Fall is here and cuffing season has officially begun. Whether you’re hoping to find someone to cozy up with as the temperatures drop or you’re perfectly happy flying solo, where you live can make all the difference. The U.S. is seeing a rising share of adults living single, and while romance is still on the wish list for many, today’s singles are also prioritizing vibrant social scenes, strong career opportunities, and an affordable cost of living. In this report, we analyzed 100 of the most populous U.S. cities across key factors such as overall single population, affordability, social opportunities, and job market strength, to uncover the best places for singles in 2025.
Top 10 best cities for singles in 2025
- At the top of the list is St. Louis, Missouri, where the median one-bedroom rent is only $1,000 and nearly half the population is single. The city ranked in the top five nationally for both nightlife and entertainment options, and its affordability and steady job market make it an especially attractive choice for singles.
2. Knoxville, Tennessee comes in second, offering one-bedroom rent at $1,130 along with one of the best cost-of-living scores in the country. Nearly 46 percent of Knoxville’s residents are single, and the city also ranked among the top ten for restaurant options, giving singles plenty of choices for dining out.
3. In third place, Salt Lake City, Utah balances affordability with opportunity. The city’s median one-bedroom rent is $1,200, while the median income for singles sits at $53,023. Salt Lake City has a high share of single residents and is ranked in the top ten for entertainment, making it an appealing destination for those who want both social options and financial stability.
4. Atlanta, Georgia takes the fourth spot, where 55 percent of residents are unmarried and the city’s restaurant, nightlife, entertainment scenes are all among the top ten nationally. Singles also benefit from a healthy median nonfamily income of $66,435, which helps offset the city’s higher rent of $1,650.
5. Ranking fifth, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania combines affordability and community. With a median one-bedroom rent of $1,290 and 54 percent of its population single, Pittsburgh offers one of the strongest singles markets in the country. The city also earned top ten rankings in both nightlife and entertainment.
6. In sixth place, Tallahassee, Florida has the highest share of singles in the top ten, thanks to a high student population, with nearly 58 percent of its population unmarried. The city remains affordable at $1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, and while its job market is somewhat less competitive, its lively culture helps it shine for singles.
7. Minneapolis, Minnesota ranks seventh, with a one-bedroom median rent of $1,290 and a strong median single income of $60,539. While its entertainment ranking is slightly lower than some of its peers, it still made the top twenty, giving renters a solid mix of affordability and opportunity.
8. In eighth place, Asheville, North Carolina stands out as a cultural hotspot. The city ranked number one in the nation for both restaurants and entertainment per capita, while also landing the number two spot for nightlife per capita. With median rent at $1,420, Asheville is a vibrant option for singles who prioritize social life and experiences.
9. Richmond, Virginia takes the ninth spot. More than half of its population is single, and with median rent at $1,410, it offers a relatively affordable balance compared to larger East Coast cities. Richmond also earned a top ten spot in entertainment, rounding out its appeal.
10. Finally, Austin, Texas comes in at number ten. About 44 percent of Austin’s population is single, and the city’s one-bedroom rent is $1,510. What helps Austin stand out is its high single median income of $68,630, one of the strongest among all the top cities, which supports both affordability and lifestyle.
Best cities by category
Some cities shine in specific categories even if they did not break into the top ten overall. Asheville, North Carolina leads the way for food and fun, ranking first in both restaurants and entertainment while also earning the number two spot for nightlife. Other cities that stand out for restaurants include Fort Lauderdale, Houston, and Orlando.
When it comes to nightlife, New Orleans, Louisiana claims the top spot, followed closely by Asheville, Fort Lauderdale, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh. For entertainment, Asheville again leads, followed by New Orleans, Orlando, Atlanta, and St. Louis.
Affordability is also a key factor for singles. The cities with the most affordable cost of living are Oklahoma City, Augusta, Tulsa, Des Moines, and Knoxville, proving that singles do not need to sacrifice financial stability to enjoy a vibrant lifestyle.
Why these cities stand out
What makes these cities special is balance. Places like St. Louis and Pittsburgh combine affordability with a strong social scene, while cities like Asheville and Atlanta offer some of the country’s most exciting entertainment and nightlife. Others, like Knoxville and Salt Lake City, provide a mix of low rents, strong incomes, and stable job markets. Together, these cities highlight the diverse ways singles can thrive depending on what matters most to them.
The 5 worst places to be single
The 5 worst cities to be single in 2025 were Henderson, San Jose, Fresno, Gilbert, and Bakersfield. Henderson had the lowest single population across the country at 28% and ranked poorly for restaurants and nightlife. San Jose, though ranking in the top 5 for income, was dragged down by its high cost of living and low scores in social activities and single population. Fresno ranked in the bottom 5 for nightlife and entertainment and had a high unemployment rate. Although Gilbert had the second lowest unemployment rate overall and a high median income, the social scores for restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment all ranked in the bottom 2. Lastly, Bakersfield had a relatively affordable median rent but was pulled down by low scores in the social categories as well as single population.
