Dating in the U.S. has transformed dramatically over the past few decades. Twenty years ago, most couples met through friends, colleagues or in person at bars and restaurants. Today, over half of heterosexuals meet online, according to a 2017 Stanford study. Dating digitally can come with its own challenges, though. A Pew Research Center report from 2023 found that nearly half of dating app or website users have had negative experiences.
While online dating has become pretty ubiquitous across the country, people’s personal experiences still vary significantly based on where they live. Some cities are better suited for singles thanks to abundant date venues, large single populations and affordability. Yahoo analyzed the data to rank the best metropolitan areas (with populations of at least 500,000) for dating and identified where singles may be left endlessly swiping.
Score methodology
Mingle score (55% of score):
Unmarried population, ages 20-54 (35%)
Gender balance of unmarried population, ages 20-54 (20%)
Dating spot score (35% of score):
Restaurants, bars, cafes, museums and movie theaters per 100,000 people (30%)
Share of people who live alone (5%)
Cost of dating score (10% of score):
Regional price parities for services, including dining out (5%)
Median income for nonfamily households (5%)
New Orleans beats out many larger cities thanks to its large single population and high density of date spots. Rounding out the top three are Toledo, Ohio, and New Haven, Conn. — both of which boast high mingle and dating venue scores. The Northeast dominates the rest of the top 10, with New York City in the No. 4 spot. At the bottom of the list are two Utah metro areas: Ogden and Provo. With a high Mormon population, these areas have a younger marriage age and a lower divorce rate, making them home to fewer singles than other cities. Nearby, Colorado Springs, Colo., ranks third to last, driven by a skewed ratio of 80 single women for every 100 single men. The total scores for tech industry cities like San Jose, Calif., Seattle and San Francisco are also dragged down by a higher number of single men compared to single women.
