The best cities for dating in 2025

The digital age has overhauled how we form romantic connections, providing more ways to meet new people, yet more and more Americans report feelings of loneliness and isolation.
While dating apps and continued population growth over recent decades have vastly expanded the pool of prospective romantic partners in and around the U.S., the percentage of one-person households has exploded over the past 60 years, from 13% in 1960 to 29% in 2022.
For those still searching for love, you might not be looking, or living, in the right place. Whether you’re deciding to settle down or move to a new city to find romance and connection, certain cities provide more opportunities than others to meet other singles.
The ConsumerAffairs Research Team analyzed the 150 most populous U.S. cities for dating opportunities, cost of living, quality of life and dating interest to determine which cities provide the best environment for singles to explore romantic relationships. See our methodology below to learn more.
Rochester, New York, ranks as the best large U.S. city for dating, with the second-highest population of single people and above-average scores across all categories.
Jump to insightBrownsville, Texas, ranks as the worst city for dating, with low levels of dating interest, few singles and low marks for quality of life.
Jump to insightSeven out of the 10 best cities for dating are located in the Northeast.
Jump to insightSeveral major cities, like Los Angeles (No. 48) and New York City (59), scored lower despite good marks for quality of life and ample dating interest because of their high costs of living.
Jump to insightThe five best cities for dating
Meeting new people isn’t always easy, especially amid a quickly evolving dating landscape. From dating apps to social events, finding romance can be tricky no matter where you live, but these cities offer singles the best opportunities to meet someone special.
1. Rochester, New York
69.63 out of 100
While Rochester may not stand out like New York City as a place known for romance, it balances a high percentage of singles and ample opportunities for social connection with affordability in a way like few other cities. Upstate New York has evidently attracted a robust population of singles, as nearby Buffalo (No. 6 overall) is also home to a high share of unmarried people.
- Many singles ready to mingle: Rochester has the second-highest ratio of single residents, at 682 out of every 1,000 people.
- Strong affordability: Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $857, one of the lowest among major cities.
- Good quality of life: Nearly 90% of the population lives within a 10-minute walk of a green space.
2. Providence, Rhode Island
69.03 out of 100
Despite a more expensive cost of living than several other high-ranking cities, Providence scored highly across nearly all categories, with its large population of singles and great quality of life. The city is also notable for its diversity and inclusivity, ranking second in our list of the nation’s most LGBTQ-friendly cities last year.
- Parks, drinks and fun: Providence ranks second in our quality of life metric, with a large number of museums, parks that put 99% of residents within walking distance of green space and a low rate of violent crime (3.4 crimes per 1,000 people).
- Lots of singles: For every 1,000 people in Providence, 619 have never been married or are divorced, which puts the city at 17th out of 150 in dating opportunites.
- High dating interest: Our analysis of Google search volumes found that Providence is a hot spot for people searching dating apps, particularly LGBTQ-focused Grindr. Overall, Providence ranks 15th in our dating interest metric.
3. Newark, New Jersey
67.25 out of 100
Just 10 miles from New York City, Newark scores highly for being a walkable city with many restaurants. Like many other cities around the Northeastern part of the country where competitive job industries attract many young professionals, Newark is home to a large population of singles.
- Restaurants, greenery — all within walking distance: Newark ranks sixth in our list for quality of life due to a large number of restaurants and its ranking as one of the most walkable cities.
- Online dating draws interest: With high Google search volumes for dating apps, especially Hinge, Newark finished 11th in dating interest.
- Costly housing near NYC: Newark is in the top five despite ranking in the bottom five in median income among one-person households. Newark is 119th in the cost of living category.
4. Madison, Wisconsin
67.20 out of 100
Madison ranks among the best in both the dating opportunities category (10th) and quality of life (14th). Of the top five cities overall, Wisconsin’s capital city has the closest balance of males and females. There is widespread interest in dating apps and a lively social scene, including a large number of bars and green spaces for outdoor activities.
- Drinks galore: With more than 32 bars and drinking establishments per 100,000 people, Madison has more readily available alcohol than almost every other major city, with the exception of New Orleans.
