Children & Youth
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 Westchester County performing?

In 2018-22, the share of families in Westchester County headed by single parents was 64% among African American families, 43% among Hispanic families, 22% among White families, and 11% among Asian families. All racial and ethnic groups in Westchester saw decreases of single-parent families from 2008-12 to 2018-22.

Across racial and ethnic groups, Westchester County had lower proportions of families headed by single parents than in the state as a whole. Rates for African American, and Hispanic families in 2018-22 were higher in Westchester County than the surrounding counties of Rockland, Putnam and Nassau, with the largest differences coming among African American families (35% in Putnam, 29 points lower than Westchester, and 53% in Nassau, 11 points lower than Westchester).

Why do these disparities exist?

Racial and ethnic disparities in rates of single parenthood have several possible causes, including current and historic policies that have placed particular strain on African American families, incarceration rates among men of color, economic stress, as well as broader changes in social attitudes about gender roles, marriage and single parenthood.

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. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the fourth quarter.

Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
Westchester County11%*64%43%22%
Nassau County15%53%38%21%
Putnam County10%***35%***22%*30%
Rockland County12%**56%38%18%
New York State21%68%53%33%
Mount Vernon4%***67%54%*44%***
New Rochelle12%***59%*34%*19%*
Peekskill35%***53%*28%**38%**
Rye City2%***83%***37%***20%*
White Plains34%***63%*33%*31%*
Yonkers13%**69%51%31%
Westchester County Towns
Bedford0%***0%***34%***10%***
Cortlandt0%***73%***45%**24%*
Eastchester6%***45%***53%***14%*
Greenburgh11%***55%*44%*25%*
Harrison8%***0%***33%***16%**
Lewisboro28%***0%***0%***16%**
Mamaroneck11%***73%***7%***21%**
Mount KiscoN/A***53%***33%***26%***
Mount Pleasant1%***76%***48%*23%*
New Castle16%***56%***75%***14%**
North Castle11%***0%***14%***14%**
North Salem83%***N/A***16%***5%***
Ossining8%***72%**40%*21%*
Pelham7%***57%***43%***17%**
Pound Ridge34%***N/A***N/A***12%***
Rye6%***50%***46%*22%**
Scarsdale7%***13%***45%***11%**
Somers0%***N/A***15%***19%*
Yorktown8%***72%***33%***20%**
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley0%***28%***37%***13%***
Briarcliff Manor10%***N/A***0%***21%**
Bronxville0%***N/A***0%***18%**
Buchanan0%***0%***0%***33%***
Croton-on-Hudson0%***100%***42%***26%**
Dobbs Ferry31%***100%***66%***30%***
Elmsford0%***59%***37%***82%***
Village of Harrison8%***0%***33%***16%**
Hastings-on-Hudson0%***0%***20%***21%***
Irvington0%***0%***100%***21%***
Larchmont0%***0%***0%***13%***
Village of Mamaroneck0%***45%***25%***29%***
Village of Mount KiscoN/A***53%***33%***26%***
Village of Ossining9%***68%**41%*22%**
Village of Pelham0%***53%***52%***16%***
Pelham Manor13%***59%***0%***18%***
Pleasantville0%***N/A***0%***23%**
Port Chester0%***52%***48%*30%**
Rye Brook10%***79%***22%***22%***
Village of Scarsdale7%***13%***45%***11%**
Sleepy Hollow0%***100%***59%*54%***
Tarrytown0%***67%***9%***13%***
Tuckahoe0%***41%***86%***12%***

