Best & Worst Cities for Singles

Adam McCann, Financial WriterDec 1, 2020

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Dec 1, 2020

Finding love can be tough, especially in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Different cities have reopened at different rates, and some are hit harder by the pandemic than others. Plus, even if there are ample places to go for an outing, many people are strapped for cash and the average date costs over $100. 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 a 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. Some singles may boost their chances of meeting others through online dating. This is especially useful during the current pandemic, as it makes virtual dates possible, too.

To help America’s singles find love, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 32 key indicators of dating-friendliness. Our data set ranges from the share of the population that is single to the number of online dating opportunities to the average price for a two-person meal.

Table of Contents

Main Findings Ask the Experts Methodology

Main Findings

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Best Cities for Singles

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘Economics’ Rank	‘Fun & Recreation’ Rank	‘Dating Opportunities’ Rank
1	Madison, WI	66.48	76	12	2
2	Atlanta, GA	65.51	109	3	9
3	Denver, CO	63.14	108	28	3
4	Salt Lake City, UT	62.90	40	5	65
5	Columbia, SC	62.71	51	61	8
6	Fargo, ND	62.56	12	63	22
7	Missoula, MT	62.24	89	69	5
8	Portland, ME	61.89	106	16	15
9	Boise, ID	61.51	41	30	35
10	Tempe, AZ	61.49	16	76	26
11	Reno, NV	61.47	70	31	14
12	Manchester, NH	60.97	38	98	13
13	Tucson, AZ	60.95	77	52	10
14	Burlington, VT	60.89	159	57	1
15	Columbus, OH	60.88	47	41	27
16	Cincinnati, OH	60.79	82	14	36
17	Minneapolis, MN	60.70	134	39	4
18	Lincoln, NE	60.48	17	104	24
19	Sioux Falls, SD	60.41	13	47	62
20	Fort Lauderdale, FL	60.25	128	2	60
21	Pittsburgh, PA	60.00	103	21	28
22	Rapid City, SD	59.86	21	49	55
23	Tallahassee, FL	59.75	74	56	18
24	Richmond, VA	59.75	104	26	25
25	Grand Rapids, MI	59.66	46	44	44
26	St. Louis, MO	59.57	100	19	34
27	Knoxville, TN	59.47	33	32	79
28	Virginia Beach, VA	59.33	26	20	115
29	Cheyenne, WY	59.30	1	96	66
30	Portland, OR	59.05	152	24	11
31	Colorado Springs, CO	59.03	20	64	58
31	Rochester, NY	59.03	124	29	17
33	Seattle, WA	58.98	176	8	19
34	Chandler, AZ	58.82	5	118	53
35	San Diego, CA	58.51	156	36	16
36	Des Moines, IA	58.15	18	78	70
37	Omaha, NE	57.86	44	34	97
38	Raleigh, NC	57.65	62	38	71
39	Chicago, IL	57.55	175	15	23
40	Springfield, MO	57.54	10	79	112
41	San Francisco, CA	57.40	181	35	7
42	Lexington-Fayette, KY	57.24	29	92	68
43	Boston, MA	57.06	180	18	12
44	Houston, TX	56.94	94	45	69
45	St. Paul, MN	56.92	121	70	20
46	Tampa, FL	56.83	113	9	114
47	Phoenix, AZ	56.74	55	152	38
48	San Antonio, TX	56.60	58	60	73
49	Lubbock, TX	56.52	15	155	47
50	Honolulu, HI	56.49	169	6	51
51	Charleston, SC	56.38	98	11	118
52	Cedar Rapids, IA	56.12	48	65	90
53	Scottsdale, AZ	56.11	75	37	96
54	Oklahoma City, OK	56.09	27	73	109
55	Bismarck, ND	56.01	9	83	129
56	Los Angeles, CA	55.84	179	99	6
57	Austin, TX	55.75	96	17	125
58	Milwaukee, WI	55.69	119	42	59
59	Jacksonville, FL	55.48	49	33	141
60	Washington, DC	55.38	177	10	31
61	Glendale, AZ	55.08	4	158	84
62	Corpus Christi, TX	55.06	23	136	85
63	St. Petersburg, FL	55.05	102	22	127
64	Wilmington, DE	55.04	143	50	40
65	Salem, OR	54.95	154	95	21
66	Worcester, MA	54.93	118	125	29
67	Nampa, ID	54.86	35	107	88
68	Casper, WY	54.86	32	88	116
69	Nashville, TN	54.85	111	27	110
70	West Valley City, UT	54.84	22	109	113
71	Tacoma, WA	54.83	132	74	33
72	Cleveland, OH	54.73	140	48	46
73	Anchorage, AK	54.70	153	40	43
74	Norfolk, VA	54.68	92	113	50
75	Akron, OH	54.64	56	101	92
