Spring is in the air, the weather is warming up, and it’s only a matter of time before summer is upon us. Maybe you’re in the market for a summer fling? A serious relationship? Whatever you’re looking for, the numbers are in your favor: among U.S. residents aged 18 or older, more than 53% of females and 46% of males are single, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. That makes for some 121 million unmarried men and women across the country.
But where are the best places for singles to meet other singles? We had the same question, so we did a little digging. Zumper analysts compared all 382 of the U.S. metro areas (as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget) across 5 key indicators: bars and restaurants, college degrees, internet use/access for dating apps, average rental prices, and, of course, singles in the area. We then graded each metro area in order to determine the best places to find that special someone. Behold: our list of the 10 best cities for singles.
Top 5 Cities For Singles
1. Boulder, CO Metro Area
Coming in at our number one spot is heavy-hitting Boulder. With a high percentage of singles, and an even higher percentage of people with college degrees, this city has some of the most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes in the country. Add to that a great bar scene– an incredible 31 establishments for every 1,000 people, or 809 total bars and restaurants–singles have no trouble finding each other out on the town. Cheers to you, Boulder.
2. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area
With colleges like Harvard, MIT, and Boston College calling this area home, it’s no surprise that it has some of the most tech-savvy singles in the nation. Singles here are taking advantage of the city’s high internet usage–a massive 82.6% of the population we tested use the internet–and swiping through dating apps to meet that special someone.
3. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Metro Area
This area is chock full of highly-educated singles, tons of them. In fact, for every 1,000 people, 337 of them have a bachelor degree or higher. Dating here means dinner on the waterfront, drinks, and a walk along the shores of the Long Island Sound–talk about a romantic first date. It’s also just an hour train ride from NYC, so if your date needs a little more adventure, you won’t have to look very far. With all of this to offer singles, it’s no wonder Bridgeport-Stamford is the number three place to find that summer fling or lifetime partner.
4. Champaign-Urbana, IL Metro Area
With reasonable rent prices and a high concentration of singles, Champaign-Urbana is a great place for dating. A one-bedroom costs you just $680 per month here, and less money spent on rent means more money for food, drinks, and entertainment on your dates. Plus, Champaign-Urbana is home to the University of Illinois, so there’s plenty to do on any given night in this college town. Catch the Fighting Illini take on a opponent on the gridiron or enjoy a concert at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
5. Pittsfield, MA Metro Area
If you’re looking for a high concentration of singles, look no further than Pittsfield. Of the 18-34 age bracket we analyzed, a whopping 83.2% are single. It has a great small town vibe and, with the Berkshire Mountains acting as the city’s backdrop, Pittsfield is a pretty romantic place to date. Have a picnic at Lake Onota or bring your date to one of the monthly, year-round arts festivals that take place downtown.
…And now, for the worst place to be single
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox Metro Area
Claiming our unfortunate title of the worst place for singles in the U.S. is Elizabethtown-Fort Knox. With just 61% of the population single, 15% of it holding a bachelor degree or higher, and just under 17 bars and restaurants per capita, this metro area is not ideal if you’re looking for love. On the bright side, Elizabethtown is chock full of historical sites and tours, and is just off the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Top 5 Cities for Single Men and Women
We also ranked the top 5 cities individually for men and women, with respect to the number of opposite sex singles with bachelor degrees in the city.
Where does your city rank? Check out our full rankings below.