Methodology
To compile this comprehensive ranking of the best cities for singles, we analyzed and ranked 100 of the most populous US cities on eight metrics. For categories like restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment, we measured the number of options relative to the city’s population (per capita) rather than the total count, ensuring smaller cities weren’t overshadowed by larger ones.
To calculate an overall “single-friendliness” score for each city, we assigned a weightage to each metric:
| Category | Weight |
| Population – Percentage of Singles | 20% |
| Median 1-Bed Rent | 20% |
| Restaurants Per Capita | 10% |
| Nightlife Per Capita | 10% |
| Entertainment Per Capita | 10% |
| Cost of Living Index | 10% |
| Median Nonfamily Income | 10% |
| Unemployment Rate | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Here is where we sourced the data for each metric:
- Population – Percentage of Singles: US Census Bureau: American Community Survey: Table B12001 – Sex by Marital Status for Population > 15 Years Old (2023, 5-Year Estimates)
- Median 1-Bed Rent: Zumper National Rent Report (August 2025)
- Points of Interest (POIs) Per Capita – Restaurants, Nightlife, and Entertainment: Snowflake: US Addresses & POI
- Cost of Living Index: The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER): Cost of Living Index (COLI)
- Median Nonfamily Income: US Census Bureau: American Community Survey: Table B19215 – Median Nonfamily Household Income (in 2023 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (2023, 5-Year Estimates)
- Unemployment Rate: US Census Bureau: American Community Survey: Table S2301 – Employment Status (2023, 5-Year Estimates)
Footnotes:
- Snowflake’s US Addresses & POI data product contains data about 11 million distinct POIs across the US. The data is aggregated from various sources, including OpenAddresses, Overture Maps Foundation, the USPS, and the US Department of Transportation’s National Address Database.
- The US Census Bureau: American Community Survey’s 2023 5-Year Estimate data tables, which are based on data collected over the 5-year period from Jan 1 2019 to Dec 31 2023, were used because they currently provide the best tradeoff between data recency and precision.
To calculate “single-friendliness” scores for our list of 100 cities, each city:
- was ranked on each metric,
- then assigned a weighted score for all eight metrics based on their ranking for each one,
- and finally assigned a weighted overall single-friendliness score based on the sum of their eight weighted scores.
Finally, cities were ranked based on their weighted overall single-friendliness scores to identify the definitive ranking of the best cities for singles.
To report how the cities compare on each individual category, we assigned letter grades to each city based on the quintile that each city’s rank falls into:
1-20=A
21-40=B
41-60=C
61-80=D
81-100=F
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Full Data
| Rank | City | Singe Population Grade | 1-Bed Cost Grade | Restaurant Grade | Nightlife Grade | Entertainment Grade | COLI Grade | Single Income Grade | Unemployment Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis, MO | B | A | A | A | A | A | D | B |
| 2 | Knoxville, TN | B | B | A | B | A | A | F | A |
| 3 | Salt Lake, City, UT | B | B | A | A | A | D | C | A |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | A | D | A | A | A | B | A | C |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | A | C | B | A | A | C | C | C |
| 6 | Tallahassee, FL | A | A | B | C | B | B | F | D |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | A | C | D | C | A | B | B | C |
| 8 | Asheville, NC | C | C | A | A | A | C | D | A |
| 9 | Richmond, VA | A | C | B | B | A | B | C | D |
| 10 | Austin, TX | C | D | A | B | B | B | A | A |
| 11 | Baton Rouge, LA | A | A | B | B | C | A | F | F |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | A | B | C | A | A | A | F | F |
| 12 | Orlando, FL | C | D | A | A | A | C | B | C |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | B | F | A | A | A | F | A | A |
| 15 | Chattanooga, TN | D | B | A | B | A | A | D | B |
| 16 | Tampa, FL | C | D | A | A | A | B | C | B |
| 17 | Des Moines, IA | C | A | D | B | B | A | C | C |
| 18 | Cincinnati, OH | A | B | D | A | B | B | D | D |
| 19 | Denver, CO | B | D | B | A | B | D | A | A |
| 19 | Omaha, NE | D | A | C | B | C | A | C | A |
