The Best Cities for Singles

With summer approaching, summer flings on our minds! However, the dating game is becoming increasingly complicated as dating app culture becomes the norm. Meeting new people has become easier than ever before, but meeting the right person is just as much of a challenge as it’s ever been.

What if we told you that the challenges of dating were in part due to where you live? If you’re tired of endless swiping, lackluster coffee dates, and want to finally find “the one,” there are some cities where your odds may be better.

On Valentine’s Day, we released our rankings for the best and worst cities for dating and found some interesting results.

So, if you are single and ready to mingle, here are some places to check out.

Ranking Methodology

1. Dating Satisfaction (40%): We looked at how satisfied renters are with dating opportunities in their city. In Apartment List’s Annual Renter Satisfaction Survey, we asked renters: “How satisfied are you with opportunities for dating in your current city.” 

2. Social Satisfaction (20%): We looked at how satisfied renters are with social life in their city. In Apartment List’s Annual Renter Satisfaction Survey, renters were asked: “How satisfied are you with social life in your current city?” 

3. Dating Affordability (20%): How could we quantify the best city for singles without looking at how much a date costs? We assumed that the more affordable it is to go out, the more dates a person can set up without breaking the bank. This statistic looks at the average price of two movie tickets and a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant compared to median earnings. Median earnings for full-time, year-round workers with earnings were taken from the Census Bureau American Community Survey 2017 and adjusted using yearly inflation rate.

4. Percentage of Singles (20%): The percentage of singles in each city is taken from the Census Bureau American Community Survey.

Atlanta is the Best Place for Singles

If you’re a struggling single looking for companionship, consider stopping by Atlanta. The ATL tops our rankings, reporting sky-high scores for dating satisfaction and social satisfaction. Atlanta also received a big bump for their percentage of singles score. In a lively city known for its music scene, sports teams, and to-die-for food, the date options are endless.

Madison is the Second Best Place for Singles

The Capital of Wisconsin comes in as the second-best city for singles. Although Madison ranks near the top in dating and social satisfaction, the percentage of singles in the area is lower than most top-ranking cities, at 62%. Your dating pool may not be as deep as you’ll find in other cities, but the city has tons to offer those looking to get in the mix.

From brewery tours to University of Wisconsin football games, the city gives many reasons to get off the couch and into the dating scene. And all can be done at a cheap price. Madison's date affordability score helped boost them to 2nd.

Washington, D.C. is the Third Best Place for Singles

With solid statistics across the board, Washington, D.C. gets our bronze medal for best cities for singles. However, in terms of dating satisfaction, we found a bit of a gender disparity among D.C. singles. 53% of men in D.C. reported being satisfied with dating opportunities, compared to just 31% of women.

Arlington and Alexandria are Great Places for Singles

Across the Potomac River, neighboring cities Arlington, VA, and Alexandria, VA come in at fifth and tenth respectively on our report. So if you’re single and ready to mingle, maybe it’s time to take a trip to our nation’s capital and experience the single life or travel just south to see what NOVA has to offer.

California isn’t a Good Place for Singles

No California cities landed in our top 10. However, four California cities make up the bottom five. Stockton, CA is the lowest-ranked city for singles on our list. Anaheim, Bakersfield, and San Bernardino rank third, fourth, and fifth-lowest, respectively. Apparently, it’s not always good times and sunshine for singles in Southern California.

San Francisco is the Best Place for Singles in California

In Northern California, things look a little better. Although Sacramento fell in the bottom 20 of scores, the Bay Area is looking promising for singles. San Francisco is the highest-ranking California city on our list, coming in at #17.

East Coast Cities Aren’t the Best Place for Singles

Outside of the California cities, the remaining cities in the bottom 10 take us back east. Fayetteville, NC comes in as our second-lowest city for singles. Norfolk, VA, and Buffalo, NY also fall in the bottom ten. All of these cities reported lackluster scores dating satisfaction.

Two Connecticut cities, Hartford and Waterbury, round out our bottom 10. Hartford recorded the lowest overall score for dating satisfaction, while Waterbury scored the lowest for social satisfaction. Norfolk residents can head three hours north to D.C. and Arlington, which both land in our top 10. Fayetteville may rank second lowest, but Charlotte and Raleigh are in the top 33.

Best Cities for Singles Data

If your city ranks low, check out the full data below. A neighboring city may be calling your name.