| Rank | Metros | Single | Education | Restaurants & Bars | Access To Dating Apps | Rent | Overall Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder, CO Metro Area | 80% | 36% | 30.9 | 83% | $1,550 | A+ |
| 2 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metro Area | 79% | 41% | 29.2 | 84% | $2,300 | A+ |
| 3 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Metro Area | 78% | 34% | 29.7 | 82% | $1,160 | A+ |
| 4 | Champaign-Urbana, IL Metro Area | 81% | 30% | 28 | 77% | $680 | A |
| 5 | Pittsfield, MA Metro Area | 83% | 21% | 37.6 | 83% | $960 | A |
| 6 | New Haven-Milford, CT Metro Area | 81% | 29% | 27.1 | 82% | $1,390 | A |
| 7 | San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Metro Area | 77% | 41% | 32.4 | 81% | $3,400 | A |
| 8 | Trenton, NJ Metro Area | 80% | 27% | 26 | 82% | $950 | A |
| 9 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA Metro Area | 79% | 35% | 30.1 | 78% | $2,900 | A |
| 10 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY Metro Area | 81% | 29% | 28.9 | 78% | $1,050 | A |
| 11 | Binghamton, NY Metro Area | 80% | 22% | 27.2 | 78% | $550 | A |
| 12 | Fort Collins, CO Metro Area | 77% | 29% | 27.2 | 83% | $1,100 | A |
| 13 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metro Area | 80% | 33% | 26.7 | 79% | $1,420 | A |
| 14 | Barnstable Town, MA Metro Area | 79% | 23% | 46.8 | 83% | n/a | A |
| 15 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metro Area | 81% | 24% | 30.1 | 80% | $1,380 | A- |
| 16 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT Metro Area | 79% | 30% | 25.6 | 82% | $1,360 | A- |
| 17 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY Metro Area | 79% | 29% | 28.1 | 78% | $990 | A- |
| 18 | Syracuse, NY Metro Area | 80% | 24% | 27.8 | 78% | $850 | A- |
| 19 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metro Area | 80% | 26% | 26 | 81% | $2,250 | A- |
| 20 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metro Area | 80% | 31% | 25.1 | 79% | $1,470 | B+ |
| 21 | Worcester, MA-CT Metro Area | 79% | 26% | 24.6 | 82% | $1,270 | B+ |
| 22 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ Metro Area | 79% | 19% | 29.7 | 82% | $850 | B+ |
| 23 | Rochester, NY Metro Area | 79% | 26% | 25.8 | 78% | $820 | B+ |
| 24 | Norwich-New London, CT Metro Area | 77% | 22% | 27.3 | 82% | $950 | B+ |
| 25 | Kingston, NY Metro Area | 81% | 21% | 32.3 | 78% | $980 | B+ |
| 26 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metro Area | 77% | 19% | 29.7 | 78% | $680 | B+ |
| 27 | Lincoln, NE Metro Area | 73% | 27% | 26.8 | 78% | $610 | B+ |
| 28 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metro Area | 84% | 20% | 27 | 81% | $2,090 | B+ |
| 29 | Columbia, MO Metro Area | 77% | 32% | 27 | 73% | $550 | B+ |
| 30 | Iowa City, IA Metro Area | 77% | 33% | 28.2 | 75% | $990 | B |
| 31 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metro Area | 76% | 31% | 23.8 | 81% | $1,320 | B |
| 32 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA Metro Area | 80% | 21% | 28.2 | 76% | $700 | B |
| 33 | Bloomington, IL Metro Area | 75% | 27% | 24.8 | 77% | $580 | B |
| 34 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metro Area | 72% | 41% | 28.6 | 81% | $2,470 | B |
| 35 | Charlottesville, VA Metro Area | 76% | 32% | 24.9 | 79% | $1,120 | B |
| 36 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area | 81% | 19% | 27.6 | 81% | $1,210 | B |
| 37 | Gainesville, FL Metro Area | 84% | 27% | 22 | 78% | $820 | B |
| 38 | Springfield, IL Metro Area | 71% | 28% | 29 | 77% | $510 | B |
| 39 | Morgantown, WV Metro Area | 81% | 26% | 27.4 | 70% | $600 | B |
| 40 | Eugene, OR Metro Area | 79% | 17% | 28.2 | 81% | $760 | B |
| 41 | Madison, WI Metro Area | 75% | 38% | 28.5 | 77% | $1,200 | B |
| 42 | Erie, PA Metro Area | 78% | 24% | 24.7 | 76% | $570 | B |
| 43 | Springfield, MA Metro Area | 85% | 20% | 23.7 | 83% | $1,020 | B |
| 44 | Manchester-Nashua, NH Metro Area | 73% | 30% | 25.3 | 85% | $1,230 | B |
| 45 | Flagstaff, AZ Metro Area | 84% | 18% | 33.6 | 78% | $1,180 | B |
| 46 | Bellingham, WA Metro Area | 78% | 19% | 26.1 | 84% | $990 | B |
