Traditional two-parent families in major U.S. cities are disappearing as "marriage deserts" expand

A new report from the Institute for Family Studies shows a 70-point gap in traditional two-parent families as urban marriage deserts expand across major U.S. cities.

Where are the married couples of America? The new study shows a significant geographic divide

The traditional two-parent nuclear family is much less common in parts of America's big cities than in suburban communities, with less than a quarter of families with children headed by married couples in some neighborhoods in Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee and Detroit, according to a new report.

The study by the Institute for Family Studies found that the share of households with children headed by married couples varied by nearly 70 percent across study areas, indicating a divide between "married family deserts" and "married family gardens" in the suburbs.

The findings revealed differences in family structure across the country and raised questions about how the neighborhoods in which children grow up may affect their opportunities for upward mobility.

Liberals have fewer babies than conservatives because of progressive destruction.

A split image shows the Cleveland skyline, left, and a residential area in Utah, right. A new report from the Institute for Family Studies found that only 18% of households with children in East Cleveland and nearby Bratenahl are headed by married couples, compared to 89% in parts of Utah County. (Ultima_Gaina/iStock; O2O Creative/iStock)

When you have a lot of parents, wives, and in-laws in one area, I think the cultural focus in general is less about how can I get ahead in this area. Life' and more about, 'What can I do for my family?'

The study analyzed data from the 2020 census to determine which married and married households had the highest and lowest prevalence. It found that suburban neighborhoods tend to have higher marriage rates, while major urban centers often have lower rates.

North Texas dominates population growth as big blue cities fail to return to pre-pandemic levels.

A map from the Institute for Family Studies shows the prevalence of households with children headed by married couples across the United States, highlighting the differences between "married family deserts" and suburban "married family gardens." (Screenshot/Family Studies Institute)

The suburbs of Dallas-Fort Worth are grouped as the nation's largest "marriage garden," while lower Manhattan and Brooklyn make up the largest grouped "marriage desert," covering nearly 686,000 households, more than two-thirds of which are single.

"This does not appear to describe small changes around common national norms, but rather two distinct family formation regimes, so much so that it could even be described as a polarization of family structure," the IFS report said.

Higher incomes don't necessarily lead to higher marriage rates either, Burchfill said. In Manhattan's highest-income neighborhoods, including the Financial District and Greenwich Village, less than 28 percent of householders ages 15 to 64 are married.

Gen Z works hard, but the economy puts the American Dream out of reach for many

"It's clear that the decision to marry isn't just about financial concerns, it's a cultural thing, and certainly it can be affordability," Burchfill said.

"I realize having lived in New York for a few years that having a high salary doesn't mean it's easy to buy a house, start a family. It can still be very difficult and probably a lot of people in those areas who get married find themselves moving to the suburbs," he added.

The IFS researchers said they explored the topic because of extensive research showing that "family structure is closely related to economic mobility and broader measures of social capital."

They point to research by Harvard economist Raj Chetty that shows the share of two-parent households is the strongest predictor of upward mobility in a society.

The study explained: "This represents a significant difference in life experience for children who grow up in these distinct environments. Children who grow up in married family gardens with married parents, in neighborhoods, schools, and after-school activities that most peers experience. These children see marriage as a fixed and normal feature of adult life."

New report warns US population is shrinking, even as Americans say they want bigger families

A new report from the Institute for Family Studies found that marriage rates are higher in suburban communities than in major cities. Centers (Igor Soka/iStock; Vladimir Vladimirov/iStock)

In contrast, for children living in the deserts of married families, there is likely to be much more vacillation in the stability of adult relationships and greater dissonance in supervision, where marriage and stable relationship bonds are unusual or far from everyday norms—both for these children and for their peers.

Areas with the lowest share of married-parent families nationwide include East Cleveland and Bratnahl Village, Ohio, with just 18 percent of families with children headed by a married couple, followed by East Washington, D.C., at 20 percent, and Central Milwaukee at 22 percent.

In suburban "married family gardens" such as Fremont, California, Lakewood, New Jersey, and parts of Utah County, Utah, more than 89 percent of families with children are headed by married couples.

Burchfill advised newlyweds and young couples evaluating where they live to look closely at these family maps alongside local job markets, but also consider their personal circumstances, such as staying close to extended family.

The American dream now comes with a zip code: Here's where starter homes are still available

"Living with other married couples can be really helpful when you're settling down and starting a family," Burchfill said.

"It's worth looking at where those married couples are and maybe where they're staying away from, because again, if there's an area where more than 70 percent of people are married, that's probably a good place to live as a married couple."

Get all the stories you need to know from the most powerful names in news delivered to your inbox every morning.