Take a look at some the top 10 best places in the United States for single moms to live, according to Zillow, a real-estate company.
Zillow based their rankings on five core data metrics that measure affordability (price-to-income-ratio): women’s annual earnings as a percentage of men’s earnings, public education spending per student, FBI violent crime rates, and transportation (Walk Scores).
10. Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines ranks 10th on Zillow’s list. The central Illinois city is the most populous in the state.
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9. Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Neb., the state capital, is number nine on the list.
8. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pa. was ranked number eight on the list. This southwestern Pennsylvania city is known for its affordability.
7. Green Bay, Wisconsin
Number seven is Green Bay, Wis. This northern city is located at the base of Lake Michigan.
6. Fresno, California
Fresno, Calif. is number six on Zillow’s list. According to Fresno’s official website, “With a population of over 480,000, many consider Fresno to be the perfect size
5. Fort Myers, Florida
Number five is Fort Myers, Florida. The city touts its beaches, golf and farmers market on its website.
4. Ann Arbor, Michigan
Number four is Ann Arbor, Mich. The city has a population of 114,000 residents, according to the city’s visitor’s bureau.
3. Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, Calif. is number three in Zillow’s ranking.
According to Zillow, “(Bakersfield) scored in the top third for education spending per pupil. Increasing rates of foreclosures and declining home values make it possible for qualified buyers to negotiate good deal on a home.”
2. Port St. Lucie, Florida
Port St. Lucie, Fla. earned the number two spot on the list.
Zillow reports, “Women have an opportunity to earn a competitive income, compared to men, in Port St. Lucie. … Another bonus is affordable housing; the median home value is $106,600.”
1. Rochester, New York
And finally, the number one place for single moms to live is Rochester, N.Y. According to the Census Bureau, women’s annual earnings as a percentage of men’s earnings in the state is 82.8 percent.
Zillow reports Rochester has an, “overall affordability and a strong job market. … You can buy a home for around $100,000.” The real-estate company also lists steady employment opportunities, such as supermarket chain Wegmans, Strong Memorial Hospital, The University of Rochester, and the Rochester Institute of Technology. Zillow also cites the “good public schools” in the area.
This feature originally appeared in CBS News.
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