| 47 | Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area | 74% | 30% | 34.4 | 77% | $1,300 | B |
| 48 | Ann Arbor, MI Metro Area | 82% | 36% | 24.7 | 74% | $1,190 | B |
| 49 | Athens-Clarke County, GA Metro Area | 82% | 24% | 24.2 | 75% | $700 | B |
| 50 | Cleveland-Elyria, OH Metro Area | 77% | 26% | 25.3 | 76% | $730 | B |
| 51 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metro Area | 70% | 29% | 29.8 | 82% | $1,370 | B |
| 52 | Toledo, OH Metro Area | 77% | 20% | 26.9 | 76% | $530 | B |
| 53 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area | 69% | 33% | 29.1 | 84% | $1,890 | B |
| 54 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA Metro Area | 80% | 17% | 30.2 | 81% | $1,880 | B |
| 55 | Akron, OH Metro Area | 76% | 24% | 24.6 | 76% | $590 | B |
| 56 | Tallahassee, FL Metro Area | 84% | 23% | 21.2 | 78% | $700 | B |
| 57 | Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI Metro Area | 76% | 28% | 24.8 | 77% | $880 | B- |
| 58 | Salisbury, MD-DE Metro Area | 78% | 16% | 34 | 79% | $810 | B- |
| 59 | Wilmington, NC Metro Area | 77% | 24% | 32.1 | 74% | $880 | B- |
| 60 | San Diego-Carlsbad, CA Metro Area | 74% | 26% | 25.6 | 81% | $1,800 | B- |
| 61 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area | 76% | 23% | 24.5 | 79% | $1,040 | B- |
| 62 | Carbondale-Marion, IL Metro Area | 76% | 21% | 23.8 | 77% | $460 | B- |
| 63 | Pittsburgh, PA Metro Area | 75% | 33% | 26.1 | 76% | $1,050 | B- |
| 64 | Richmond, VA Metro Area | 77% | 27% | 23 | 79% | $1,050 | B- |
| 65 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area | 69% | 33% | 26.6 | 83% | $1,400 | B- |
| 66 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metro Area | 76% | 32% | 25.2 | 76% | $1,500 | B- |
| 67 | Glens Falls, NY Metro Area | 78% | 18% | 33.9 | 78% | $2,950 | C+ |
| 68 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Metro Area | 75% | 20% | 24.9 | 77% | $510 | C+ |
| 69 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area | 81% | 24% | 19.5 | 79% | $830 | C+ |
| 70 | Greenville, NC Metro Area | 81% | 21% | 24 | 74% | $510 | C+ |
| 71 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metro Area | 75% | 40% | 24.9 | 77% | $2,130 | C+ |
| 72 | Duluth, MN-WI Metro Area | 76% | 19% | 25.8 | 78% | $830 | C+ |
| 73 | Urban Honolulu, HI Metro Area | 70% | 24% | 28.4 | 82% | $1,700 | C+ |
| 74 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metro Area | 80% | 25% | 22 | 74% | $630 | C+ |
| 75 | Napa, CA Metro Area | 76% | 19% | 26.3 | 81% | $1,650 | C+ |
| 76 | Bloomington, IN Metro Area | 85% | 26% | 23.1 | 73% | $800 | C+ |
| 77 | Columbus, OH Metro Area | 72% | 30% | 24.3 | 76% | $670 | C+ |
| 78 | State College, PA Metro Area | 86% | 25% | 20.3 | 76% | $810 | C+ |
| 79 | Utica-Rome, NY Metro Area | 78% | 18% | 27.7 | 78% | n/a | C+ |
| 80 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metro Area | 81% | 22% | 22.8 | 78% | $1,730 | C+ |
| 81 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metro Area | 77% | 37% | 24.3 | 74% | $1,030 | C+ |
| 82 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metro Area | 77% | 23% | 23.5 | 74% | $600 | C+ |
| 83 | College Station-Bryan, TX Metro Area | 82% | 23% | 23.2 | 74% | $790 | C+ |
| 84 | Santa Rosa, CA Metro Area | 76% | 18% | 27.1 | 81% | $1,570 | C+ |
| 85 | Harrisonburg, VA Metro Area | 80% | 17% | 22.4 | 79% | $680 | C+ |
| 86 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area | 79% | 25% | 30.7 | 69% | $1,360 | C+ |
| 87 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area | 77% | 24% | 22.7 | 74% | $560 | C+ |
| 88 | Fargo, ND-MN Metro Area | 71% | 28% | 23.8 | 78% | $800 | C |
| 89 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Metro Area | 75% | 21% | 24.5 | 75% | $550 | C |
| 90 | Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI Metro Area | 74% | 17% | 32.6 | 82% | n/a | C |
| 91 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metro Area | 77% | 23% | 23.1 | 78% | $1,180 | C |
| 92 | Green Bay, WI Metro Area | 69% | 21% | 27.3 | 77% | $550 | C |
| 93 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metro Area | 80% | 22% | 23.4 | 73% | $650 | C |
