Best & Worst Cities for Singles

Adam McCann , Financial WriterNov 12, 2019

Adam McCann , Financial Writer
Nov 12, 2019

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 $102.57. 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. That’s 111 million people total. 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 35 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.

1Main Findings 2Ask the Experts

3Methodology

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	Atlanta, GA	69.27	134	6	3
2	Denver, CO	66.19	124	16	4
3	San Francisco, CA	65.47	181	5	7
4	San Diego, CA	65.06	152	8	17
5	Portland, OR	64.54	133	13	13
6	Chicago, IL	64.29	176	4	22
7	Los Angeles, CA	63.87	177	14	8
8	Madison, WI	63.78	51	41	2
9	Seattle, WA	62.94	175	7	23
10	Portland, ME	62.26	107	35	9
11	Tucson, AZ	61.36	87	33	11
12	Minneapolis, MN	61.35	136	28	5
13	Pittsburgh, PA	61.33	99	19	28
14	Austin, TX	61.07	91	9	114
15	Rochester, NY	60.21	92	37	14
16	Honolulu, HI	60.19	145	11	65
17	Columbus, OH	60.14	44	36	29
18	Boston, MA	59.91	180	15	15
19	Tampa, FL	59.88	62	17	88
20	Richmond, VA	59.58	82	32	30
21	Cincinnati, OH	59.39	77	31	31
22	Reno, NV	59.30	37	49	19
23	Missoula, MT	59.19	64	100	6
24	Las Vegas, NV	59.15	117	3	156
25	Houston, TX	59.09	120	20	63
26	Salt Lake City, UT	58.96	52	34	46
27	Washington, DC	58.85	179	10	26
28	San Antonio, TX	58.80	42	24	76
29	Tempe, AZ	58.72	18	72	24
30	Fargo, ND	58.61	11	130	12
31	Burlington, VT	58.59	142	64	1
32	Phoenix, AZ	58.47	78	51	35
33	Miami, FL	58.37	167	2	130
34	St. Louis, MO	57.90	112	26	39
35	New York, NY	57.81	182	1	75
36	Grand Rapids, MI	57.76	31	55	47
37	Orlando, FL	57.39	103	12	148
38	Colorado Springs, CO	57.22	25	46	64
39	Columbia, SC	56.94	102	90	10
40	Virginia Beach, VA	56.45	39	27	112
41	Lexington-Fayette, KY	56.41	26	63	52
42	Raleigh, NC	56.38	58	47	62
43	St. Paul, MN	56.38	71	65	27
44	Tallahassee, FL	56.34	60	102	18
45	Fort Lauderdale, FL	56.23	130	22	83
46	Omaha, NE	56.02	27	44	98
47	Dallas, TX	55.88	113	23	118
48	Lincoln, NE	55.69	34	110	25
49	Charleston, SC	55.27	65	43	95
50	Boise, ID	55.18	33	71	58
51	Chandler, AZ	55.16	17	83	48
52	New Orleans, LA	55.06	157	21	80
53	Nashville, TN	54.50	104	29	101
54	Knoxville, TN	54.26	46	61	92
55	Scottsdale, AZ	54.12	88	30	122
56	Milwaukee, WI	54.10	96	57	60
57	Manchester, NH	54.03	114	107	16
58	Des Moines, IA	53.98	23	101	71
59	Buffalo, NY	53.63	122	42	78
60	Wilmington, DE	53.53	146	59	37
61	Sioux Falls, SD	53.45	9	115	69
62	Rapid City, SD	53.44	7	142	54
63	Sacramento, CA	53.40	150	38	59
64	Indianapolis, IN	53.33	54	56	111
65	Worcester, MA	53.17	125	92	32
66	Tacoma, WA	53.17	115	68	53
67	Lubbock, TX	52.93	22	134	61
68	Salem, OR	52.91	128	84	40
69	New Haven, CT	52.86	156	86	21
70	Charlotte, NC	52.78	100	39	120
71	San Jose, CA	52.71	171	45	36
72	Jacksonville, FL	52.58	50	48	137
73	Oklahoma City, OK	52.52	15	98	106
74	Fayetteville, NC	52.46	123	141	20
75	Baton Rouge, LA	52.36	137	60	50
76	Springfield, MO	52.34	8	116	131
77	Cleveland, OH	52.33	138	52	68
78	Norfolk, VA	52.31	95	81	56
79	Louisville, KY	52.31	69	50	128
80	Providence, RI	52.21	160	53	45
81	Baltimore, MD	52.09	163	25	94
82	Cedar Rapids, IA	52.05	12	127	116
83	Albuquerque, NM	52.04	110	58	86
84	West Valley City, UT	51.75	19	177	74
85	Huntington Beach, CA	51.72	141	79	43
86	Corpus Christi, TX	51.65	40	91	105
87	Wichita, KS	51.57	20	123	102
88	Fort Worth, TX	51.55	55	69	126
89	Mesa, AZ	51.41	13	96	119
90	Bismarck, ND	51.12	2	149	129
91	El Paso, TX	50.98	4	82	160
92	Long Beach, CA	50.97	165	62	41
93	Kansas City, MO	50.94	67	97	100
94	Anchorage, AK	50.91	143	70	57
95	Jersey City, NJ	50.88	168	67	38
96	Akron, OH	50.87	70	119	96
97	Oakland, CA	50.63	174	40	72
98	Glendale, AZ	50.51	48	155	67
99	Aurora, CO	50.43	63	106	92
100	Arlington, TX	50.41	56	140	90
101	St. Petersburg, FL	50.40	105	54	133
102	Riverside, CA	50.32	139	135	34
103	Irvine, CA	50.11	121	66	109
104	Tulsa, OK	50.06	29	104	136
105	Durham, NC	50.06	28	87	146
