The number of single-parent households in Oregon has dropped by 1% over the last four years, in line with the rest of the U.S. with decreases of 1% to 2%.
Single Parents are in a Continuous Cycle of Struggle
The survey, conducted by badcredit.org, describes single parenthood as a continuous ‘cycle of struggle’ that shows a ‘consistent use of credit cards’ and a decline in credit ratings.
The survey found that single parents are under financial pressure to pay school fees, clothing, extramural activities, childcare, and medical bills, forcing many into using credit cards or short-term loans to pay for monthly essentials.
However, Oregon bucked the trend of three states – Texas, New Mexico, and South Carolina – that experienced an increase in the number of households with single parents. Instead, single-parent homes in Oregon dropped from 21% in 2021 to 20% in 2024.
Agricultural Areas Showed the Biggest Drops and the Biggest Increases
The biggest drop in single-parent households in Oregon counties was the 18% recorded in Wheeler. However, the significant drop could be because the county is one of the least populated in Oregon, with 1,436 residents in 2023…