Going on dates can be a costly, time-consuming, soul-sucking experience. The average cost to take a potential sweetie on a date can cost people up to $102.32 per date! Because the cost-of-living can vary widely from state-to-state and city-to-city, where you live can determine how much you're spending as you're looking for love.
If you step out to join the dating scene in your city, you quickly learn that there will always be trade-offs searching for your soulmate. While more entertainment choices and a low cost of living might be appealing, it's possible that area might have a fewer number of single/potential mates out there for you. About 45 percent of the U.S. adult population is unmarried (never married, divorced or widowed), which means there really are plenty of fish in the sea - but the percentage of how single a city is can vary widely. The ratio of single men to women can also vary depending on where you live.
Fortunately, WalletHub has put together a list of the best (and worst) cities for singles in 2018 to help you cut through all the confusion. Cities like Atlanta, GA, Denver, CO, and San Francisco, CA, came out on top for singles searching for their soulmates. The news is less encouraging for those single folks who reside in Hileah, FL, Pembroke Pines, FL, and Brownsville, TX, three cities that are the worst for singles in 2018 according to WalletHub's list.
If you're all about having a favorable percentage of singles (in case you have a bad habit of accidentally hitting on married folk), cities with the highest percentage of singles are currently living their best lives in Detroit, MI, Wilmington, DE, Rochester, NY, Burlington, VT, and Cleveland, OH.
On the other hand, there aren't that many people available for dating in Overland Park, KS, Pearl City, HI, Gilbert, AZ, Plano, TX and Fremont, CA. One reason may be because those cities are often considered suburban 'bedroom communities' where married adults go off to live and have children. It makes some logical sense then why those cities would have fewer singles available.
If you're the shy sort, the best online-dating opportunities can be found in Gilbert, AZ, Plano, TX, and Fremont, CA. Two of those cities also had the lowest percentage of singles in the area, so it makes sense that people would expand their dating choices by trying to find love online.
But, if you're the outgoing sort and like heading out for a night on the town for your dates, there's plenty of opportunities for you in New York City, NY, Las Vegas, NV and San Francisco, CA. The top three cities tied for first in WalletHub's survey of cities with the best nightlife options for singles in 2018.
There's plenty of ways for you to meet other singles when moving to a new city, but Professor Glenn Geher says singles with strong social connections are the most likely to find someone to settle down with.
"Having a solid friend group provides networking opportunities to meet potential dates," Professor Geher said. "So choosing a place to which you have substantial social connections is usually a good idea. Also, choosing a city that includes a high proportion of others with similar interests and values to oneself can help."
University of Montana Professor Stephen Yoshimura agrees. "Similarity is a powerful predictor of attraction, so you want to live in a city where a lot of people who enjoy doing the same kinds of things you do also live. So look for places that offer a wealth of activities that you most enjoy, because the other people who live there will probably be a lot like you."
WalletHub was able to determine the best cities for singles after examining 182 cities across these three key dimensions:
How much an average date costs. What opportunities for fun and recreation are available. The amount of singles in the area, or dating opportunities.
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