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, 2018-22
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
Westchester County1,000*13,96416,47215,311
Nassau County3,55012,58313,29720,712
Putnam County46***130***502*2,889
Rockland County246**3,1873,6334,831
New York State42,630268,718266,844421,130
Mount Vernon9***3,6941,161*471***
New Rochelle60***1,474*1,038*883*
Peekskill24***368*416**292**
Rye City6***48***91***432*
White Plains112***563*894*997*
Yonkers204**4,8496,8002,905
Westchester County Towns
Bedford0***0***144***153***
Cortlandt0***396***505**866*
Eastchester37***89***258***453*
Greenburgh197***1,043*998*1,860*
Harrison31***0***186***494**
Lewisboro40***0***0***234**
Mamaroneck24***298***44***766**
Mount Kisco0***42***240***286***
Mount Pleasant3***128***755*976*
New Castle52***83***152***313**
North Castle9***0***53***174**
North Salem43***0***8***27***
Ossining22***282**741*516*
Pelham14***92***61***253**
Pound Ridge12***0***0***58***
Rye24***164***1,499*650**
Scarsdale61***16***111***227**
Somers0***0***74***340*
Yorktown16***335***243***685**
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley0***30***34***60***
Briarcliff Manor8***0***0***179**
Bronxville0***0***0***147**
Buchanan0***0***0***57***
Croton-on-Hudson0***23***72***267**
Dobbs Ferry86***46***220***361***
Elmsford0***104***110***207***
Village of Harrison31***0***186***494**
Hastings-on-Hudson0***0***20***186***
Irvington0***0***142***177***
Larchmont0***0***0***123***
Village of Mamaroneck0***48***188***513***
Village of Mount Kisco0***42***240***286***
Village of Ossining14***236**691*291**
Village of Pelham0***26***61***132***
Pelham Manor14***66***0***121***
Pleasantville0***0***0***212**
Port Chester0***120***1,321*386**
Rye Brook24***22***34***220***
Village of Scarsdale61***16***111***227**
Sleepy Hollow0***82***755*379***
Tarrytown0***46***27***84***
Tuckahoe0***62***198***50***

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.








Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity, 2008-12
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
Westchester County17%67%47%27%
Nassau County11%55%38%22%
Putnam County14%***73%***30%*22%
Rockland County16%*51%41%21%
New York State18%69%54%32%
Mount Vernon39%***69%49%*33%*
New Rochelle15%***68%45%*33%
Peekskill46%***53%*40%*31%**
Rye City28%***100%***65%***18%*
White Plains16%***70%*42%*27%*
Yonkers19%**74%57%39%
Westchester County Towns
Bedford8%***37%***20%***21%*
Cortlandt0%***31%***27%**27%
Eastchester14%***73%***52%**20%*
Greenburgh14%**48%*37%*27%
Harrison6%***0%***28%***27%*
Lewisboro0%***0%***0%***22%*
Mamaroneck9%***N/A***50%**21%*
Mount Kisco0%***77%***51%**38%**
Mount Pleasant30%***48%***44%*29%
New Castle10%***N/A***34%***12%**
North Castle0%***0%***33%***21%*
North SalemN/A***N/A***24%***20%**
Ossining7%***51%***47%*33%
Pelham26%***63%***57%***32%*
Pound RidgeN/A***0%***24%***32%**
Rye32%***80%*39%*23%*
Scarsdale4%***0%***54%***13%*
Somers0%***0%***62%***17%*
Yorktown33%***82%***36%***28%
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley0%***36%***0%***27%**
Briarcliff Manor0%***0%***0%***24%**
Bronxville38%***N/A***71%***15%**
BuchananN/A***N/A***0%***46%***
Croton-on-Hudson0%***71%***15%***26%*
Dobbs Ferry10%***N/A***19%***27%**
Elmsford0%***73%***22%***52%**
Village of Harrison6%***0%***28%***27%*
Hastings-on-Hudson70%***N/A***15%***28%**
Irvington36%***0%***63%***44%**
Larchmont0%***N/A***65%***16%***
Village of Mamaroneck34%***60%***42%**25%*
Village of Mount Kisco0%***77%***51%**38%**
Village of Ossining13%***53%***47%*44%*
Village of Pelham0%***74%***63%***29%**
Pelham Manor75%***25%***0%***34%*
PleasantvilleN/A***52%***0%***33%**
Port Chester0%***88%*40%*29%**
Rye Brook0%***0%***0%***19%**
Village of Scarsdale4%***0%***54%***13%*
Sleepy Hollow38%***71%***56%*51%*
Tarrytown0%***52%**60%***33%**
Tuckahoe0%***100%***52%***32%**

