The Best States in America for Dating, Ranked by Key Factors You Might Not Think of

Struggling to find a connection? Consider moving somewhere else. While dating is tougher than it was in the past (at least according to nearly half of Americans), location still matters. Taking into account factors like affordability, lifestyle, Pulsz ranked the dating scenes of all 50 U.S. states to find out which is the best. It turns out that, if you’re single, you may want to try your luck in Texas.

What makes a thriving dating scene? For their ranking, Pulsz looked at a wide variety of statistics that help determine how likely people are to go out and meet other people, from the cost of a beer or a movie ticket to housing affordability, cultural diversity, crime rates, and—last but not least—the number of bars and entertainment venues per capita. Together, these offer a snapshot of a state’s dating scene.

The site used statistics from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, RentCafe, Eventbrite, FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, and others to come up with its analysis.

The 10 Easiest States to Date in, Ranked

Rank	State	Average Beer & Wine Price	Movie Costs	Haircut Costs	Housing Affordability	Cost of Living Index	Share of Single Adults	Gender Balance of Singles	Restaurants Per Capita	Bars Per Capita	Gyms Per Capita	Movie Theaters Per Capita	Music Festivals Per Capita	Entertaining Events	Median Income	Job Growth Rate	Median Credit Score	Unemployment Rate	Diversity Index	National Parks	Crime Rate	Online Dating Safety	Romance Scam Reports	Sex Offenders Per Capita	Total Score
1	Texas	11.5	27	27	1,450	91.8	111,618	111.5	0.59	9.68	10.60	1.49	0.03	9,560	66,963	1.96	695	4.1	67	2	4,937	133.8	4.34	259	91.68
2	Idaho	12.5	25	33	1,602	102	6,429	116.2	11.96	19.7	10.80	3.32	0.20	3,110	66,474	3.57	729	3.7	35.9	1	2,466	111.8	5.63	282	88.15
3	North Dakota	5.5	34	16	1,108	90.8	2,788	127.2	27.51	49.73	14.32	5.70	0.0	202	66,519	2.68	733	2.5	32.6	1	4,577	38.4	7.48	274	87.65
4	Maryland	10.3	25	21	1,867	114.9	24,168	103.4	2.49	7.31	12.43	1.29	0.08	2,530	90,203	1.39	716	3.6	67.3	0	3,619	145.7	5.24	117	87.05
5	South Carolina	12	22	21	1,603	94.6	19,602	104.9	3.46	7.15	11.90	1.37	0.04	1,320	59,318	2.62	699	4.3	54.6	1	5,973	113.2	5.07	340	85.50
6	Alaska	12.3	30	30	1,482	127.3	2,797	129.2	17.31	19.96	12.13	4.09	0.0	347	77,845	2.21	722	4.7	62.8	8	5,359	152.4	8.04	473	84.41
7	Florida	12	31	26	1,983	102	86,041	110.1	0.93	8.06	12.23	1.14	0.05	9,300	63,062	1.5	708	3.8	64.1	3	3,922	183.6	5.88	150	83.71
8	Oklahoma	12	20	22	1,044	85.5	14,840	114.3	4.92	10.34	11.30	2.81	0.12	990	55,826	1.76	696	3.1	59.5	0	5,870	135.6	5.09	208	83.36
9	California	12	38	35	2,594	141.6	156,968	112.6	0.36	8.53	13.17	1.71	0.07	12,280	84,907	1.03	722	5.5	69.7	9	4,720	152.5	5.2	154	82.48
10	Virginia	20	23	28	1,963	101.4	32,239	110.3	2.19	2.28	13.07	1.97	0.08	2,870	80,963	1.73	722	3.6	60.5	1	3,121	157.8	5.19	339	81.82

Texas owes its place at the top of the list thanks to a mix of social and economic factors. The Lone Star State is not just affordable, but filled with things to do and places to go. One-bedroom apartments in Texas cost an average $1,450, while movie tickets cost around $27.

In total, the state counts more than 9,500 entertainment venues, which is more than any other state in the top 10. Additionally, Texas ranks second in the number of single adults and fifth in diversity, meaning there’s ample opportunity for people to mix and mingle.

Surprisingly to some, Idaho comes in second thanks to its safety, sociability, and affordability. With monthly rent averaging $1,600 and a low crime rate, the state offers no less than 20 bars and 12 recreational centers per person. Continuing the trend, North Dakota ranks third thanks to its low rent and abundance of bars and restaurants.

Lewiston hills view from Lewiston, Idaho, USA — Hills view from Lewiston, Idaho, USA | Francis Dean/GettyImages

Rounding out the top five are Maryland and South Carolina. Maryland might not be as cheap as Texas or Idaho, but it’s got competitive salaries and a low crime rate. Meanwhile, South Carolina earned brownie points for its affordability and its large single population.

Alaska, Florida, Oklahoma, California, and Virginia comprise the rest of the top 10, each offering different advantages. Alaska benefits from its gender balance, while California benefits from its assortment of festivals.

“Dating in the US feels different now,” says Nicky, a spokesperson for Pulsz. “People are busier, more online, and often more hesitant — but they still want something real.” The ranking suggests your chances of finding love today might depend in part on where you happen to live.

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