Maine tops nationwide ranking while Louisiana ranks last, according to new legal expert analysis
Key Findings:
- New study ranks all 50 US states for single-parent support, analyzing childcare costs, housing affordability, and family policies
- Maine leads with an overall score of 81.53 out of 100, while Louisiana ranks lowest at 33.18 due to high costs and limited support programs
- Family law expert warns that geographic location can make or break a single parent’s ability to provide stable care for their children
Ask any single parent about their biggest worry, and you’ll likely hear the same thing: “Am I doing enough?” The reality is that millions of parents are juggling work, childcare, and bills on their own – and it’s exhausting. But here’s what many don’t realize: the state where you’re raising your kids might be making things harder than they need to be.
A new study shows that geography plays a large role in whether single parents can build stable, thriving families. Some states roll out the red carpet with affordable childcare and supportive policies, while others leave families to figure it out alone.
Your Law Firm, a legal practice specializing in family law, analyzed data across all 50 states to identify where single parents have the best shot at success.
“The data shows a stark reality, that your zip code can determine whether single parenthood is challenging but manageable, or nearly impossible,” says Kira Abernathy, Lead Attorney at Your Law Firm. “States with strong family support systems create environments where single parents can thrive, while others leave families struggling without adequate resources.”
What the Study Shows
The study looked at what matters most to single parents: how much childcare and housing cost compared to income, whether states offer paid time off when family emergencies arise, how safe neighborhoods are, access to free pre-K programs, typical work hours, and how many other single-parent families live in the area for community support.
For paid family leave, researchers scored states based on their policies; those with mandatory programs for most workers earned a 1, states with partial coverage like voluntary programs got a 0.5, and states with no paid leave options received a 0. All of these factors were combined to create an overall score from 0 to 100 for each state.
Table 1: Top 10 Best US States For Single Parents
| Rank | State | Overall Score (out of 100) | Childcare Affordability Score | Housing Affordability Index | Paid Family Leave Availability | Single- Parent Households (%) | Violent Crime Rate (per 100k people) | Access to Public Pre-K (% of eligible children enrolled) | Average Weekly Work Hours (est. single parents) |
| 1 | Maine | 81.53 | 87.63 | 78.75 | 1 | 32.06% | 104.46 | 66% | 36.5 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 64.23 | 59.92 | 81.93 | 0 | 31.77% | 296.26 | 78% | 35.9 |
| 3 | Iowa | 63.99 | 68.36 | 86.50 | 0 | 29.94% | 267.51 | 81% | 37.5 |
| 4 | South Dakota | 61.96 | 94.02 | 87.61 | 0 | 30.75% | 330.79 | 25% | 36.7 |
| 5 | Maryland | 61.85 | 72.30 | 53.11 | 1 | 32.10% | 443.22 | 48% | 36.4 |
| 6 | Nebraska | 61.34 | 60.18 | 81.08 | 0 | 28.59% | 170.44 | 52% | 36.2 |
| 7 | Florida | 59.74 | 77.36 | 15.55 | 0.5 | 34.14% | 218.62 | 80% | 37.2 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 59.28 | 31.00 | 63.02 | 1 | 33.58% | 168.53 | 40% | 36.3 |
| 9 | Kentucky | 58.77 | 62.20 | 64.72 | 0.5 | 34.96% | 231.19 | 53% | 38.2 |
| 10 | Delaware | 58.29 | 55.59 | 54.73 | 1 | 35.22% | 394.42 | 24% | 35.4 |
The full dataset with all contributing factors can be found here.
Maine Sets The Gold Standard
Maine dominates the rankings with an 81.53 overall score, standing nearly 20 points ahead of second place. The state excels across multiple areas, boasting excellent childcare affordability and the lowest violent crime rate among top performers at just 104.46 incidents per 100,000 people. Maine also offers comprehensive paid family leave and maintains reasonable work hours for parents.
“Maine is the perfect example of what happens when state policy actually prioritizes families,” notes Abernathy. “They’ve created an environment where single parents aren’t forced to choose between working enough hours to pay bills and being present for their children.”
Wisconsin And Iowa Round Out The Top Three
Wisconsin earns the second spot with a 64.23 score, excelling in housing affordability and pre-K access where 78% of eligible children are enrolled. Despite lacking paid family leave policies, the state compensates with strong educational support and manageable living costs.
Iowa follows closely at 63.99, offering the most affordable housing among top performers and impressive 81% pre-K enrollment. The state’s combination of low costs and educational access creates opportunities for families to build stability.
“These Midwest states prove you don’t need expensive coastal policies to support families well,” Abernathy explains. “Sometimes it’s about getting the basics right: affordable housing, good schools, and safe communities.”
