***	26%***
Fairport (V)	N/A***	N/A***	0%***	30%***
Hilton (V)	N/A***	0%***	0%***	42%***
Honeoye Falls (V)	N/A***	N/A***	N/A***	47%**
Pittsford (V)	N/A***	N/A***	0%***	13%***
Scottsville (V)	N/A***	N/A***	100%***	32%**
Spencerport (V)	N/A***	N/A***	N/A***	38%***
Webster (V)	N/A***	N/A***	67%***	80%*
Regional Cities
Batavia	N/A***	56%***	31%***	55%*
Canandaigua	N/A***	N/A***	0%***	56%*
Geneva	79%***	58%***	68%***	57%*

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.

Number of Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity, 2017-21

	Asian	Black or African American	Latino or Hispanic	White
NYS	40,394	271,448	261,900	444,308
NYS (excluding NYC)	10,367	89,963	76,870	335,194
Region	1,294*	13,415	6,756	43,913
Monroe	830*	12,622	6,067	24,656
Surrounding Counties	464***	793*	689*	19,257
Genesee	0***	76***	42***	2,127
Livingston	114***	71***	72***	2,179
Ontario	222***	179**	213**	5,465
Orleans	0***	157***	144***	1,993
Seneca	11***	126***	5***	1,359
Wayne	38***	170***	181**	3,905
Wyoming	43***	14***	32***	1,597
Yates	36***	0***	0***	632*
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester	187**	9,194	3,328	4,820
Brighton	134***	117***	86***	1,106*
Chili	0***	585**	204***	1,332*
Clarkson	0***	82***	44***	304**
East Rochester	0***	38***	20***	341*
Gates	102***	322***	118***	913*
Greece	43***	891*	842*	4,394
Hamlin	0***	0***	0***	349*
Henrietta	182***	380**	299***	1,245*
Irondequoit	0***	556*	431**	1,893
Mendon	0***	0***	0***	326**
Ogden	0***	62***	30***	707*
Parma	0***	0***	76***	533**
Penfield	5***	135***	110***	964*
Perinton	108***	140***	84***	1,481*
Pittsford	14***	0***	0***	504*
Riga	0***	0***	21***	201**
Rush	0***	0***	0***	97***
Sweden	0***	0***	12***	563*
Webster	55***	98***	354**	2,382*
Wheatland	0***	22***	8***	201**
Brockport (V)	0***	0***	0***	155***
Churchville (V)	0***	0***	21***	59***
Fairport (V)	0***	0***	0***	185***
Hilton (V)	0***	0***	0***	335***
Honeoye Falls (V)	0***	0***	0***	166**
Pittsford (V)	0***	0***	0***	29***
Scottsville (V)	0***	0***	8***	88**
Spencerport (V)	0***	0***	0***	175***
Webster (V)	0***	0***	46***	617*
Regional Cities
Batavia	0***	76***	27***	707*
Canandaigua	0***	0***	0***	745*
Geneva	26***	68***	154***	548*

Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity, 2000

	Asian	Black or African American	Latino or Hispanic	White
NYS	16%	66%	47%	28%
NYS (excluding NYC)	13%	62%	37%	28%
Region	19%	71%	54%	31%
Monroe	19%	71%	55%	30%
Surrounding Counties	24%	65%	49%	32%
Genesee	0%	73%	6%	30%
Livingston	31%	67%	70%	33%
Ontario	38%	76%	52%	31%
Orleans	0%	54%	41%	34%
Seneca	15%	79%	18%	34%
Wayne	0%	58%	55%	33%
Wyoming	53%	100%	19%	28%
Yates	0%	33%	31%	32%
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester	38%	75%	60%	48%
Brighton	13%	40%	51%	28%
Chili	70%	73%	38%	24%
Clarkson	N/A	75%	0%	22%
East Rochester	0%	80%	0%	49%
Gates	17%	33%	53%	30%
Greece	24%	57%	36%	32%
Hamlin	0%	100%	41%	27%
Henrietta	0%	32%	29%	25%
Irondequoit	3%	58%	62%	29%
Mendon	0%	0%	N/A	20%
Ogden	0%	0%	0%	25%
Parma	0%	0%	0%	28%
Penfield	6%	21%	17%	21%
Perinton	14%	0%	53%	23%
Pittsford	0%	55%	0%	18%
Riga	0%	100%	43%	22%
Rush	0%	N/A	N/A	19%
Sweden	N/A	69%	40%	32%
Webster	25%	74%	40%	26%
Wheatland	0%	65%	26%	29%
Brockport (V)	N/A	84%	0%	42%
Churchville (V)	0%	N/A	0%	29%
Fairport (V)	67%	N/A	N/A	33%
Hilton (V)	0%	N/A	0%	32%
Honeoye Falls (V)	0%	N/A	N/A	36%
Pittsford (V)	0%	0%	N/A	36%
Scottsville (V)	0%	100%	26%	33%
Spencerport (V)	N/A	N/A	N/A	34%
Webster (V)	69%	88%	70%	44%
Regional Cities
Batavia	0%	87%	0%	38%
Canandaigua	57%	100%	62%	43%
Geneva	N/A	78%	65%	36%

