Nationwide, 31% of single mothers are homeowners, down from nearly 36% in 2010.
Just 31.1 percent of single mothers nationwide owned homes in 2017, the most recent year for which data is available. That’s on par with the 2016 rate of 31 percent and down from 35.5 percent in 2010.
The overall homeownership rate for households across the country is more than double that of single mothers at 63.9 percent, though it’s also down from nearly 70 percent in 2010. Over the same time period, the national median home price rose from $207,000 in July 2010 to $291,000 in July 2017.
The information about homeownership rates in the U.S. is based on five-year estimates from the American Community Survey.
The metros with the highest rates of homeownership among single moms tend to be relatively affordable. McAllen, Texas, where the typical home sells for $165,000, has the highest homeownership rate among metro areas with at least 20,000 single mothers in 2017, with 46.6 percent of single moms owning homes. That’s followed by Salt Lake City (41.7%), Grand Rapids (41.5%) and Minneapolis (40.3%). All but two (El Paso and San Antonio) of the top 10 metros for single-mom homeownership have higher-than-national overall homeownership rates as well.
“For single mothers, it can be difficult to purchase a home in housing markets where prices are going up and up,” said Salt Lake City Redfin agent Ryan Aycock. “Salt Lake City, along with other Utah communities, have been actively looking for ways to help single mothers and other people on budgets achieve home ownership, and many people have been able to through loan options like the Utah Housing Corporation and various government grants that assist with down payments. This ultimately leads to increased neighborhood stability through homeownership.”
The four metros with the lowest rates of single-mom homeownership are all in California: Fresno (20.5%), Los Angeles (20.7%), San Diego (22.4%) and Bakersfield (22.6%). The metros with the lowest rates of homeownership among single mothers all have overall homeownership rates below the national rate.
“Although more single moms have entered the workforce since 2015, thanks in part to a growing economy, single mothers haven’t yet been able to gain increased wealth through equity from homeownership. That’s because in many expensive metros, single moms aren’t able to access the benefits of homeownership due to a lack of affordable homes for sale,” said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. “But in areas like Salt Lake City and Minneapolis, single moms are better able to afford a home without a dual income or financial support from a partner. Beyond being a primary source for building wealth, owning a home can provide some necessary stability for children because homeowners have predictable monthly mortgage payments and don’t have to worry about a landlord raising rent or selling their home.”
| 10 metros with the highest rates of homeownership for single mothers | ||||
| Metro | Homeownership rate among single mothers (2017) | Percentage point change in homeownership rate among single mothers from 2010 to 2017 | Overall household homeownership rate (2017) | Median home price (May 2019) |
| McAllen, TX | 46.6% | -2.2 pts. | 67.5% | $165,000 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 41.7% | -1.5 pts. | 67.1% | $335,000 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 41.5% | -0.8 pts. | 80.4% | $220,000 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 40.3% | -3.8 pts. | 69.9% | $285,000 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 40% | -7.1 pts. | 67.1% | $240,000* |
| El Paso, TX | 40% | 2.5 pts. | 61.6% | $167,000 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 38.5% | 0.1 pts. | 67.8% | $215,000 |
| Columbia, SC | 36.9% | -0.9 pts. | 67.2% | $205,000** |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 36.8% | -1 pt. | 69.9% | $182,000 |
| San Antonio, TX | 36.7% | -0.8 pts. | 62.6% | $235,000 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 36.4% | -6 pts. | 67.3% | $226,000 |
*Median list price in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico for the last 30 days
**Median list price in the city of Columbia, South Carolina for the last 30 days
| 10 metros with the lowest rates of homeownership for single mothers | ||||
| Metro | Homeownership rate among single mothers | Percentage point change in homeownership rate among single mothers from 2010 to 2017 | Overall household homeownership rate | Median home price |
| Fresno, CA | 20.5% | -0.5 pts. | 53% | $280,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 20.7% | -4.4 pts. | 48.6% | $625,000 |
| San Diego, CA | 22.4% | -4.3 pts. | 53% | $585,000 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 22.6% | -4.6 pts. | 57.2% | $235,000 |
| Memphis, TN | 25.1% | -9.7 pts. | 60.3% | $198,000 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 25.1% | -7.1 pts. | 52.7% | $285,000 |
| Dayton, OH | 25.3% | -5.8 pts. | 63.4% | $150,000 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 25.6% | -2.6 pts. | 60.1% | $234,000 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 25.7% | -6.5 pts. | 61.5% | $280,000 |
| Sacramento, CA | 26.4% | -5.5 pts. | 59.5% | $415,000 |
All but two metro areas with more than 20,000 single mothers in 2017 saw their single-mom homeownership rates drop from 2010 to 2017. Only El Paso, with a 2.5 percentage point rise to 46.6 percent in 2017, experienced a meaningful increase in its rate during that time period. In Baton Rouge, the rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 38.5 percent in 2017. Both El Paso and Baton Rouge are among the top 10 metros with the highest single-mother homeownership rates.
Miami and Memphis saw the biggest drops in their homeownership rates for single mothers from 2010 to 2017, with a nearly 10 percentage point drop in each place. In Miami, the homeownership rate for single moms in 2017 was 30.7 percent, and in Memphis it was 25.1 percent.
| 10 metros with the biggest decreases in homeownership for single mothers from 2010 to 2017 | ||||
| Metro | Homeownership rate among single mothers in 2010 | Homeownership rate among single mothers in 2017 | Percentage point change in homeownership rate among single mothers from 2010 to 2017 | Median home price |
| Miami, FL | 40.4% | 30.7% | -9.7 pts. | $310,000 |
| Memphis, TN | 34.8% | 25.1% | -9.7 pts. | $198,000 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 38.7% | 29.5% | -9.2 pts. | $280,000 |
| Birmingham, AL | 41.2% | 33% | -8.2 pts. | $230,000 |
| Tampa, FL | 38.2% | 30.3% | -7.9 pts. | $235,000 |
| Riverside, CA | 35.2% | 27.6% | -7.6 pts. | $375,000 |
| Toledo, OH | 34.3% | 26.8% | -7.5 pts. | $145,000* |
| Richmond, VA | 37.3% | 30.1% | -7.2 pts. | $260,000 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 32.3% | 25.1% | -7.1 pts. | $285,000 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 47.2% | 40% | -7.1 pts. | $240,000** |
*Median sales price for May 2019 in Lucas and Upper Wood counties, from the Toledo Regional Association of Realtors
**Median list price in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico for the last 30 days
This post first appeared on Redfin.com. To see the original, click here.