Table 2: Top 10 Worst US States For Single Parents
| Rank | State | Overall Score (out of 100) | Childcare Affordability Score | Housing Affordability Index | Paid Family Leave Availability | Single- Parent Households (%) | Violent Crime Rate (per 100k people) | Access to Public Pre-K (% of eligible children enrolled) | Avg. Weekly Work Hours (est. single parents) |
| 1 | Louisiana | 33.18 | 40.86 | 33.69 | 0 | 41.72% | 522.72 | 51% | 39.5 |
| 2 | Hawaii | 38.52 | 56.18 | 7.29 | 0 | 27.77% | 201.65 | 18% | 36.4 |
| 3 | California | 39.22 | 41.14 | 0.00 | 1 | 30.00% | 518.23 | 49% | 37.3 |
| 4 | Arizona | 40.07 | 65.59 | 42.40 | 0 | 33.10% | 408.10 | 18% | 38.0 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 40.58 | 50.94 | 53.17 | 0.5 | 33.18% | 637.07 | 36% | 38.3 |
| 6 | Washington | 40.80 | 29.05 | 28.82 | 1 | 27.03% | 360.32 | 28% | 37.6 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 41.41 | 3.60 | 31.39 | 1 | 30.43% | 313.98 | 43% | 36.7 |
| 8 | Nevada | 42.12 | 69.53 | 41.93 | 0 | 38.52% | 434.79 | 17% | 37.7 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 43.44 | 53.33 | 48.06 | 0 | 32.42% | 381.02 | 34% | 37.2 |
| 10 | Alaska | 44.32 | 89.19 | 63.35 | 0 | 29.45% | 737.52 | 28% | 37.6 |
The Cost Crisis
At the bottom, Louisiana scores just 33.18, plagued by high crime rates (522.72 incidents per 100,000), expensive housing relative to income, and the highest percentage of single-parent households at 41.72%, suggesting a lot of families are struggling without adequate support systems.
Hawaii and California both struggle with housing affordability, ranking among the worst states for housing costs relative to single-parent incomes. California scores lowest in the housing affordability index, while Hawaii follows close behind with just 7.29.
Massachusetts presents a paradox – the state offers paid family leave and reasonable crime rates but scores just 3.60 for childcare affordability, making it nearly impossible for single parents to afford quality care while working.
“These states show how good intentions can fall short without addressing fundamental affordability issues,” says Abernathy. “California has paid family leave, but when housing eats up your entire paycheck, that benefit becomes meaningless.”
Kira Abernathy, Lead Attorney at Your Law Firm, commented:
“Single parenthood carries both financial and emotional burdens that can feel insurmountable, but geography shouldn’t determine whether a family can thrive. What we see in the data is that states with comprehensive support systems – from affordable childcare to paid leave policies – create environments where single parents can focus on raising their children rather than just surviving day to day.
“The emotional toll of constantly worrying about money, childcare, and safety takes a real impact on both parents and children. When states invest in family-friendly policies and affordable living, they’re not only helping individual families, but also building stronger communities.
“Single parents in supportive states report better mental health outcomes and their children perform better academically. Geography can either amplify the challenges of single parenthood or provide the foundation families need to build successful futures.”
[ENDS]
Credit
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About Your Law Firm
Your Law Firm, established in 2014 by Attorney Kira Lin Abernathy, is dedicated to providing people-first legal services. Originally known as Attorney KLA, the firm rebranded in 2023 to better reflect its commitment to client-centered representation. Specializing in criminal defense, family law, and traffic-related cases, Your Law Firm strives to empower clients by offering tailored legal assistance that addresses their unique needs and goals. The team, led by Attorney Abernathy, emphasizes creating positive outcomes and ensuring clients feel supported throughout the legal process. With plans to expand both its team and areas of practice, Your Law Firm remains steadfast in its mission to serve clients with dedication and integrity.
Methodology
This analysis examined support systems for single-parent households across all 50 U.S. states using 2023 data from multiple authoritative sources. The study evaluated seven key factors affecting single-parent families: childcare affordability (comparing annual childcare costs to median single-parent income), housing affordability (annual rent costs relative to income), paid family leave availability, violent crime rates, access to public pre-K programs, average work hours, and the percentage of single-parent households in each state.
Data sources included the U.S. Census Bureau, Child Care Aware of America’s 2023 Affordability Analysis, Newfront’s State Paid Family Leave Chart, FBI Crime Data Explorer, National Institute for Early Education Research, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Each factor was normalized and weighted to create composite scores from 0-100, with higher scores indicating better support for single-parent households. The rankings reflect overall scores combining all factors.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