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, 2008-12
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoWhite
Westchester County1,31514,78915,38123,880
Nassau County1,60013,48711,11126,388
Putnam County42***290***652*2,795
Rockland County495*3,2773,3106,408
New York State31,490320,254256,265496,730
Mount Vernon63***4,620803*654*
New Rochelle48***1,6151,668*2,221
Peekskill84***416*529*356**
Rye City68***34***109***404*
White Plains56***672*1,244*1,152*
Yonkers309**5,2955,9374,731
Westchester County Towns
Bedford6***32***74***444*
Cortlandt0***98***287**1,426
Eastchester60***72***273**749*
Greenburgh203**858*687*2,335
Harrison28***0***112***800*
Lewisboro0***0***0***435*
Mamaroneck22***0***292**789*
Mount Kisco0***162***370**341**
Mount Pleasant96***58***646*1,525
New Castle22***0***34***332**
North Castle0***0***39***369*
North Salem0***0***6***129**
Ossining20***174***739*969
Pelham44***162***130***539*
Pound Ridge0***0***18***230**
Rye68***451*1,058*820*
Scarsdale22***0***64***326*
Somers0***0***110***430*
Yorktown96***70***152***1,374
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley0***12***0***143**
Briarcliff Manor0***0***0***244**
Bronxville30***0***104***138**
Buchanan0***0***0***124***
Croton-on-Hudson0***30***22***324*
Dobbs Ferry18***0***24***340**
Elmsford0***151***35***129**
Village of Harrison28***0***112***800*
Hastings-on-Hudson90***0***8***319**
Irvington26***0***84***426**
Larchmont0***0***56***160***
Village of Mamaroneck90***52***224**512*
Village of Mount Kisco0***162***370**341**
Village of Ossining20***158***707*659*
Village of Pelham0***148***130***231**
Pelham Manor44***14***0***308*
Pleasantville0***26***0***317**
Port Chester0***399*1,014*392**
Rye Brook0***0***0***236**
Village of Scarsdale22***0***64***326*
Sleepy Hollow30***32***559*603*
Tarrytown0***106**244***337**
Tuckahoe0***72***105***200**

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.




INDICATORS TREND | WESTCHESTER
Early Prenatal Care, by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels 0
Maintaining
Children Receiving Subsidized Child Care 0
Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Disengaged Youth, Ages 16 to 19 -1
Decreasing
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Single Female-Headed Households -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 1
Increasing
Voter Participation Rate -1
Decreasing
Serious Crimes -1
Decreasing
Reported Victims of Domestic Violence -1
Decreasing
Arrest Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households With Internet Access, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households without Vehicles 0
Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Air Quality 1
Increasing
Population Density 0
Maintaining
Water Quality of the Long Island Sound 10 Not Applicable*
Open Space in Westchester County 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Population, by Age 10 Not Applicable*
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
People 65 or Older Living Alone -1
Decreasing
Foreign-Born Population 1
Increasing
Change in Total Jobs 1
Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Average Salary by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0
Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level 10 Not Applicable*
Unemployment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Seniors Living in Poverty 1
Increasing
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Food Insecurity -1
Decreasing
Households Receiving SNAP, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Public Assistance 0
Maintaining
People Receiving Supplemental Security Income 0
Maintaining
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Rent Burdened Households -1
Decreasing
Homelessness, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness, by Sex 10 Not Applicable*
Per-Student Spending 0
Maintaining
Student Suspensions -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
College Enrollment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
People Without Health Insurance -1
Decreasing
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Mortality Rate from Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Diabetes Mortality, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Suicide Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*


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