| 94 | Bend-Redmond, OR Metro Area | 69% | 21% | 33.9 | 81% | $1,110 | C |
| 95 | St. Cloud, MN Metro Area | 75% | 17% | 23.8 | 80% | $620 | C |
| 96 | St. Louis, MO-IL Metro Area | 72% | 27% | 24.6 | 75% | $750 | C |
| 97 | Savannah, GA Metro Area | 73% | 22% | 29.9 | 75% | $920 | C |
| 98 | Austin-Round Rock, TX Metro Area | 73% | 32% | 26.1 | 74% | $1,160 | C |
| 99 | Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA Metro Area | 74% | 22% | 22.8 | 81% | $1,170 | C |
| 100 | Peoria, IL Metro Area | 69% | 24% | 25.6 | 77% | $660 | C |
| 101 | Johnstown, PA Metro Area | 76% | 19% | 23.8 | 76% | $560 | C |
| 102 | Appleton, WI Metro Area | 66% | 23% | 29 | 77% | $630 | C |
| 103 | Reno, NV Metro Area | 71% | 19% | 25.6 | 79% | $800 | C |
| 104 | East Stroudsburg, PA Metro Area | 82% | 17% | 23.3 | 76% | $760 | C- |
| 105 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metro Area | 72% | 25% | 24.6 | 76% | $820 | C- |
| 106 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA Metro Area | 76% | 19% | 22.7 | 81% | $1,740 | C- |
| 107 | Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metro Area | 76% | 17% | 23.2 | 76% | $490 | C- |
| 108 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metro Area | 70% | 34% | 23 | 78% | $1,390 | C- |
| 109 | Chico, CA Metro Area | 80% | 15% | 21.5 | 81% | $840 | C- |
| 110 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Metro Area | 69% | 22% | 26 | 76% | $610 | C- |
| 111 | Eau Claire, WI Metro Area | 73% | 19% | 29.6 | 77% | n/a | C- |
| 112 | Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL Metro Area | 76% | 17% | 25.4 | 78% | $1,400 | C- |
| 113 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metro Area | 76% | 19% | 22.2 | 78% | $800 | C- |
| 114 | Rochester, MN Metro Area | 63% | 33% | 24.5 | 80% | $990 | C- |
| 115 | Dayton, OH Metro Area | 74% | 21% | 22.7 | 76% | $660 | C- |
| 116 | Anchorage, AK Metro Area | 68% | 19% | 26.9 | 82% | $860 | C- |
| 117 | Medford, OR Metro Area | 72% | 13% | 28.6 | 81% | $680 | C- |
| 118 | Lexington-Fayette, KY Metro Area | 72% | 28% | 25.2 | 71% | $750 | C- |
| 119 | Lynchburg, VA Metro Area | 73% | 22% | 19.3 | 79% | $630 | C- |
| 120 | Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA Metro Area | 66% | 29% | 25.6 | 77% | $830 | C- |
| 121 | Jacksonville, FL Metro Area | 73% | 21% | 23.6 | 78% | $930 | C- |
| 122 | Janesville-Beloit, WI Metro Area | 71% | 16% | 26.9 | 77% | $560 | D+ |
| 123 | Canton-Massillon, OH Metro Area | 74% | 18% | 23.4 | 76% | $490 | D+ |
| 124 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metro Area | 74% | 27% | 23.5 | 75% | $1,430 | D+ |
| 125 | Bangor, ME Metro Area | 76% | 20% | 20.5 | 77% | $780 | D+ |
| 126 | Cedar Rapids, IA Metro Area | 66% | 25% | 24.9 | 75% | $530 | D+ |
| 127 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area | 76% | 22% | 20.4 | 78% | $1,140 | D+ |
| 128 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metro Area | 68% | 18% | 24.1 | 84% | $710 | D+ |
| 129 | Tucson, AZ Metro Area | 77% | 17% | 19.5 | 78% | $670 | D+ |
| 130 | Auburn-Opelika, AL Metro Area | 76% | 23% | 25.2 | 68% | $890 | D+ |
| 131 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area | 73% | 28% | 26.5 | 70% | $1,360 | D+ |
| 132 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area | 63% | 32% | 25.8 | 75% | $760 | D+ |
| 133 | Salinas, CA Metro Area | 76% | 13% | 25.1 | 81% | $1,430 | D+ |
| 134 | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV Metro Area | 74% | 16% | 25.1 | 79% | $910 | D+ |
| 135 | Niles-Benton Harbor, MI Metro Area | 71% | 19% | 26 | 74% | $580 | D+ |
| 136 | Sioux Falls, SD Metro Area | 63% | 28% | 26.1 | 75% | $750 | D+ |
| 137 | Rockford, IL Metro Area | 73% | 18% | 21.8 | 77% | $550 | D+ |
| 138 | Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metro Area | 72% | 20% | 25.5 | 76% | $1,090 | D+ |
| 139 | Salt Lake City, UT Metro Area | 61% | 23% | 24.4 | 83% | $1,020 | D+ |
| 140 | Billings, MT Metro Area | 67% | 20% | 29.4 | 75% | $600 | D+ |
| 141 | Greensboro-High Point, NC Metro Area | 76% | 21% | 22.9 | 74% | $680 | D+ |
