- WalletHub ranked more than 180 cities across the US in terms of “dating friendliness,” considering factors such as nightlife options, the cost of dates, and online-dating opportunities.
- Pearl City, Hawaii, was named the worst city for singles, based in part on its nightlife options.
- Yonkers, New York; South Burlington, Vermont; and Glendale, California, were also among the worst 10 cities for dating.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
If you’re single and ready to mingle, your location could factor into your chances of finding love.
WalletHub compared 182 cities across the United States, including the 150 most populated cities in the country and at least two of the most populated cities in each state. The company then used 35 different indicators of “dating-friendliness” to rank them. Factors like the number of nightlife options, online dating opportunities, and the cost of various dates (think dinner out or a trip to the movies) were used to rank the cities, with one being the best place to live if you’re single and 182 being the worst.
Read on to learn more about the worst cities for singles.
10th worst: Hialeah, Florida
In Hialeah, Florida, there are only 0.006 social clubs per capita and 0.0742 nightlife options per capita, making it difficult for residents to find common areas to mix and mingle with other singles. Hialeah was also named the least diverse city in Florida in 2017.
9th worst: Shreveport, Louisiana
Although Shreveport, Louisiana, ranked 174th out of 182 for fun and recreation in the WalletHub study, there are still plenty of entertaining spots for first dates - from testing your luck at one of Shreveport's riverfront casinos to visiting the IMAX at the 92,000-square-foot Sci-Port Discovery Center.
8th worst: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
While Winston-Salem has a plethora of fun dating activities, from historic houses to walks around Quarry Park, the city ranked 176th for dating opportunities, in part due to its gender imbalance.
One study found it had one of the highest ratios of single women to single men. It also had the greatest number of singles in their 40s.
7th worst: Yonkers, New York
WalletHub found that Yonkers has some of the highest restaurant meal costs out of the 182 cities being analyzed, so going on lots of dinner dates could really rack up a bill. It makes sense: Yonkers is located in the second richest county in New York state, Westchester County.
That said, Yonkers is also home to Empire City Casino, Palisades Interstate Park, and LEGOLAND Discovery Center. So although your singledom might cost you, there are a handful of date activities to choose from in Yonkers.
6th worst: Columbia, Maryland
Columbia, Maryland, ranked low in every category of the WalletHub study. Out of 182 cities, it came 178th for fun and recreation, and 164th for dating opportunities. It also ranked 132nd for economics, which included factors such as grooming costs, restaurant costs, average household income, and unemployment rates.
5th worst: South Burlington, Vermont
South Burlington's biggest claim to fame may very well be Ben & Jerry's headquarters. Residents of the Vermont city can also check out Lake Champlain and Overlook Park for outdoor activities.
With all its recreational activities, why did South Burlington rank so low? According to WalletHub data, the city has a major singles gender imbalance, which could make it hard for someone to find a love interest they mesh with.
4th worst: Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas has few dating opportunities - there are only 0.1148 nightlife opportunities per capita. Plus, only a third of dating opportunities are online, increasing the barrier to entry for singles interested in the dating scene.
3rd worst: Glendale, California
According to WalletHub, Glendale, California had some of the highest movie costs of the 182 cities, along with New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Oxnard, and Garden Grove.
The city is home to theaters, the Museum of Neon Art (MONA), the Glendale Galleria shopping center, and even a rollerskating rink. Despite this, the city ranked pretty low in terms of dating opportunities, meaning the single population, access to mobile dating apps, and number of active Tinder users are pretty low in this city.
2nd worst: Pembroke Pines, Florida
Pembroke Pines, Florida had one of the lowest singles gender balances in WalletHub's study, giving heterosexual singles a lesser opportunity to find dating prospects. The city is located between Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, two more populous and well-known areas in Florida. Around 170,000 people live in Pembroke Pines.
The worst US city for singles: Pearl City, Hawaii
Pearl City is located on the island of Oahu. The harborside city is best known as the location of Pearl Harbor, where the Japanese held a surprise attack on the United States during World War II.
It ranked 181st for "fun" in the WalletHub study. The city has only 0.0828 nightlife options per capita, meaning there are few options for bars and clubs to find potential love interests.