The best places in America for dating under 35

Andriy Blokhin // Shutterstock It’s no secret that dating can be overwhelming in your 20s and 30s, especially when it feels like everyone around you is already married or cohabitating with a partner.  That’s why it might help to position yourself in a region that has fewer couples, a larger number of people under age 35, and more potential date spots. While every city has its pros and cons when it comes to dating, living in a place that’s likely to have more singles and people in a similar life stage can help. Hims compiled a list of the top 25 U.S. counties for dating based on four data sets that measure the number of single households, median age, restaurant volume per capita, and proximity to a major metropolitan area. The following metrics were analyzed to develop the list: One-person households by United States county: About half of single adults report that they’re looking to date someone, according to a Pew Research Center survey. In counties that have fewer married or cohabitating partners, it’s likely easier to find a potential partner.  Median age by U.S. county: While wider age differences are becoming more common between partners, the average age gap in opposite-sex marriages is only 2.2 years, according to the Pew Research Center. That suggests most couples prefer to date people close in age to them, making places where the population skews younger more appealing for dating under 35.  The number of restaurants per capita in each state: Cities that have more restaurants have been shown to be more conducive to romantic relationships, because they’re especially well-suited for dates, according to a study by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology.  The proximity of each county to a major metropolitan area: A 2019 analysis in the journal Sociological Science showed that geographic proximity is the strongest driver of romantic interaction, indicating that closeness to a populous area can increase dating opportunities. Key Findings Washington, D.C., known as the center of U.S. politics, has the highest percentage of single households of any region in the country. Additionally, even though it’s small by geographical area, it has more total restaurants than a number of large states, including Wyoming, South Dakota, and Alaska. While the median age of 34.9 is slightly older than other places on the list, it’s still younger than the nation’s average of 38.9.  A handful of the largest counties in the U.S.–including those that contain New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia–made the list, suggesting that younger, single people congregate in big cities.  Counties that contain major college towns–Ames, Iowa (Iowa State University) and Athens, Georgia (University of Georgia)–came out near the top of the rankings. That’s likely due to both the student population, and the number of people that stick around after graduation for jobs or master’s level study.  Counties in California and Texas, the two most populous states in the U.S., didn’t make the list, largely because they have among the lowest percentages of single households in the nation, according to Census data.  Curious about whether your city made it on the list? The results may surprise you. The Top U.S. Cities For Dating Under 35