The 10 Best Places for Single Moms to Live?

[kristandthekids]

http://www.zillow.com/blog/research/2011/05/05/mothers-day-analysis-best-places-for-single-moms-to-live/
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/05/08/zillow-names-10-best-places-single-moms-live/

Best Places for Single Moms to Live

1. Rochester, NY
2. Port St. Lucie, FL
3. Bakersfield, CA
4. Ann Arbor, MI
5. Fort Meyers, FL
6. Fresno, CA
7. Green Bay, WI
8. Pittsburgh, PA
9. Lincoln, NE
10. Des Moines, IA

To determine this list, we looked at five core data metrics that could impact single moms across the country:
Zillow price-to-income-ratio measuring affordability
Census Bureau data on women’s annual earnings as a percentage of men’s earnings
public education spending per student
FBI violent crime rates
and Walk Scores.

We theorized that for single working moms, efficiency is highly important. The need to save time and stretch dollars is a way of life. The cities that made our top 10 list are scattered across the U.S., and reflect places where moms have access to affordable housing, can enroll their kids in good public schools, are able to earn a fair wage compared to working men, need not worry about high crime rates, and can live in walkable communities with limited commute times.

What do you Mama's think? Do you think their list is accurate? If you live in one of the areas, do you like it? What other places would you add to the list and why?

[Everrgreen]

I wish there was a list for Canada!

Once I am finished school I would like to find a job in the city my mom lives in.  I think having the extra help will make that the best city for me to live in!  :D

[rubelin]

I think the best city for a single momma is the one where her community support is - be it family or friends. Sure, good job choices and a good cost of living is important but what is MOST important when you are raising kids on your own is having really great human support around you. Money helps you buy support but it's not the same as having lots of people around you who love you & your kids.

I'm in CA and their two choices here (Fresno and Bakersfield) would never, ever be ones I would choose. They might be going off of violent crime rates but I am pretty sure that the petty crime in those areas and the general financial and social depression in both areas is quite high.

[goodygumdrops]

I am wondering about this report.  I have just moved from Florida and it is really hard to find work in both the areas that they indicated. 

Although, Ft. Myers and Port St. Lucie both had a HUGE housing bust so homebuying is extremely affordable in those areas.  My father purchased a home in Port St. Lucie for 65k, huge house with a giant yard in a great neighborhood...

[kristandthekids]

Originally Posted by rubelin 

I think the best city for a single momma is the one where her community support is - be it family or friends. Sure, good job choices and a good cost of living is important but what is MOST important when you are raising kids on your own is having really great human support around you.

If only we could make a generalized top 10 list based on that.
I think families are so spread out geographically now a days, a lot of moms really are going it alone and looking at these other factors would be helpful to them.