These cities offer singles the best chance at finding love

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(Photo by Joël SAGET / AFP) (Photo by JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images)

As the cost of dating climbs and nearly half of Americans over 15 remain unattached, WalletHub set out to determine which U.S. cities offer the best odds for singles searching for love.

By the numbers:

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that just over 49% of Americans age 15 and older are unmarried—whether they’ve never married, are divorced, or are widowed. Meanwhile, the cost of dating continues to climb as prices for dining out and other date-related activities rise.

Money is another common sticking point for couples, especially when it comes to revealing account balances or sharing transaction details with a partner.

Methodology:

WalletHub has released a new analysis identifying the best U.S. cities for singles, evaluating 182 cities nationwide — including the 150 largest and at least two major cities in every state. The study assessed each location across three major categories: Economics, Fun & Recreation, and Dating Opportunities.

Researchers scored cities using 35 metrics, each weighted and measured on a 100-point scale to reflect how favorable conditions are for singles. To prevent large cities from gaining an outsized advantage, population-based metrics used the square root of population size.

Cities were then ranked based on their weighted average scores, with results reflecting only the populations of the cities themselves, not their surrounding metro areas. The final rankings offer a data-driven look at where dating prospects, affordability, and social activities align most strongly for singles across the country.

What they're saying:

"The already difficult process of finding the perfect partner can be made even tougher when cities lack the conditions necessary to make dating successful." WalletHub Analyst Chip Lubo said. "The best cities for singles have large, gender-balanced single populations, along with a wide variety of indoor and outdoor, daytime and nighttime activities. They also have reasonable prices for dating activities or high average incomes to help ease the sting of inflation."

Best cities for singles 

Dig deeper:

Atlanta

Atlanta ranks as the best city in America for singles, thanks to its abundance of attractions, restaurants, and nightlife options that provide countless date-friendly venues. 

The city excels particularly in the number of shopping centers, spas, and social clubs per capita.

Singles in Atlanta also benefit from a notably large dating pool — roughly 70% of residents are unmarried, the ninth-highest share nationwide. Getting around for dates is relatively easy, too, with Atlanta placing 30th for transportation accessibility based on the share of residents who bike, walk, or use public transit. 

The city’s financial landscape is another plus: Atlanta boasts the 16th-highest median household income in the country, topping $85,000.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas may be famous for bachelor parties, but it’s also the second-best city for singles overall. The city offers some of the nation’s most diverse nightlife, along with an exceptionally high number of restaurants and attractions. It performs especially well in the availability of music festivals, spas, shopping centers, and social clubs.

Despite its reputation for extravagance, Las Vegas is more affordable for dating than many might expect, ranking in the lower half of cities for typical dating expenses. Grooming costs are particularly low: the city offers the cheapest haircuts in the country, the 12th-lowest fitness club membership fees, and the 64th-lowest beauty salon costs. Las Vegas also has the 37th-closest gender balance among singles. And if sparks fly, couples can even tie the knot with an Elvis impersonator officiating.

Tampa

Tampa earns the No. 3 spot for singles, backed by a wealth of attractions and dining options. The city shines in its number of social clubs, shopping centers, and coffee and tea shops, giving daters plenty of inviting spaces to meet and connect.

For those seeking financially stable partners, Tampa offers a solid outlook: with a median household income above $73,000 (adjusted for cost of living), it ranks 65th nationwide. Its coastal appeal and expanding job market draw a steady flow of professionals, enriching both the economy and the dating scene with ambitious, career-driven individuals.

Tampa also has a comparatively high concentration of single residents, along with the 13th-best gender balance among singles — further boosting opportunities to find a compatible match.