76	Augusta, GA	54.31	50	144	81
77	Miami, FL	54.25	157	1	147
78	Mesa, AZ	54.24	8	128	128
79	Wichita, KS	54.17	54	106	99
80	Fayetteville, NC	53.97	90	147	45
81	Irving, TX	53.92	64	137	64
82	Overland Park, KS	53.92	45	62	135
83	Orlando, FL	53.91	130	4	153
84	Aurora, IL	53.87	116	110	57
85	Tulsa, OK	53.87	31	72	142
86	Charlotte, NC	53.85	80	51	121
87	Dallas, TX	53.83	97	46	126
88	Huntington Beach, CA	53.82	144	111	37
89	Baton Rouge, LA	53.80	122	59	72
90	Nashua, NH	53.79	24	91	139
91	Kansas City, MO	53.77	69	85	100
92	Indianapolis, IN	53.76	83	54	119
93	Buffalo, NY	53.75	110	43	107
94	Fort Worth, TX	53.72	34	115	122
95	Albuquerque, NM	53.64	101	75	80
96	New Haven, CT	53.52	150	102	32
97	Las Vegas, NV	53.16	138	7	151
98	Fort Wayne, IN	53.01	30	67	155
99	Juneau, AK	52.98	149	82	67
100	Vancouver, WA	52.90	125	58	89
101	Louisville, KY	52.74	53	103	132
102	Huntsville, AL	52.62	14	135	154
103	Arlington, TX	52.48	37	163	101
104	Las Cruces, NM	52.33	39	157	98
105	Providence, RI	52.33	166	53	52
106	Plano, TX	52.18	19	84	159
107	Dover, DE	52.16	115	131	76
108	El Paso, TX	52.13	11	126	160
109	Spokane, WA	52.05	85	77	137
110	Baltimore, MD	51.91	164	25	105
111	Durham, NC	51.81	28	119	150
112	Aurora, CO	51.80	81	138	94
113	New Orleans, LA	51.70	171	23	95
114	Port St. Lucie, FL	51.46	7	89	171
115	Chesapeake, VA	51.30	25	151	130
116	Huntington, WV	51.26	105	146	82
117	San Jose, CA	51.20	163	133	30
118	Amarillo, TX	51.15	3	156	167
118	Chattanooga, TN	51.15	43	71	168
120	Jersey City, NJ	51.13	167	87	42
121	Columbus, GA	50.93	60	130	133
122	Gilbert, AZ	50.89	2	142	165
123	Oceanside, CA	50.79	127	123	91
124	Memphis, TN	50.77	79	97	143
125	Billings, MT	50.76	57	117	149
126	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	50.75	112	149	83
127	Sacramento, CA	50.60	145	108	75
128	Charleston, WV	50.53	99	122	123
129	Mobile, AL	50.51	52	105	162
130	Henderson, NV	50.46	68	100	148
131	Fresno, CA	50.21	123	164	63
132	Newark, NJ	50.19	155	127	61
133	Long Beach, CA	49.90	172	116	39
134	Toledo, OH	49.82	95	132	131
135	Riverside, CA	49.82	139	169	41
136	Irvine, CA	49.73	148	86	108
137	Birmingham, AL	49.68	117	80	146
138	Garden Grove, CA	49.65	168	153	49
139	Bridgeport, CT	49.57	142	145	77
140	Newport News, VA	49.48	73	143	140
141	New York, NY	49.36	182	13	78
142	Chula Vista, CA	49.16	133	162	74
143	Oxnard, CA	49.07	158	175	48
144	Little Rock, AR	49.03	107	81	157
145	Cape Coral, FL	48.91	61	68	172
146	Fort Smith, AR	48.72	78	124	152
147	North Las Vegas, NV	48.66	93	168	104
148	Fontana, CA	48.58	131	172	87
149	Jackson, MS	48.43	63	154	156
150	Anaheim, CA	48.38	151	150	86
151	Santa Clarita, CA	48.01	126	165	111
152	Bakersfield, CA	47.70	114	178	106
153	Peoria, AZ	47.70	6	174	174
154	Ontario, CA	47.67	136	173	93
155	Gulfport, MS	47.55	84	139	161
156	Grand Prairie, TX	47.50	72	176	134
157	Detroit, MI	47.47	135	148	120
158	South Burlington, VT	47.40	59	141	163
159	Fremont, CA	47.32	141	134	138
160	Garland, TX	47.29	67	167	144
161	Montgomery, AL	47.23	65	120	170
162	Santa Rosa, CA	46.94	173	90	136
163	Greensboro, NC	46.81	42	121	179
164	Santa Ana, CA	46.72	170	166	56
165	Stockton, CA	46.66	120	179	102
166	Columbia, MD	46.37	88	140	169
167	Oakland, CA	46.05	178	112	103
168	Shreveport, LA	45.87	91	160	166
169	Lewiston, ME	45.55	87	171	158
170	San Bernardino, CA	45.41	174	181	54
171	Yonkers, NY	45.22	162	94	164
172	Philadelphia, PA	44.85	165	55	173
173	Pearl City, HI	44.45	146	182	124
174	Modesto, CA	44.35	137	177	145
175	Winston-Salem, NC	44.35	65	161	177
176	Moreno Valley, CA	44.29	160	180	117
177	Hialeah, FL	44.18	129	114	175
178	Laredo, TX	43.85	36	170	176
179	Warwick, RI	43.63	147	93	178
180	Pembroke Pines, FL	43.11	86	66	182
181	Brownsville, TX	40.98	71	159	181
182	Glendale, CA	38.96	161	129	180