- Affordable living: Madison is the only city in the top five that also ranks in the top 50 for cost of living, due to its relatively high median income in single-person households ($48,291).
5. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
67.14 out of 100
In Pittsburgh, a city known for its blue-collar workers and sports culture, a large population of singles and lots of opportunities for recreation provide a ripe environment for dating. The city is home to several colleges and universities that bring more young singles into the dating pool.
- Living single: Pittsburgh ranks 14th for the most singles; nearly 630 people per 1,000 have never been married or are divorced.
- Space to mingle: About 93% of residents are within a 10-minute walk of a green space, the 17th highest percentage in the country.
Which places rank the worst for dating?
While cities at the top of the ranking are home to large single populations and lively social scenes, the cities at the bottom of our list are characterized by fewer singles, less interest in online dating and not as many activities for dates.
150. Brownsville, Texas
32.32 out of 100
Sitting alongside the U.S.-Mexico border near the Gulf Coast, this city offers little to do for singles looking to meet other singles, with few bars and restaurants and less interest in online dating apps than almost any other city on the list.
149. Frisco, Texas
33.99 out of 100
Just 30 minutes north of Dallas, this city may provide an easy opportunity for singles to drive out to its larger, livelier neighbors, but it has the smallest dating pool of any city we studied with 329 singles per 1,000 people.
148. Peoria, Arizona
34.40 out of 100
In this major Phoenix suburb, expensive rents ($1,480 for a one-bedroom) and an unequal gender breakdown that leans heavily female may leave singles struggling to find love, even if interest in dating apps is above average.
147. Cary, North Carolina
34.43 out of 100
While Cary may be a nice place for families looking to settle because of its affordable cost of living and extremely low violent crime rate, it has a low ratio of single residents, at 340 out of every 1,000 people.
146. Port St. Lucie, Florida
34.99 out of 100
A major hub for retirees, this sleepy Florida city scores low in quality of life and cost of living, and it’s home to a below-average share of the population who have never been married or are divorced (410 per 1,000 people).
Dating in the U.S.: What city fits your dating needs?
If you’re a part of the growing number of singles in America, deciding where you want to find love can have a significant influence on your dating opportunities. As you figure out your own personal preferences and priorities for dating, explore the rankings to find which cities may best match your needs for romance — whether you're trying to find your soulmate or you just want a fun, low-stakes adventure.
Methodology
To identify the best cities for dating, the ConsumerAffairs Research Team evaluated the 150 most populous cities in the U.S. across four weighted categories. In each category, the city that performed the best was given the highest possible score, with others earning relative scores. We added the category scores together to get overall scores out of a maximum of 100 points.
- Dating opportunities (40 points): This score is based on the estimated single population per 1,000 people (based on the number of individuals who have never been married or are divorced (30 points), and the gender distribution of singles in each city (10). Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau from 2023.
- Cost of living (25 points): This category includes the median income for a one-person household (12.5 points) and the median rent for a one-bedroom home (12.5). Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau from 2022 and 2023.
- Quality of life (25 points): The quality of life score considers the violent crime rate per 1,000 people (8 points), walkability (6.5) and the percentage of the city population living within a 10-minute walk of a green space (4.25). It also includes the number of bars, restaurants, museums, performing arts companies and movie theaters (1.25 points each) per 100,000 people. Data is from NeighborhoodScout, NYU Langone Health and the U.S. Census Bureau.
- Dating interest (10 points): The dating interest score includes Google search volumes for four major dating apps: Tinder, Bumble, Grindr and Hinge (2.5 points each). Data is from Google Trends.
For questions about the data or if you'd like to set up an interview, please contact acurls@consumeraffairs.com.
Reference policy
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Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- U.S. Census Bureau, “Explore Census Data.” Accessed Jan. 26, 2025.
- NeighborhoodScout, “NeighborhoodScout.” Accessed Jan. 26, 2025.
- NYU Langone Health, “City Health Dashboard.” Accessed Jan. 26, 2025.
- Google Trends, “Google Trends.” Accessed Jan. 26, 2025.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” Accessed Jan. 26, 2025.
- U.S. Census Bureau, “Census Bureau Releases New Estimates on America’s Families and Living Arrangements.” Accessed Jan. 26, 2025.