| 142 | Roanoke, VA Metro Area | 70% | 21% | 22.3 | 79% | $770 | D+ |
| 143 | Wausau, WI Metro Area | 66% | 22% | 24.9 | 77% | $760 | D+ |
| 144 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metro Area | 70% | 27% | 24 | 73% | $680 | D+ |
| 145 | Reading, PA Metro Area | 76% | 18% | 21.6 | 76% | $600 | D |
| 146 | Lubbock, TX Metro Area | 75% | 19% | 23.3 | 74% | $590 | D |
| 147 | Pueblo, CO Metro Area | 72% | 12% | 23.2 | 83% | $590 | D |
| 148 | Wichita, KS Metro Area | 65% | 22% | 24.7 | 76% | $600 | D |
| 149 | Columbia, SC Metro Area | 78% | 23% | 21.6 | 70% | $800 | D |
| 150 | Raleigh, NC Metro Area | 69% | 35% | 24.4 | 74% | $1,010 | D |
| 151 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metro Area | 79% | 16% | 20.4 | 78% | $860 | D |
| 152 | Racine, WI Metro Area | 73% | 17% | 23.3 | 77% | $630 | D |
| 153 | Santa Fe, NM Metro Area | 76% | 20% | 27.8 | 67% | $1,350 | D |
| 154 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metro Area | 72% | 26% | 23.4 | 74% | $830 | D |
| 155 | Altoona, PA Metro Area | 73% | 19% | 25.8 | 76% | n/a | D |
| 156 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI Metro Area | 75% | 22% | 21.9 | 74% | $710 | D |
| 157 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC Metro Area | 75% | 16% | 36.3 | 72% | $850 | D |
| 158 | Panama City, FL Metro Area | 69% | 14% | 27.7 | 78% | $620 | D |
| 159 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Metro Area | 63% | 19% | 30.5 | 78% | $910 | D |
| 160 | Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Metro Area | 73% | 20% | 20.2 | 78% | $950 | D |
| 161 | Macon-Bibb County, GA Metro Area | 78% | 16% | 22.4 | 75% | $780 | D |
| 162 | Olympia-Tumwater, WA Metro Area | 65% | 20% | 23.1 | 84% | $1,030 | D |
| 163 | Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ Metro Area | 82% | 11% | 18.8 | 82% | $880 | D |
| 164 | Asheville, NC Metro Area | 69% | 24% | 26 | 74% | $1,050 | D |
| 165 | Saginaw, MI Metro Area | 77% | 16% | 21.6 | 74% | $560 | D |
| 166 | Valdosta, GA Metro Area | 74% | 13% | 23.9 | 75% | $500 | D- |
| 167 | York-Hanover, PA Metro Area | 70% | 21% | 20.7 | 76% | $610 | D- |
| 168 | Huntsville, AL Metro Area | 70% | 26% | 22.2 | 68% | $540 | D- |
| 169 | Hattiesburg, MS Metro Area | 75% | 21% | 23.6 | 61% | $780 | D- |
| 170 | Provo-Orem, UT Metro Area | 53% | 21% | 17.8 | 83% | $430 | D- |
| 171 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metro Area | 78% | 15% | 21 | 78% | n/a | D- |
| 172 | Colorado Springs, CO Metro Area | 62% | 21% | 22 | 83% | $870 | D- |
| 173 | North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metro Area | 76% | 16% | 21.9 | 78% | n/a | D- |
| 174 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metro Area | 72% | 27% | 22.9 | 72% | $1,150 | D- |
| 175 | Springfield, MO Metro Area | 68% | 20% | 23.9 | 73% | $480 | D- |
| 176 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL Metro Area | 76% | 18% | 17.8 | 78% | $860 | D- |
| 177 | Baton Rouge, LA Metro Area | 76% | 21% | 21.7 | 69% | $900 | D- |
| 178 | Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area | 68% | 29% | 22.5 | 75% | $960 | D- |
| 179 | Jackson, MS Metro Area | 75% | 22% | 22.1 | 61% | $810 | D- |
| 180 | Winchester, VA-WV Metro Area | 71% | 20% | 23.9 | 74% | $900 | D- |
| 181 | Rapid City, SD Metro Area | 64% | 18% | 28.7 | 75% | $770 | F |
| 182 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metro Area | 70% | 25% | 20.5 | 74% | $850 | F |
| 183 | Bismarck, ND Metro Area | 63% | 26% | 21.4 | 76% | $750 | F |
| 184 | Flint, MI Metro Area | 76% | 15% | 20.4 | 74% | $580 | F |
| 185 | Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metro Area | 75% | 15% | 19.8 | 81% | $1,380 | F |
| 186 | Wheeling, WV-OH Metro Area | 73% | 17% | 24.1 | 73% | $690 | F |
| 187 | Terre Haute, IN Metro Area | 72% | 14% | 24.6 | 73% | $500 | F |
| 188 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Metro Area | 69% | 30% | 23.9 | 70% | $1,310 | F |
| 189 | Grand Junction, CO Metro Area | 67% | 14% | 21.9 | 83% | $570 | F |
| 190 | Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC Metro Area | 72% | 22% | 23.9 | 70% | $940 | F |
