Bachelor’s degree or more

Some college/ associate’s degree

High school or GED

KEY

Mother’s education

Less than high school

’09

’90

’09

’90

60%

23

49

32

68

67

12

22

32

17

44

55

3

10

18

38%

6

30

47

41%

58%

82%

81

86%

Whites

Hispanics

Blacks

Note: Incomes are shown in 2011 dollars. Income level breaks 12 years later for a family of four were less than $48,908 for the bottom third, between $48,908 and $93,008 for the middle and greater than $93,008 for the top.

Did not live with both parents

Lived with both parents

More than $76,022

Between $40,726 and 76,022

Less than $40,726

Bottom third

Middle third

Top third

More than $76,022 for a family of four

Between $40,726 and 76,022

Less than $40,726

Bottom third

Middle third

Top third

18%

26%

56%

23%

35%

42%

30%

36%

34%

35%

39%

25%

43%

30%

27%

50%

35%

15%

Children in middle-income households have become much less likely than those in upper-income households to have married parents.

The share of births that occur outside of marriage has risen for all women since 1990, but white women with less than a four-year college degree have seen the greatest percentage increases.

1990-2009, among adult women

Percentage of births occurring outside of marriage

Percentage of households in each income group with married parents

Note: In 2010, the top third reported they earned more than $89,122, and the bottom third reported they earned less than $41,940.

’09

’90

’68

’80

’90

’00

’10

...and May Affect the Future Incomes of Children

A study that tracked children who were 12 to 14 years old at the start of 1996 shows that those who didn’t live with both parents were less likely to have moved up to a higher income group 12 years later as adults.

Income of parents

Income of parents

Bottom

Middle

Top

Income of child 12 years later

96%

95%

77%

41%

71%

88%

Top third

Middle third