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Single mothers in California face significant economic and social challenges, a recent study says.
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Six California cities ranked among the 10 worst metropolitan areas for single mothers in 2026, according to Single Mother Grants., an organization that connects single moms with financial assistance resources.
Meanwhile, California ranked among the worst U.S. states for women raising children on their own.
“Where a single mother lives can shape her family’s stability more than almost any other single factor,” Heather Porter, a senior writer at Single Mother Grants, wrote in a Sept. 14 article.
The study, titled “The Best and Worst Places for Single Mothers to Live in 2026,” evaluated 69 major metropolitan areas across metrics, including child care availability, food costs, crime, healthcare access and education.
Here’s what to know:
What’s the best US city for single mothers?
Worcester, Massachusetts, was the best city for single moms in the United States in 2026, according to the Single Mothers Grants study.
“Worcester takes the top spot with a rare combination of strong education results and broad childcare program availability, so a single mom is less likely to spend months on a waitlist while juggling work,” Porter said.
The Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area ranked second, thanks to its light rent burden, while Omaha, Nebraska took third place with its low unemployment rate and safe neighborhoods.
All three cities pair “manageable housing costs with strong schools and accessible care,” the study said.
What are the top 10 metro areas for single moms?
According to the study, these were the best metro areas for single mothers in 2026”
- Worcester, Massachusetts
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota-Wisconsin
- Omaha, Nebraska, Iowa
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Albany, New York
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky-Indianapolis
- Providence, Rhode Island-Massachusetts
- Buffalo, New York
Where is the worst place for single mothers to live?
Fresno was the worst metro area for single moms in the nation in 2026, the study found.
The Central Valley city had one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, along with a high rent burden, transportation costs and childcare expenses, according to Single Mother Grants.
In June, Fresno had the highest unemployment rate among U.S. cities with more than 1 million residents, with 7.7% of people out of work, The Fresno Bee previously reported.
However, Fresno ranked fourth in the nation in terms of childcare availability, and 15th in terms of healthcare access.
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The San Francisco Bay Area was the second worst place for single moms to live, while San Jose ranked fourth from the bottom of the list.
“While San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego offer strong public transportation and healthcare systems, those benefits are often outweighed by high rents and childcare costs,” the study found.
What are the 10 worst cities for single moms?
Single Mothers Grants said these were the worst metro areas for single mothers to live in 2026”
- Fresno
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Las Vegas
- San Jose
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Bakersfield
- Riverside-San Bernardino
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Orlando, Florida
What are the best states for single parents?
Vermont, North Dakota and South Dakota were among the best states for single mothers and their families, Single Mother Grants said, thanks to lower rents, steadier job markets and childcare that’s cheaper or easier to find.
“The upper Midwest and northern New England stand out for affordability, stability and basic support systems that reduce unexpected expenses,” Porter said.
In the toughest states for single moms — California, Nevada and New Mexico — “steep housing, child care costs and safety gaps outweigh strengths elsewhere,” she said.
Despite its top-tier medical care and excellent schools, California finished second from the bottom, ahead of Washington, D.C.
California was the most expensive state for renters in the United States, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach report.
To afford a two-bedroom apartment in California, you would need an income of $52.79 per hour, the coalition found.
People earning minimum wage in California — $16.90 per hour — need to work 102 hours every week to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment at fair market rent in California. That translates to 14.5 hours a day for a 40-hour work week.
“It can be difficult to justify living in an area where high taxes reduce take-home pay, even if great schools are an incredible asset,” Porter said.
How did study rank top spots for single moms?
To determine the best and worst places for single moms to live, Single Mothers Grants said it analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, Low-Cost Transportation Index, Bureau of Economic Analysis, the FBI’s 2024 Crime Data Explorer and Health Resources and Services Administration.
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