| 21 | Portland, OR | C | C | A | A | A | F | A | C |
| 22 | Milwaukee, WI | A | B | F | A | B | C | F | C |
| 23 | Washington, DC | A | F | A | A | A | F | A | D |
| 23 | Baltimore, MD | A | C | C | B | B | C | C | D |
| 23 | Memphis, TN | B | A | C | C | C | A | F | F |
| 26 | Greensboro, NC | B | A | B | C | C | D | D | B |
| 27 | Houston, TX | C | C | A | B | C | B | C | D |
| 27 | Kansas City, MO | D | B | D | B | B | A | C | B |
| 29 | Rochester, NY | A | C | C | B | B | C | F | F |
| 30 | Charleston, SC | D | F | A | A | A | C | A | A |
| 31 | Nashville, TN | C | D | B | B | B | B | B | A |
| 32 | San Francisco, CA | B | F | A | A | A | F | A | C |
| 32 | Raleigh, NC | C | C | D | B | C | C | B | A |
| 34 | Tulsa, OK | F | A | B | C | B | A | D | D |
| 35 | New Orleans, LA | B | D | A | A | A | D | F | F |
| 36 | Detroit, MI | A | A | F | B | C | D | F | F |
| 36 | Charlotte, NC | C | D | C | C | D | A | B | A |
| 36 | Shreveport, LA | C | A | B | C | B | B | F | F |
| 39 | Oklahoma City, OK | F | A | C | C | C | A | D | B |
| 40 | Providence, RI | A | D | B | A | B | D | C | F |
| 41 | Columbus, OH | B | B | D | C | D | B | C | B |
| 41 | Akron, OH | B | A | F | B | B | B | F | F |
| 43 | Buffalo, NY | A | B | F | B | B | B | F | F |
| 44 | Madison, WI | B | D | D | C | B | D | B | A |
| 45 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | D | F | A | A | A | F | A | C |
| 46 | Lexington, KY | D | A | B | D | D | A | D | B |
| 47 | Lincoln, NE | D | A | F | D | D | B | D | A |
| 48 | San Antonio, TX | D | B | B | C | D | A | D | C |
| 49 | Boston, MA | A | F | B | C | B | F | A | D |
| 50 | Dallas, TX | C | D | B | C | D | C | B | B |
| 51 | Norfolk, VA | B | C | B | D | D | A | D | D |
| 52 | Indianapolis, IN | C | B | D | D | C | A | D | C |
| 53 | Reno, NV | D | C | C | B | B | D | C | B |
| 54 | Durham, NC | B | D | C | D | D | D | B | A |
| 55 | Augusta, GA | B | A | F | D | D | A | F | F |
| 56 | Wichita, KS | F | A | C | D | D | A | F | C |
| 57 | Scottsdale, AZ | F | D | B | B | C | C | A | A |
| 58 | Miami, FL | D | F | A | A | A | F | C | B |
| 59 | Syracuse, NY | A | C | D | C | C | D | F | F |
| 60 | Winston Salem, NC | C | A | F | D | C | B | F | C |
| 61 | Albuquerque, NM | D | A | D | F | D | B | D | C |
| 62 | New Haven, CT | A | F | B | D | B | D | F | F |
| 62 | El Paso, TX | F | A | B | C | F | A | F | D |
| 64 | Tucson, AZ | C | A | C | D | D | C | F | D |
| 65 | Philadelphia, PA | A | D | C | C | D | C | D | F |
| 66 | St. Petersburg, FL | F | D | C | B | C | B | C | B |
| 67 | Arlington, TX | D | B | D | F | D | B | C | C |
| 68 | Boise, ID | F | C | D | D | C | C | C | A |
| 69 | Colorado Springs, CO | F | B | C | D | C | D | B | C |
| 70 | Urban Honolulu, HI | D | F | A | B | C | F | B | B |
| 70 | Irving, TX | F | C | B | F | F | C | B | A |
| 72 | Jacksonville, FL | F | B | D | F | F | B | C | A |
| 73 | Arlington, VA | B | F | D | D | F | F | A | A |
| 74 | Spokane, WA | F | B | F | C | C | C | D | D |
| 75 | Chicago, IL | B | F | C | C | D | D | B | F |
| 75 | Fort Worth, TX | F | B | F | D | F | B | C | B |
| 77 | Oakland, CA | B | F | D | D | D | F | A | D |
| 78 | Plano, TX | F | C | A | F | F | D | A | A |
| 79 | Virginia Beach, VA | F | D | D | F | F | A | B | A |
| 80 | San Diego, CA | D | F | B | D | C | F | A | C |
| 81 | Long Beach, CA | B | F | D | D | D | F | A | D |
| 82 | Las Vegas, NV | F | B | F | C | C | C | D | F |
| 83 | Phoenix, AZ | D | B | F | F | F | D | C | B |
| 84 | Los Angeles, CA | B | F | C | D | C | F | B | F |
| 85 | Louisville, KY | D | B | F | F | F | B | D | B |
| 86 | Glendale, AZ | D | B | F | F | F | C | D | C |
| 87 | Sacramento, CA | C | D | D | D | D | F | B | D |
| 88 | Anaheim, CA | D | F | C | F | B | F | B | C |
| 89 | Anchorage, AK | F | C | F | F | D | F | A | A |
| 90 | Jersey City, NJ | C | F | C | F | F | D | A | C |
| 91 | New York, NY | C | F | C | C | D | F | B | F |
| 92 | Newark, NJ | A | D | D | D | F | D | F | F |
| 93 | Santa Ana, CA | C | F | C | F | F | F | B | C |
| 93 | Mesa, AZ | F | B | F | F | F | C | C | A |
| 95 | Aurora, CO | F | C | F | F | F | D | B | C |
| 96 | Bakersfield, CA | D | B | F | F | F | D | D | D |
| 97 | Gilbert, AZ | F | D | F | F | F | D | A | A |
| 98 | Fresno, CA | C | C | D | F | F | F | D | F |
| 99 | San Jose, CA | D | F | F | F | F | F | A | B |
| 100 | Henderson, NV | F | D | F | F | F | C | B | D |
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