| 191 | Salem, OR Metro Area | 69% | 14% | 23.8 | 81% | $860 | F |
| 192 | Fresno, CA Metro Area | 76% | 13% | 19.2 | 81% | $900 | F |
| 193 | Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area | 66% | 23% | 24.6 | 71% | $680 | F |
| 194 | Bremerton-Silverdale, WA Metro Area | 69% | 17% | 21.5 | 84% | $1,100 | F |
| 195 | Topeka, KS Metro Area | 65% | 21% | 20.3 | 76% | $540 | F |
| 196 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metro Area | 68% | 25% | 23.4 | 74% | $1,300 | F |
| 197 | Coeur d'Alene, ID Metro Area | 66% | 14% | 27.9 | 77% | $770 | F |
| 198 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metro Area | 66% | 16% | 26.2 | 76% | $760 | F |
| 199 | Redding, CA Metro Area | 70% | 13% | 21 | 81% | $690 | F |
| 200 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metro Area | 71% | 19% | 22.9 | 74% | $880 | F |
| 201 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area | 77% | 20% | 19 | 65% | $660 | F |
| 202 | Port St. Lucie, FL Metro Area | 77% | 13% | 20 | 78% | $1,010 | F |
| 203 | Fort Wayne, IN Metro Area | 67% | 21% | 22.3 | 73% | $540 | F |
| 204 | Tuscaloosa, AL Metro Area | 79% | 19% | 18.6 | 68% | $740 | F |
| 205 | Albany, GA Metro Area | 80% | 10% | 17.5 | 75% | $390 | F |
| 206 | Merced, CA Metro Area | 75% | 9% | 14.9 | 81% | $580 | F |
| 207 | Boise City, ID Metro Area | 65% | 21% | 23 | 77% | $910 | F |
| 208 | Evansville, IN-KY Metro Area | 68% | 20% | 23.5 | 72% | $600 | F |
| 209 | Battle Creek, MI Metro Area | 75% | 13% | 21.4 | 74% | $570 | F |
| 210 | Lafayette, LA Metro Area | 73% | 18% | 24.2 | 69% | $820 | F |
| 211 | Ogden-Clearfield, UT Metro Area | 52% | 19% | 19.1 | 83% | $710 | F |
| 212 | St. George, UT Metro Area | 57% | 14% | 23.4 | 83% | $710 | F |
| 213 | Kennewick-Richland, WA Metro Area | 64% | 15% | 21.4 | 84% | $730 | F |
| 214 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metro Area | 71% | 24% | 22.4 | 72% | n/a | F |
| 215 | Yakima, WA Metro Area | 69% | 9% | 20.6 | 84% | $590 | F |
| 216 | Jackson, MI Metro Area | 75% | 14% | 18.5 | 74% | $500 | F |
| 217 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL Metro Area | 67% | 20% | 26.9 | 68% | $820 | F |
| 218 | Burlington, NC Metro Area | 72% | 16% | 22.7 | 74% | $730 | F |
| 219 | Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metro Area | 69% | 23% | 22.1 | 74% | $1,290 | F |
| 220 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metro Area | 75% | 13% | 18.4 | 81% | $1,200 | F |
| 221 | Albuquerque, NM Metro Area | 74% | 19% | 20.8 | 67% | $630 | F |
| 222 | Idaho Falls, ID Metro Area | 50% | 18% | 24.2 | 77% | $780 | F |
| 223 | Muskegon, MI Metro Area | 74% | 11% | 21.7 | 74% | $550 | F |
| 224 | Springfield, OH Metro Area | 74% | 12% | 18.6 | 76% | $510 | F |
| 225 | Dover, DE Metro Area | 74% | 16% | 16 | 77% | $890 | F |
| 226 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Metro Area | 74% | 17% | 21.1 | 69% | $610 | F |
| 227 | Waco, TX Metro Area | 74% | 16% | 21.9 | 74% | $880 | F |
| 228 | Montgomery, AL Metro Area | 74% | 19% | 20.4 | 68% | $740 | F |
| 229 | Jefferson City, MO Metro Area | 70% | 18% | 20 | 73% | $420 | F |
| 230 | Florence, SC Metro Area | 77% | 14% | 20.8 | 70% | $660 | F |
| 231 | Punta Gorda, FL Metro Area | 80% | 11% | 16.8 | 78% | $1,600 | F |
| 232 | Corpus Christi, TX Metro Area | 70% | 14% | 26 | 74% | $860 | F |
| 233 | Modesto, CA Metro Area | 73% | 11% | 19.8 | 81% | $880 | F |
| 234 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC Metro Area | 69% | 17% | 30.9 | 70% | $1,310 | F |
| 235 | Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area | 79% | 11% | 17.4 | 74% | $440 | F |
| 236 | Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL Metro Area | 76% | 11% | 20.7 | 78% | n/a | F |
| 237 | Stockton-Lodi, CA Metro Area | 73% | 11% | 18.8 | 81% | $840 | F |
| 238 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL Metro Area | 76% | 13% | 14.2 | 78% | $810 | F |
| 239 | Charleston, WV Metro Area | 68% | 20% | 22.5 | 70% | $600 | F |