Number of Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity, 2000

	Asian	Black or African American	Latino or Hispanic	White
NYS	22,652	327,599	201,834	473,412
NYS (excluding NYC)	4,836	90,030	38,458	354,165
Region	492	14,064	3,784	43,669
Monroe	428	13,254	3,318	23,592
Surrounding Counties	64	810	466	20,077
Genesee	0	126	2	2,539
Livingston	22	33	81	2,766
Ontario	28	248	133	4,337
Orleans	0	106	60	1,965
Seneca	6	27	5	1,457
Wayne	0	241	174	4,483
Wyoming	8	19	7	1,547
Yates	0	10	4	983
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester	219	11,829	2,675	5,261
Brighton	48	62	29	1,036
Chili	14	250	36	918
Clarkson	0	30	0	202
East Rochester	0	20	0	458
Gates	32	96	66	1,029
Greece	40	339	160	4,196
Hamlin	0	10	15	448
Henrietta	0	127	34	949
Irondequoit	3	197	175	1,864
Mendon	0	0	0	262
Ogden	0	0	0	755
Parma	0	0	0	639
Penfield	10	16	12	1,044
Perinton	32	0	54	1,530
Pittsford	0	46	0	634
Riga	0	9	6	189
Rush	0	0	0	82
Sweden	0	77	14	480
Webster	30	120	36	1,431
Wheatland	0	26	6	185
Brockport (V)	0	63	0	287
Churchville (V)	0	0	0	83
Fairport (V)	14	0	0	299
Hilton (V)	0	0	0	335
Honeoye Falls (V)	0	0	0	136
Pittsford (V)	0	0	0	65
Scottsville (V)	0	4	6	101
Spencerport (V)	0	0	0	197
Webster (V)	20	70	14	308
Regional Cities
Batavia	0	83	0	757
Canandaigua	4	3	18	685
Geneva	0	195	89	476

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Worse than NYS by 10% or more

