Best & Worst Cities for Singles

Finding love can be tough — if you look for it in all the wrong places. Some cities might encourage dating by offering plentiful nightlife options and daytime attractions. But going on dates can be costly, with the average cost of a date at $102.32. It certainly pays to live in a place where dating activities, such as dining out or watching a movie, are relatively cheaper.

More entertainment choices and low cost of living don’t matter much, however, if the number of potential mates to meet are limited in your area. Around 45 percent of the U.S. adult population is unmarried (never married, divorced or widowed), according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates. But the share may be higher or lower in every city, and the ratio of women to men also will differ in each.

To help America’s singles find love, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 34 key indicators of dating-friendliness. Our data set ranges from share of single population to number of online dating opportunities to nightlife options per capita. Read on for the city ranking, expert dating advice and a full description of our methodology.

Main Findings

 

Best Cities for Singles

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘Economics’ Rank	‘Fun & Recreation’ Rank	‘Dating Opportunities’ Rank
1	Atlanta, GA	68.62	140	9	2
2	Denver, CO	67.08	115	16	4
3	San Francisco, CA	66.22	181	2	6
4	Portland, OR	65.33	128	10	16
5	Los Angeles, CA	64.94	174	14	7
6	Seattle, WA	64.44	163	6	21
7	Chicago, IL	63.84	177	5	22
8	San Diego, CA	63.59	166	8	18
9	Minneapolis, MN	63.11	117	28	3
10	Portland, ME	63.03	105	20	11
11	Madison, WI	63.01	83	34	5
12	Boston, MA	62.63	176	13	14
13	Pittsburgh, PA	62.16	109	17	24
14	Tucson, AZ	61.92	29	38	13
15	Washington, DC	61.50	180	3	27
16	Honolulu, HI	60.73	153	11	53
17	Austin, TX	60.66	72	15	92
18	Rochester, NY	60.39	94	33	15
19	Phoenix, AZ	59.76	20	61	32
20	Columbus, OH	59.69	30	42	30
21	Tempe, AZ	59.59	19	77	17
22	Richmond, VA	59.58	92	27	33
23	Fargo, ND	59.52	25	126	8
24	Burlington, VT	59.04	155	56	1
25	Cincinnati, OH	58.99	65	32	40
26	Houston, TX	58.97	95	23	57
27	Reno, NV	58.96	56	47	20
28	New York, NY	58.78	182	1	69
29	Tampa, FL	58.73	78	19	77
30	Orlando, FL	58.51	38	12	153
31	St. Louis, MO	58.33	122	25	36
32	Las Vegas, NV	58.11	119	4	152
33	Missoula, MT	57.65	102	86	9
34	Columbia, SC	57.62	93	84	10
35	Boise, ID	57.42	5	76	58
36	San Antonio, TX	57.28	39	31	82
37	Salt Lake City, UT	56.99	66	39	59
38	Tallahassee, FL	56.98	52	95	19
39	Grand Rapids, MI	56.87	31	57	54
40	St. Paul, MN	56.85	84	55	26
41	Chandler, AZ	56.75	4	109	34
42	Raleigh, NC	56.72	43	50	65
43	Miami, FL	56.63	175	7	120
43	Manchester, NH	56.63	91	103	12
45	Colorado Springs, CO	56.10	28	48	78
46	Dallas, TX	56.00	112	22	94
47	Lincoln, NE	55.89	37	98	29
48	Virginia Beach, VA	55.68	58	30	114
49	Nashville, TN	54.98	63	35	103
50	Charleston, SC	54.84	57	44	101
51	Sioux Falls, SD	54.73	3	117	72
52	New Orleans, LA	54.71	151	24	71
53	Lexington-Fayette, KY	54.61	61	67	55
54	Milwaukee, WI	54.60	82	53	63
55	Omaha, NE	54.31	80	45	84
56	West Valley City, UT	54.19	14	176	47
57	Rapid City, SD	54.14	15	143	42
58	Scottsdale, AZ	53.93	49	29	144
59	Springfield, MO	53.71	9	119	124
60	Baton Rouge, LA	53.66	110	60	52
61	Fort Lauderdale, FL	53.66	150	21	95
62	San Jose, CA	53.32	173	40	25
63	Tacoma, WA	53.31	99	66	68
64	Knoxville, TN	53.30	48	69	98
65	Des Moines, IA	53.09	22	108	86
66	Providence, RI	52.86	170	46	28
67	Mesa, AZ	52.78	11	97	102
68	Worcester, MA	52.77	144	85	31
69	Charlotte, NC	52.63	88	43	128
70	Cleveland, OH	52.62	137	51	61
71	Louisville, KY	52.46	45	58	133
72	Indianapolis, IN	52.40	62	59	117
73	Garden Grove, CA	52.34	103	131	44
74	Salem, OR	52.32	126	79	50
75	St. Petersburg, FL	52.30	42	52	129
