Nobody knows the importance of finding the best places for single moms to live in the world like a woman determined to give her kids and herself the best in life. Imagine life as a single mom, trying to raise a child or children alone while at the same time working hard to make sure the bills are paid, and the basic necessities are taken care of. This is the reality for many single working moms out there.
Unfortunately, some of the single moms have it rough, while others manage to get by with relative ease. It all comes down to having a good job and raising your children in a neighborhood that is best suited for you and your kids. That is why it is important for them to look for the best places to live for single moms so that they can improve their quality of life.
Single moms face a lot of challenges, especially in unsafe neighborhoods where they may be harassed, or their children might be in danger of being exposed to drugs, violence, police brutality, and many other social evils. The best bet for a single mom is to live in a city or town that offers the best mix of security, cheap rental prices, and, most importantly, a place that allows them the best job opportunities.
Where is the best place for a single mom to live and work? This is an increasingly common question being asked, which means that there are many single mothers out there who are looking for the answers to this question. Anyone asking this question would be mainly interested in living in a city that offers the best blend of work opportunities, safety and a good environment for her child or children. We took these factors into consideration when compiling this list.
There are many factors to consider such as easy access to good healthcare, decent and affordable housing, income levels to expect, working hours and even the gender wage gap. We also did some research on Google to identify the cities that offer the ideal combo as per our criteria as mentioned above..
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We also compile lists like the best Tinder bio examples for newly single moms and the best vacation spots for singles in their 40s to broaden our horizon and identify emerging trends in advance. Take a look at our latest list of the 10 best places for a single mom to live and work in 2019:
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a small city located in the western region of Chicago, and the median salary in this town is roughly $65,790. The earning gap between men and women is still large. Women earn about 65% of what women earn. Female workers on a full-time working arrangement earn$65,000 annually. The unemployment rate for mothers in this particular city is quite low, at 1.6%. On the flip side, the average childcare cost in Illinois is $13,000, which is a bit on the higher side. Some of the major employers in Naperville include the public schools in the area, Nokia, and Edward Hospital & Health Services.
Tallahassee, Florida
This town offers a significantly narrow salary gap between men and women, and so it might be an attractive option. The average full-time female worker in this town earns around $37,000. Women in this town earn, on average, 91.9% of what their male counterparts earn. The average workweek for females is 36.8 hours, and about 74.4% of the married mothers are in the workforce. The rate of unemployed mothers in Tallahassee is 4.9%. The major employers in Florida are the numerous universities located in the state. Other jobs are available in different sectors, including trade-transportation & logistics, hospitality, and healthcare. The average childcare cost in the city is $9,018.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The average annual salary for women who live in this state is $50,074, which is close to the salaries for their male counterparts. The wage gap in Minnesota is quite small, with women earning 94.5% of what men earn. There is also a low unemployment rate for mothers at 4%. Roughly 78.3% of all the working mothers who are married have jobs. Women in Minneapolis work almost 40 hours a week. The average annual childcare cost is expensive, at $15,704. Minneapolis has the highest concentration of Fortune 500 firms than any other area code.
Orange, California
Orange city has been enforcing equal rights, and that’s why the salary gap between men and women is very low. Women in this city earn 99% of what men earn. It also boasts of a low unemployment rate for mothers at just 2.3%. Roughly 63.3% of married women who are also mothers are unemployed. The typical workweek for women in Orange City is almost 40 hours, while annual childcare costs are also high at $16,542. There is a variety of jobs in this city from various sectors such as IT, healthcare, finance, tourism, business, and professional services.
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is quite close to San Francisco, and it is yet another city that boasts of a fair salary ratio between the genders. Women working in this town earn around 95% of what men in similar jobs earn. The average annual salary for female workers in this city is $48,167, while only 1.2% of mothers are unemployed. Women work almost 40 hours a week, and annual childcare costs are over $16,000. Santa Rosa has a variety of jobs, especially in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, government services, education, and manufacturing.
San Francisco
This city is also located in California, and it is one of the best cities for single mothers looking for high paying jobs. Females working full-time in San Francisco earn roughly $76,500 annually, and their salaries are very close to those of male employees at 91%. The rate of unemployed mothers in this city is slightly higher at 5.1%; the workweek is also longer at 44.5 hours while childcare costs are higher at $16,542. The types of jobs available range from international business, professional services, IT, biotech, and social & digital media.
Oakland
It is close to San Francisco, which means that the commute to work for those who work in San Francisco is short. Female employees earn a median salary of $56,991. The workweek may stretch to 42.7 hours, but on the flip side, women in this city, on average, tend to earn more than men at 103.6%. 3.1% of the mothers who live in Oakland are unemployed. Childcare costs average $16,542. Housing costs in Oakland are also lower than the cost of housing in San Francisco. The major employers include local hospitals, the State government, and Kaiser Permanente.
Lexington
This Kentucky city boasts of the lowest annual childcare costs at $6,258, but the salaries for women are also lower, with the median at $40,713. The wage gap is also slightly larger, with women earning 87.5% of what men earn. Only 2.5 of the mothers in the city are unemployed, and 78.9% of the married women in Lexington have jobs. The average workweek is about 40 hours. Distribution facilities, manufacturing, hospitals, education sector, and the local government are the major job providers.
Madison
The median salary for female employees in Madison, Wisconsin, is $48,243, while the pay gap is at 86.9% compared to the average salary for male counterparts. Only 2.6% of the mothers in this city are unemployed while 82.3% of the married mothers in this state are employed. The average workweek lasts 37.3 hours, while the annual childcare cost is $12,268. Most opportunities in Madison come from the life sciences, information technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Arlington
It is in close proximity to Washington, D.C, and so many options to live in Arlington, Virginia, and commute to work at the capital every day via railway, thus ideal for a single mom. The average annual salary for women is relatively high at $76,438, although there is still a significant wage gap at 84% compared to what men earn annually. 2.9% of the mothers in Arlington are unemployed, while 77.3% of the married mothers are employed. Women in this city tend to work about 44 hours a week, and the average annual childcare cost is $13,728.
Some of the industries in Arlington that offer jobs include non-profit management, medical technology, media and publishing, education, and cybersecurity, among others. The close proximity to the Washington D.C plus the relatively high salaries and other factors mentioned above place Arlington at the top of the list of the best cities for single moms in 2019.