artwork 2020 best worst cities for singles

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:

With the rise of dating apps — and therefore dates — what financial advice do you have targeted to singles on a budget?
What should singles be looking for when choosing a city?
Are singles typically a net economic gain or loss for cities?
Do you think virtual dating during the pandemic is a viable option for single people to save money and safely enjoy dating at the same time?
Should local authorities work to make cities more attractive to singles? If so, how?

Ask the Experts

: Amy B. Brunell
Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Psychology & Psychology Coordinator – The Ohio State University at Mansfield
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: Andrew High
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Communication Arts and Sciences – The Pennsylvania State University
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: Bella DePaulo
Ph.D. – Academic Affiliate, Psychological & Brain Sciences – University of California, Santa Barbara
Read More

: Liesel Sharabi
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Hugh Downs School of Human Communication – Arizona State University
Read More

: Riki Thompson
Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Language, Rhetoric, & Writing Studies – University of Washington Tacoma
Read More

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 32 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 (~1.67 Points)
Average Beer & Wine Price: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Average Cocktail Price: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Average Price for Two-Person Meal: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the average price of a basic two-person dinner in a neighborhood pub.
Movie Costs: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Average Price for Two Tickets to the Theater: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Taxi-Fare Cost: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Beauty-Salon Costs: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Haircut Costs: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Average Monthly Fitness-Club Fee: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Median Annual Household Income: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted by the cost of living.
Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~1.67 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 (~1.67 Points)
Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)
Overall Well-Being Index: Full Weight (~1.67 Points)

Fun & Recreation – Total Points: 25

WalletHub’s “States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions” Score: Triple Weight (~5.36 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub “States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions” ranking.
Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
Note: “Attractions” include, for instance, museums, cultural performances and zoos.
Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
Parks per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
Shopping Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
Wellness Centers & Spas per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
Fitness Centers per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
City Accessibility: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
Walkability: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
Weather: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.
Safety: Full Weight (~1.79 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 share of households with a broadband connection.
Mobile Dating Opportunities: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of adults who own a smartphone.
“Most Active Tinder Users” Ranking: Double Weight (~12.50 Points)

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, Esri's Updated Demographics - 2020 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.

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