76	Buffalo, NY	52.27	146	36	81
77	Lubbock, TX	52.25	35	145	56
78	Jersey City, NJ	52.25	152	63	39
79	Wilmington, DE	51.97	141	54	73
80	Norfolk, VA	51.89	133	81	45
81	Huntington Beach, CA	51.80	130	74	62
82	Sacramento, CA	51.68	164	37	67
83	Oklahoma City, OK	51.56	23	101	118
84	Long Beach, CA	51.55	159	65	41
85	Spokane, WA	51.49	73	73	115
86	New Haven, CT	51.28	154	71	51
87	Riverside, CA	51.22	121	142	35
88	Jacksonville, FL	51.21	74	49	140
89	Albuquerque, NM	51.12	114	64	88
90	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	50.95	135	125	48
91	Baltimore, MD	50.77	172	26	91
92	Cedar Rapids, IA	50.72	24	127	127
93	Oakland, CA	50.43	169	41	76
94	Columbus, GA	50.41	81	92	97
95	Akron, OH	50.37	79	120	96
96	Wichita, KS	50.30	51	128	100
97	Memphis, TN	50.26	54	99	122
98	Irvine, CA	50.20	149	62	75
99	Anchorage, AK	50.19	161	68	49
100	Fresno, CA	50.14	120	112	66
101	Casper, WY	50.10	26	157	79
102	Arlington, TX	50.07	75	123	85
103	Corpus Christi, TX	50.04	70	90	119
104	Aurora, CO	49.87	68	106	89
105	Fort Worth, TX	49.78	89	80	126
106	Chesapeake, VA	49.77	21	129	135
107	Las Cruces, NM	49.60	53	171	70
108	Huntsville, AL	49.53	47	163	109
109	Tulsa, OK	49.48	40	110	137
110	Kansas City, MO	49.47	85	111	108
111	Newark, NJ	49.43	178	75	38
112	Nashua, NH	49.29	67	115	116
113	San Bernardino, CA	49.07	160	179	23
114	Oxnard, CA	49.06	134	165	46
115	El Paso, TX	49.04	17	83	161
116	Durham, NC	49.04	44	96	146
117	Glendale, AZ	48.95	12	160	93
118	Birmingham, AL	48.89	97	118	129
119	Oceanside, CA	48.89	138	91	83
120	Irving, TX	48.88	96	102	106
121	Vancouver, WA	48.85	145	70	107
122	Toledo, OH	48.75	64	141	112
123	Santa Ana, CA	48.74	167	122	37
124	Juneau, AK	48.52	162	124	43
125	Aurora, IL	48.36	143	113	74
126	Fort Wayne, IN	48.30	32	94	157
127	Little Rock, AR	48.28	71	138	136
128	Augusta, GA	48.07	87	181	87
129	Newport News, VA	48.02	106	114	134
130	Bismarck, ND	48.01	18	151	147
131	Anaheim, CA	48.00	156	116	64
132	Jackson, MS	47.91	33	166	148
133	Amarillo, TX	47.79	7	155	162
134	Billings, MT	47.74	41	135	143
135	Mobile, AL	47.66	54	140	145
136	Bakersfield, CA	47.44	101	147	113
137	Philadelphia, PA	47.39	168	18	172
138	Chattanooga, TN	47.31	76	100	155
139	Overland Park, KS	47.30	6	105	173
140	Detroit, MI	47.25	147	87	111
141	Fayetteville, NC	47.05	131	149	90
142	Grand Prairie, TX	46.99	46	175	121
143	Fontana, CA	46.93	113	162	110
144	Henderson, NV	46.85	27	130	149
145	Chula Vista, CA	46.52	124	137	104
146	Gilbert, AZ	46.49	8	146	159
147	Stockton, CA	46.43	111	168	105
148	North Las Vegas, NV	46.29	107	182	60
149	Bridgeport, CT	46.25	171	121	80
150	Plano, TX	46.22	60	82	163
151	Port St. Lucie, FL	46.13	16	132	165
152	Santa Clarita, CA	45.97	139	153	99
153	Greensboro, NC	45.89	34	88	176
154	Ontario, CA	45.51	125	158	125
155	Cheyenne, WY	45.44	13	156	158
156	Gulfport, MS	45.34	77	167	150
157	Garland, TX	45.06	98	164	139
158	Santa Rosa, CA	45.03	179	72	132
159	Fort Smith, AR	44.91	50	173	142
160	Huntington, WV	44.90	100	159	131
161	Peoria, AZ	44.89	2	170	170
162	Modesto, CA	44.64	118	169	141
163	Fremont, CA	44.63	148	104	138
164	Nampa, ID	44.25	10	174	156
165	Moreno Valley, CA	44.06	136	177	123
166	Montgomery, AL	43.13	86	148	167
167	Dover, DE	43.01	127	133	151
168	Cape Coral, FL	42.47	1	136	179
169	Shreveport, LA	42.23	104	172	164
170	Charleston, WV	41.98	142	139	154
171	Winston-Salem, NC	41.88	90	161	169
172	Columbia, MD	41.70	108	178	160
173	Laredo, TX	41.63	36	154	177
174	Yonkers, NY	41.39	165	78	171
175	Lewiston, ME	41.13	116	150	168
176	Glendale, CA	40.41	157	93	175
177	Warwick, RI	40.07	123	107	178
178	South Burlington, VT	39.42	69	89	180
179	Pearl City, HI	38.86	132	180	166
180	Hialeah, FL	38.69	158	144	174
181	Pembroke Pines, FL	36.70	129	134	181
182	Brownsville, TX	35.84	59	152	182