| 240 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metro Area | 69% | 17% | 20.6 | 76% | $650 | F |
| 241 | Jackson, TN Metro Area | 73% | 16% | 21.8 | 70% | $740 | F |
| 242 | Tulsa, OK Metro Area | 64% | 20% | 23.4 | 71% | $600 | F |
| 243 | Lancaster, PA Metro Area | 66% | 20% | 21.1 | 76% | $890 | F |
| 244 | Ocala, FL Metro Area | 77% | 10% | 14.5 | 78% | $900 | F |
| 245 | Amarillo, TX Metro Area | 65% | 15% | 24.9 | 74% | $630 | F |
| 246 | Chattanooga, TN-GA Metro Area | 69% | 20% | 21.7 | 73% | $770 | F |
| 247 | El Centro, CA Metro Area | 76% | 10% | 17.1 | 81% | n/a | F |
| 248 | Prescott, AZ Metro Area | 67% | 13% | 23.7 | 78% | $950 | F |
| 249 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ Metro Area | 75% | 8% | 18.1 | 78% | $790 | F |
| 250 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metro Area | 68% | 22% | 21.9 | 64% | $730 | F |
| 251 | Jonesboro, AR Metro Area | 68% | 19% | 23.3 | 64% | $580 | F |
| 252 | Winston-Salem, NC Metro Area | 71% | 21% | 20.8 | 74% | n/a | F |
| 253 | Johnson City, TN Metro Area | 68% | 23% | 20.3 | 70% | $790 | F |
| 254 | Bakersfield, CA Metro Area | 71% | 9% | 18.5 | 81% | $760 | F |
| 255 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO Metro Area | 61% | 23% | 23.5 | 69% | $810 | F |
| 256 | Greeley, CO Metro Area | 61% | 17% | 18.5 | 83% | $800 | F |
| 257 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ Metro Area | 69% | 14% | 19.1 | 78% | $640 | F |
| 258 | Visalia-Porterville, CA Metro Area | 71% | 9% | 16.5 | 81% | $660 | F |
| 259 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metro Area | 75% | 14% | 23.6 | 73% | n/a | F |
| 260 | The Villages, FL Metro Area | 80% | 6% | 10.2 | 78% | n/a | F |
| 261 | Warner Robins, GA Metro Area | 71% | 13% | 20.3 | 75% | $560 | F |
| 262 | Knoxville, TN Metro Area | 70% | 21% | 19.4 | 70% | $770 | F |
| 263 | Bowling Green, KY Metro Area | 71% | 17% | 20.2 | 71% | $650 | F |
| 264 | Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metro Area | 69% | 23% | 20.6 | 68% | $990 | F |
| 265 | El Paso, TX Metro Area | 68% | 16% | 22.2 | 74% | $630 | F |
| 266 | Wichita Falls, TX Metro Area | 70% | 13% | 22.1 | 74% | $650 | F |
| 267 | Abilene, TX Metro Area | 69% | 13% | 21.6 | 74% | $550 | F |
| 268 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metro Area | 72% | 18% | 18.8 | 72% | $710 | F |
| 269 | Lebanon, PA Metro Area | 69% | 16% | 18.9 | 76% | $650 | F |
| 270 | Homosassa Springs, FL Metro Area | 78% | 7% | 15.3 | 78% | n/a | F |
| 271 | Tyler, TX Metro Area | 68% | 17% | 21.7 | 74% | $810 | F |
| 272 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA Metro Area | 70% | 9% | 13.9 | 81% | $780 | F |
| 273 | Columbus, GA-AL Metro Area | 71% | 17% | 20.6 | 72% | $800 | F |
| 274 | Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA Metro Area | 66% | 17% | 18.9 | 76% | $660 | F |
| 275 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metro Area | 68% | 17% | 19.7 | 72% | $590 | F |
| 276 | Monroe, MI Metro Area | 68% | 16% | 18.6 | 74% | $590 | F |
| 277 | Mobile, AL Metro Area | 73% | 18% | 18.2 | 68% | $810 | F |
| 278 | Hammond, LA Metro Area | 75% | 14% | 20.2 | 69% | $970 | F |
| 279 | Midland, TX Metro Area | 60% | 19% | 22.8 | 74% | $1,170 | F |
| 280 | Joplin, MO Metro Area | 61% | 16% | 22.5 | 73% | $480 | F |
| 281 | Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS Metro Area | 70% | 14% | 23.6 | 61% | $730 | F |
| 282 | Madera, CA Metro Area | 73% | 6% | 13.3 | 81% | n/a | F |
| 283 | Las Cruces, NM Metro Area | 73% | 15% | 16.9 | 67% | $620 | F |
| 284 | Spartanburg, SC Metro Area | 72% | 16% | 20.1 | 70% | $980 | F |
| 285 | Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA Metro Area | 62% | 16% | 20.7 | 74% | $640 | F |
| 286 | Dothan, AL Metro Area | 71% | 14% | 22.4 | 68% | $830 | F |
| 287 | Longview, TX Metro Area | 66% | 11% | 23 | 74% | $620 | F |
| 288 | Jacksonville, NC Metro Area | 50% | 11% | 23.9 | 74% | $450 | F |
| 289 | Lawton, OK Metro Area | 67% | 14% | 20.7 | 71% | $410 | F |
| 290 | St. Joseph, MO-KS Metro Area | 71% | 14% | 19.9 | 75% | n/a | F |
