Traditional Two-Parent Families Decline in Major U.S. Cities, Report Finds
A new report from the Institute for Family Studies indicates a significant decline in traditional two-parent nuclear families within major American cities compared to suburban areas. The study, which analyzed 2020 Census data, reveals that in some urban neighborhoods in Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, and Detroit, fewer than a quarter of households with children are headed by married couples. This trend highlights a growing disparity, with urban centers being labeled 'married-family deserts' and suburban communities as 'married-family gardens.' For instance, eastern Cleveland and nearby Bratenahl Village, Ohio, show only 18% of households with children led by married couples, while central Milwaukee is at 22%. Conversely, suburban areas like Fremont City, California, and Lakewood, New Jersey, report up to 89% of households with children headed by married couples. The report also notes that high incomes in urban areas, such as Manhattan, do not necessarily correlate with higher marriage rates, sugge...