Unmarried with children

The percentage of families headed by a single parent changed little in the last decade, after two previous decades of rapid growth.

In fact, the percentage of single-parent families declined overall in Seattle and Bellevue, driven by a percentage decrease in single moms. The cost of maintaining a home in those two cities may be the reason. In several south King County cities, where cost of living is cheaper, the percentage of single-parent families headed by mothers increased.

The number of single fathers grew sharply in Seattle, the state and across the U.S., but the numbers remain relatively small.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Analysis by Tom Boyer, Justin Mayo and Stuart Eskenazi: Seattle Times staff.