| 291 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metro Area | 68% | 14% | 21.6 | 68% | $500 | F |
| 292 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX Metro Area | 70% | 11% | 19.7 | 74% | $670 | F |
| 293 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX Metro Area | 69% | 13% | 18.7 | 74% | $590 | F |
| 294 | Monroe, LA Metro Area | 74% | 14% | 18.5 | 69% | $960 | F |
| 295 | Fayetteville, NC Metro Area | 62% | 16% | 20.3 | 74% | $650 | F |
| 296 | Yuma, AZ Metro Area | 62% | 10% | 16.4 | 78% | $590 | F |
| 297 | Laredo, TX Metro Area | 70% | 12% | 19.1 | 74% | $790 | F |
| 298 | Yuba City, CA Metro Area | 63% | 10% | 16.3 | 81% | $790 | F |
| 299 | Houma-Thibodaux, LA Metro Area | 70% | 13% | 20.4 | 69% | $750 | F |
| 300 | Clarksville, TN-KY Metro Area | 53% | 17% | 19.3 | 71% | $600 | F |
| 301 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metro Area | 67% | 13% | 15.6 | 74% | $530 | F |
| 302 | Killeen-Temple, TX Metro Area | 56% | 13% | 19.3 | 74% | $500 | F |
| 303 | Lake Charles, LA Metro Area | 69% | 14% | 21.4 | 69% | $1,030 | F |
| 304 | Alexandria, LA Metro Area | 72% | 12% | 16.8 | 69% | $720 | F |
| 305 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN Metro Area | 64% | 11% | 21.1 | 73% | $660 | F |
| 306 | Beckley, WV Metro Area | 69% | 16% | 17.3 | 70% | $840 | F |
| 307 | Gainesville, GA Metro Area | 68% | 12% | 17.5 | 75% | $1,000 | F |
| 308 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metro Area | 70% | 12% | 19.5 | 74% | n/a | F |
| 309 | Odessa, TX Metro Area | 63% | 11% | 21.5 | 74% | $1,080 | F |
| 310 | New Bern, NC Metro Area | 57% | 12% | 18.9 | 74% | $600 | F |
| 311 | Decatur, AL Metro Area | 63% | 12% | 17 | 68% | $520 | F |
| 312 | Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro Area | 62% | 11% | 18.2 | 68% | $450 | F |
| 313 | Texarkana, TX-AR Metro Area | 69% | 10% | 20.2 | 69% | n/a | F |
| 314 | Dalton, GA Metro Area | 63% | 9% | 17.2 | 75% | n/a | F |
| 315 | Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metro Area | 61% | 15% | 16.7 | 71% | n/a | F |
Methodology
To determine the best cities for singles (18-35), we analyzed data from all 382 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) across the United States on five key metrics. These metrics included:
- Percentage of single men and women – American Community Survey 2012-2016 5-year estimates
- Percentage of men and women with a bachelor’s degree or higher – American Community Survey 2012-2016 5-year estimates
- Number of restaurants and bars per capita – County Business Patterns: 2015 Business Patterns
- Dating app accessibility (percentage of households with a broadband internet subscription as a proxy) – American Community Survey Reports, Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2015
- Median 1 bedroom rent – data from Zumper
Each metro area then received a rank and weighted score for each metric. In terms of weightings, the percentage of single men and women accounted for 25% of the final score, percentage of men and women with a bachelor’s degree or higher for 25%, restaurants and bars per capita and dating app accessibility for 20% each and median 1 bedroom rent for 10%. This means that if a city was ranked at #1 for the percentage of single men and women, the city received the full score for that metric (25 points). The final rankings were determined by adding up each city’s weighted scores to see who scored highest overall.
For the best cities for dating men / women ranks, we scored the percentage single and percentage with a bachelor’s degree or higher with respect to that gender. For example, in our best cities for dating women rank, metros with more single women or more women with bachelor’s degrees or higher earned better scores in those categories. The remaining three metrics (restaurants and bars, dating app access, rent) were untouched with regards to gender specificity.
To convert scores into letter grades, all the metros were adjusted on a curve so that the top scoring city received the highest mark, an A+.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
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