106	Newark, NJ	49.99	172	75	33
107	Fresno, CA	49.93	119	113	70
108	Birmingham, AL	49.89	85	108	108
109	Irving, TX	49.84	106	109	77
110	Augusta, GA	49.47	57	180	89
111	Oxnard, CA	49.29	118	163	49
112	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	49.29	131	142	55
113	Bridgeport, CT	49.14	151	118	66
114	Spokane, WA	49.07	116	80	123
114	Amarillo, TX	49.07	1	151	166
116	Anaheim, CA	49.07	140	94	73
117	Memphis, TN	49.02	72	95	132
118	Garden Grove, CA	48.91	159	139	51
119	Fort Wayne, IN	48.79	47	88	157
120	Santa Ana, CA	48.67	162	117	42
121	Oceanside, CA	48.61	144	93	91
122	Philadelphia, PA	48.60	169	18	168
123	Bakersfield, CA	48.36	101	126	104
124	Huntsville, AL	48.29	36	164	135
125	Cheyenne, WY	48.27	6	162	124
126	Columbus, GA	48.26	80	156	115
127	Fontana, CA	48.18	127	152	82
128	Plano, TX	48.16	21	76	165
129	Vancouver, WA	48.08	149	74	107
130	Mobile, AL	48.02	49	136	150
131	Greensboro, NC	47.93	14	85	169
132	San Bernardino, CA	47.87	161	168	44
133	Chesapeake, VA	47.75	24	144	143
134	Nashua, NH	47.74	45	112	149
135	Gilbert, AZ	47.67	3	145	153
136	Nampa, ID	47.66	41	176	87
137	Aurora, IL	47.63	153	125	79
138	Las Cruces, NM	47.56	61	173	103
139	Detroit, MI	47.52	148	78	113
140	Casper, WY	47.51	32	160	125
141	Newport News, VA	47.47	93	122	139
142	Overland Park, KS	47.23	35	114	158
143	Chattanooga, TN	47.22	79	89	161
144	Ontario, CA	47.12	126	150	97
145	Little Rock, AR	47.04	90	137	142
146	Jackson, MS	46.95	75	171	140
147	Toledo, OH	46.73	109	133	127
148	Henderson, NV	46.48	53	120	151
149	Santa Clarita, CA	46.47	147	157	85
150	Modesto, CA	46.36	74	169	144
151	Charleston, WV	46.08	86	129	134
152	Billings, MT	46.07	59	131	159
153	Juneau, AK	45.99	164	124	81
154	North Las Vegas, NV	45.72	72	182	84
155	Montgomery, AL	45.65	38	148	162
156	Stockton, CA	45.64	135	165	99
157	Grand Prairie, TX	45.45	68	175	138
158	Dover, DE	45.35	83	128	147
159	Santa Rosa, CA	45.16	178	73	121
160	Chula Vista, CA	44.92	158	138	110
161	Garland, TX	44.72	76	166	141
162	Port St. Lucie, FL	44.53	16	146	170
163	Fort Smith, AR	44.50	43	172	154
164	Huntington, WV	43.82	94	161	145
165	Peoria, AZ	43.81	10	167	172
166	Gulfport, MS	43.80	84	170	163
167	Fremont, CA	43.64	155	99	152
168	Lewiston, ME	43.64	97	153	155
169	Moreno Valley, CA	42.86	154	179	117
170	Laredo, TX	42.68	30	158	173
171	Cape Coral, FL	42.67	5	121	179
172	Warwick, RI	41.52	89	111	177
173	Hialeah, FL	41.43	129	147	167
174	Shreveport, LA	41.31	111	174	171
175	Winston-Salem, NC	41.13	98	159	176
176	Yonkers, NY	40.80	170	77	174
177	Columbia, MD	40.63	132	178	164
178	South Burlington, VT	39.23	81	105	181
179	Brownsville, TX	39.09	66	154	180
180	Glendale, CA	38.20	173	103	178
181	Pembroke Pines, FL	37.61	108	132	182
182	Pearl City, HI	36.50	166	181	175

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?
Should local authorities work to make cities more attractive to singles? If so, how?

Ask the Experts

: Daniel Roccato
Adjunct Assistant Professor – Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Read More

: Aditi Paul
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Communication Studies, Pace University
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 35 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 (~1.79 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)
Nightlife Options 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)
Social Clubs per Capita*: Full Weight (~1.79 Points)
Number of Music Festivals: 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)

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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 - 2019 estimates (Market Potential: GfK MRI), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Trust for Public Land, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Walk Score, Gallup-Healthways, Expatistan, Music Festival Wizard, Tinder and WalletHub research.

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