Ask the Experts

The dating scene in each city is unique. In every situation, cost and budget will play a key role in finding your soul mate. We therefore turned to a panel of experts for advice on money, what makes a good city for singles and how to draw singles to those areas. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. With the rise of dating apps — and therefore dates — what financial advice do you have targeted to singles on a budget?
2. What should singles be looking for when choosing a city?
3. Are singles typically a net economic gain or loss for cities?
4. Should local authorities work to make cities more attractive to singles? If so, how?

Methodology

In order to determine the best cities for singles, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Economics, 2) Fun & Recreation and 3) Dating Opportunities.

We evaluated those dimensions using 34 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for singles. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we calculated the population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area.

Economics – Total Points: 25

• Restaurant-Meal Costs: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Average Beer & Wine Price: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Average Cocktail Price: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Average Price for Two-Person Meal: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the average price of a basic two-person dinner in a neighborhood pub.
• Movie Costs: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Average Price for Two Tickets to the Theater: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Taxi-Fare Cost: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Beauty-Salon Costs: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Haircut Costs: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Average Price per Party Ticket: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Average Monthly Fitness-Club Fee: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Median Annual Household Income: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
  Note: This metric was adjusted by the cost of living.
• Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
  Note: This metric was measured using the rent of a one-bedroom apartment (adjusted by the median annual household income).
• Job Growth Rate: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)
• Overall Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~1.56 Points)

Fun & Recreation – Total Points: 25

• Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
  Note: “Attractions” include, for instance, museums, cultural performances and zoos.
• Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
• Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
• Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
• Nightlife Options per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
• Shopping Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
• Wellness Centers & Spas per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
• Fitness Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
• Social Clubs per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
• City Accessibility: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
• Walkability: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
• Weather: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on WalletHub “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.
• Safety: Full Weight (~1.92 Points)

Dating Opportunities – Total Points: 50

• Share of Single Population: Double Weight (~12.50 Points)
• Singles Gender Balance: Double Weight (~12.50 Points)
• Online Dating Opportunities: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the percentage of households with a broadband connection.
• Mobile Dating Opportunities: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults who own a smartphone.
• “Most Active Tinder Users” Ranking: Double Weight (~12.50 Points)

 

Videos for News Use:

• YouTube (for web embedding National)
• YouTube (for web embedding Atlanta, GA)
• Raw files (for editing into clips)

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Council for Community and Economic Research, Numbeo, Eventbrite, Esri's Updated Demographics - 2018 estimates (Market Potential: GfK MRI), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Trust for Public Land, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Walk Score, Gallup-Healthways, Expatistan, Tinder and WalletHub research.

Image: djile / Shutterstock.com

Community Discussion

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@kry716

November 12, 2018

Are you trying to drum up comments on how awful this visualization is? Because this is how you get comments about how awful this visualization is.

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