Dating can be challenging. The phrase “plenty of fish in the sea” often feels misleading — instead, it seems like you’re surrounded by eels, sharks, or blowfish, rather than viable partners. Even when you do encounter someone promising, they often end up being unavailable or simply not your type. Location plays a crucial role in this scenario. Some cities have a sparse population of singles, and as you get older, the numbers tend to dwindle further. In smaller towns, particularly in the South and Midwest, early marriages make the situation even tougher.
While moving solely for dating isn’t advisable — as you may find yourself in a new area without friends or family — if you’re contemplating a relocation for better career opportunities or a more aligned lifestyle, the dating scene should also be part of your decision-making process. Fortunately, numerous studies have evaluated the best cities for singles. From the top spots for younger singles to rankings based on feedback from actual single women, various factors come into play. Here’s what the data reveals.
Insights from WalletHub
In 2019, WalletHub conducted a thorough analysis to identify the best cities for women interested in dating. Their approach wasn’t limited to the number of singles; they also assessed the livability and costs associated with social outings. They ranked cities based on three main criteria: economics, fun/recreation, and dating prospects. Their findings indicated that Atlanta, GA, topped the list, boasting average or above-average ratings across all three categories.
However, balance varies among cities. For instance, while San Francisco ranked third, its economic score was quite low due to high living costs. Nevertheless, strong scores in fun/recreation and dating opportunities helped enhance its overall ranking. WalletHub’s top five cities ultimately included:
- Atlanta, GA
- Denver, CO
- San Francisco, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Portland, OR
Best Places for Young Singles
While WalletHub’s rankings are insightful, Best Places offers an alternative perspective. Collaborating with AXE Bodyspray, they focused on factors such as population density, the number of singles aged 18 to 24, and dating venues per capita. Their results for this age group highlighted the following top five cities for singles:
- Austin, TX
- Colorado Springs, CO
- San Diego, CA
- Raleigh/Durham, NC
- Seattle, WA
Perspectives from Apartment List
To gauge local satisfaction with dating scenes, Apartment List surveyed over 11,000 residents. The results revealed the cities where singles expressed the highest satisfaction:
- Provo, UT
- Richmond, VA
- Raleigh, NC
- Bridgeport, CT
- Knoxville, TN
When focusing solely on single women, the list changed slightly:
- Austin, TX
- Minneapolis, MN
- Columbus, OH
- Charlotte, NC
- Denver, CO
Interestingly, Kansas City, MO, emerged as the city where women reported the least satisfaction with the dating landscape.
Insights from Nerdwallet
Nerdwallet also contributed to the analysis by evaluating the best cities for single women, focusing on the availability of single men, dating affordability, and the overall dating scene. Their top ten recommendations were:
- San Francisco
- Seattle, WA
- Minneapolis, MN
- San Diego, CA
- Austin, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Portland, OR
- Denver, CO
- Los Angeles, CA
Best Cities for Young Professionals
Beyond dating, factors like job opportunities, safety, and quality of life are crucial. Shape magazine considered these elements, listing top cities as follows:
- San Francisco
- Portland, OR
- San Diego, CA
- Boston
- Washington, D.C.
- Denver
- Seattle
- Los Angeles
- New York
- Philadelphia
SmartAsset also provided its findings on the best cities for young professionals, taking into account various economic and living factors. Their results included:
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Austin, TX
- Denver, CO (tied with Nashville, TN)
- San Francisco, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- Minneapolis, MN
- Madison, WI
- Seattle, WA
- Charlotte, NC
In light of recent global changes, many are considering remote work options. Business Insider highlighted the best cities for remote work, which have become increasingly relevant. According to their research, the top cities for remote work are:
- Kansas City, MO
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Austin, TX
- Raleigh, NC
- San Antonio, TX
- Denver, CO
- Atlanta, GA
- Richmond, VA
- Dallas, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- Charlotte, NC
- Miami, FL
- Boston, MA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- St. Louis, MO
In conclusion, whether you’re looking for a vibrant dating scene or an ideal work environment, the cities mentioned above offer a mix of opportunities and satisfaction. For more insights on navigating relationships, consider checking out this blog post on home insemination kit, which dives into related topics. Additionally, for enhancing fertility, you might find value in exploring resources from Make A Mom and NHS for comprehensive information.
Summary
This article explores the best cities for single women, focusing on dating prospects, job opportunities, and overall quality of life. Research from various sources highlights cities like Atlanta, Austin, and San Francisco as top contenders based on criteria such as the availability of singles, economic factors, and resident satisfaction.

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