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Equal to or better than NYS

INDICATORS - Grouped by Topic	REGIONAL VALUE	YEAR	NYS COMPARISON	TREND \| REGION
Prenatal Care	78%	2019	3	1 Increasing
Prenatal Care, by Race/Ethnicity			0	10 Not Applicable*
Babies Born with Low Birth Weights	8.4%	2019	2	1 Increasing
Babies Born with Low Birth Weights, Race/Ethnicity			0	10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality Rate	6.9	2017-19	2	0 Maintaining
Infant Mortality Rate, Race/Ethnicity			0	10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels	0.8%	2019	2	-1 Decreasing
Children in Poverty	18%	2017-21	3	1 Increasing
Children in Poverty, Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Single-Parent Families	39%	2017-21	2	1 Increasing
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Rate of Child Abuse and Neglect	20	2020	2	1 Increasing
Rate of Foster Care Admissions	1.8	2020	2	-1 Decreasing
Rate of Teen Pregnancy	1.3%	2019	3	-1 Decreasing
Rate of Teen Births	12	2019	2	-1 Decreasing
Tourism Spending	$1,399	2021	1	0 Maintaining
Recreation Spending	$83	2021	1	-1 Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate	84%	2021	2	1 Increasing
Voter Participation Rate	64%	2020	3	1 Increasing
Registered Library Borrowers	55%	2020	3	-1 Decreasing
Library Visits	2.5	2020	3	-1 Decreasing
Charitable Contributions as a Percentage of Income	0.8%	2020	2	-1 Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles	10%	2017-21	3	0 Maintaining
Total Population	1.4%	2021	2	1 Increasing
Means of Transportation to Work		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Population by Age		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Workers’ Commute Time, by Means of Transportation to Work		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Population by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Crashes Involving Pedestrians	2.6	2022	3	0 Maintaining
Population by Age and Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Crashes Involving Cyclists	1.4	2022	3	-1 Decreasing
Disengaged Youth, Ages 16 to 19	6%	2017-21	3	-1 Decreasing
Vehicle Crashes Resulting in Injuries and Fatalities	60	2022	3	-1 Decreasing
Median Household Income	$64,995	2017-21	1	-1 Decreasing
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)	24	2022	2	-1 Decreasing
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Miles of Dedicated Bike Infrastructure		2023	0	10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty	13%	2017-21	3	1 Increasing
RTS Ridership	8	2022	0	-1 Decreasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty, by Sex		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
RTS On-time Performance			0	10 Not Applicable*
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	23.7	2018	0	10 Not Applicable*
Public Assistance Recipients	1.2%	2021	3	-1 Decreasing
Energy Burden of Households			0	10 Not Applicable*
Approval Rate for Public Assistance Applications	22%	2021	0	-1 Decreasing
Females Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Solar Energy Capacity	122.8	2022	3	1 Increasing
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Sex		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP	13%	2017-21	3	-1 Decreasing
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Female Seniors Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Gas Usage for Household Heating	74%	2017-21	1	-1 Decreasing
Clean Energy Workforce	4.7%	2021	3	1 Increasing
Tax Filers Receiving Earned Income Tax Credit	14%	2020	3	-1 Decreasing
Clean Energy Communities		2023	0	10 Not Applicable*
EITC Dollars	$153	2020	2	-1 Decreasing
Electric Vehicles (EV) Charging Ports	165	2023	0	-1 Decreasing
Change in Total Jobs	2.3%	2021	2	1 Increasing
Asthma Hospitalizations			0	10 Not Applicable*
Change in Number of Business Establishments by Sector		2021	0	10 Not Applicable*
Food Deserts	35%	2019	1	10 Not Applicable*
Change in Jobs by Sector		2021	0	10 Not Applicable*
Food Deserts in Low-Income Areas	20%	2019	1	10 Not Applicable*
Sector Shares of Regional Total Employment		2021	0	10 Not Applicable*
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	2021	3	1 Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Average Salary by Sector		2021	0	10 Not Applicable*
Change in Average Salary Since 2000	12%	2021	3	1 Increasing
Change in Average Salary Since 2000 by Sector		2021	0	10 Not Applicable*
Employment-to-Population Ratio	59%	2017-21	3	-1 Decreasing
Prekindergarten Participation	41%	2021	2	1 Increasing
School Spending Per Student	$23,561	2020	1	1 Increasing
Instructional Spending Per Student	$16,983	2020	1	1 Increasing
Students Receiving Special Education Services		2021	0	-1 Decreasing
Grade 3 English	37%	2022	2	1 Increasing
Grade 3 English by Student Subgroup		2022	0	10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 English by Race/Ethnicity		2022	0	10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 Math	40%	2022	2	1 Increasing
Grade 3 Math by Student Subgroup		2022	0	10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 Math by Race/Ethnicity		2022	0	10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 English	39%	2019	2	1 Increasing
Grade 8 English by Student Subgroup		2019	0	10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 English by Race/Ethnicity		2019	0	10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 Math	49%	2019	2	1 Increasing
Regents Algebra 1	73%	2019	3	1 Increasing
Regents English	83%	2019	2	1 Increasing
Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate	88%	2022	3	1 Increasing
Cohort Graduation Rate, Beyond Four Years	90%	2022	3	1 Increasing
Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity		2022	0	10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
People Without Health Insurance	5%	2020	3	-1 Decreasing
Supply of Doctors	35.3	2019	1	1 Increasing
Mortality Rate	693	2019	1	-1 Decreasing
Chlamydia Rate	53	2020	2	1 Increasing
Chlamydia Rates, Race/Ethnicity, Monroe County			0	10 Not Applicable*
Gonorrhea Rate	37	2020	1	1 Increasing
Maternal Health, by Race/Ethnicity		2018-20	0	10 Not Applicable*
Gonorrhea Rates, Race/Ethnicity, Monroe County			0	10 Not Applicable*
Early Syphilis Rates	2.8	2020	3	1 Increasing
Early Syphilis Rates within Monroe County, by Race/Ethnicity			0	10 Not Applicable*
People Living with HIV	105	2021	0	1 Increasing
People Living with HIV by Race/Ethnicity		2021	0	10 Not Applicable*
People Living with AIDS	124	2021	0	1 Increasing
People Living with AIDS by Race/Ethnicity		2021	0	10 Not Applicable*
Percent of Days with Good Air Quality			0	10 Not Applicable*
Alcohol-related Crashes	2.7	2021	2	-1 Decreasing
Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment by Primary Substance		2021	0	10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value	$151,405	2017-21	1	1 Increasing
Median Rental Prices	$936	2017-21	3	-1 Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Homeowners	2.3	2017-21	3	0 Maintaining
Housing Affordability for Homeowners by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Overall Housing Cost Burden	28%	2017-21	3	-1 Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Renters	32%	2017-21	3	10 Not Applicable*
Rent Burdened Households	48%	2017-21	3	-1 Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Renters by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Homeownership Rate	68%	2017-21	3	-1 Decreasing
Homeownership Rate by Race/Ethnicity		2017-21	0	10 Not Applicable*
Vacant Housing Units	9%	2017-21	3	1 Increasing
Homeless Persons			0	10 Not Applicable*
Serious Crimes	165	2021	3	-1 Decreasing
Violent Crimes	25	2021	3	1 Increasing
Victims of Domestic Violence	59	2021	0	-1 Decreasing
Incarceration Rates	10.0	2021	0	-1 Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity		2018	0	10 Not Applicable*
Arrest Rates	125.2	2021	3	-1 Decreasing
Arrest Rates, by Race/Ethnicity		2021	0	10 Not Applicable*
Per-Capita Spending for Local Government	$3,731	2019	0	1 Increasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio	0.70	2017-21	3	0 Maintaining

*No or multiple regional values for this indicator

Worse than NYS by 10% or more

Up to 10% worse than NYS

Equal to or better than NYS