Which US cities have the most single and married people?

Which US cities have the most single and married people?

One of the most important decisions in someone’s financial life and beyond can be who they choose as a partner. Many factors may influence widespread local trends on singlehood and marriage, and many people may include this cultural influence in their decision on where to live, how to market their local business, and more.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 115 of the largest U.S. cities based on the rate of single people—those who have never been married—including other details like the disparity between single men and women in that city, the prevalence of marriage, and the local divorce rate.

Key Findings

• Detroit and Boston have the most singles. Detroit claims the title of the most single city this year, with 57.4% of adults never having married. Another 23.0% are currently married, with 10.8% of adults divorced. Boston ranks second, with 56.6% of the population having never married. In this case, 30.3% are married, and 7.8% are divorced. In Detroit and Boston, there are 93.8 and 93.4 single men for every 100 single women, respectively.
• Marriage is most prevalent in this California city. In Fremont, 63.8% of adults are married, with just 26.4% never having married. These extremes are also coupled with the lowest divorce rate studywide at 4.8%. Marriage is also relatively common in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where 53.3% of adults are married, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, at 52.6%.
• These cities have the most single men. For the 26.4% of singles in Fremont, there are 136.7 men per 100 women, the widest disparity in all large cities. Paradise, Nevada, also has a high disparity at 127.1 single men per 100 women, and a larger supply of singles at 43.3% of the population. Fayetteville, North Carolina, has the third-highest rate of single men at 126.9 per 100 women, and a 39.4% singlehood rate.
• Washington DC has the most single women. There are only 84.5 single men for every 100 single women in the nation’s capital, with 55.1% of adults being single (fourth most studywide). Mobile, Alabama, also has a high rate of single women to men, with 89.1 men per 100 women, and a similar rate of 89.6 per 100 in Baltimore.
• This city has the highest divorce rate. 15.0% of adults in Spokane, Washington, are divorced, and another 1.6% are separated. Other large cities with relatively high divorce rates include Albuquerque, New Mexico (14.9%); Springfield, Missouri (14.8%); Fort Lauderdale, Florida (14.6%); and Columbus, Georgia (38.0%).

Top 10 Cities With the Highest Rates of Singles

1. Detroit, Michigan

• Single (never married): 57.4%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 93.8
• Married: 23.0%
• Widowed: 6.4%
• Divorced: 10.8%
• Separated: 2.4%

2. Boston, Massachusetts

• Single (never married): 56.6%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 93.4
• Married: 30.3%
• Widowed: 3.0%
• Divorced: 7.8%
• Separated: 2.4%

3. Rochester, New York

• Single (never married): 56.4%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 95.3
• Married: 25.0%
• Widowed: 4.4%
• Divorced: 11.4%
• Separated: 2.8%

4. Washington, DC

• Single (never married): 55.1%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 84.5
• Married: 31.0%
• Widowed: 4.2%
• Divorced: 8.0%
• Separated: 1.7%

5. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Single (never married): 55.1%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 90.9
• Married: 28.3%
• Widowed: 4.3%
• Divorced: 10.0%
• Separated: 2.3%

6. Cincinnati, Ohio

• Single (never married): 55.0%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 110.5
• Married: 28.7%
• Widowed: 4.2%
• Divorced: 10.5%
• Separated: 1.6%

7. Cleveland, Ohio

• Single (never married): 54.0%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 95
• Married: 24.5%
• Widowed: 6.5%
• Divorced: 12.9%
• Separated: 2.1%

8. Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Single (never married): 53.7%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 95.8
• Married: 34.0%
• Widowed: 2.5%
• Divorced: 8.7%
• Separated: 1.1%

9. Atlanta, Georgia

• Single (never married): 53.2%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 97.2
• Married: 31.8%
• Widowed: 4.1%
• Divorced: 9.5%
• Separated: 1.4%

10. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Single (never married): 52.9%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 96.6
• Married: 33.6%
• Widowed: 5.0%
• Divorced: 7.6%
• Separated: 0.9%

Top 10 Cities With the Most Single Men Compared to Single Women

1. Fremont, California

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 136.7
• Single (never married): 26.4%
• Married: 63.8%
• Widowed: 4.3%
• Divorced: 4.8%
• Separated: 0.7%

2. Paradise, Nevada

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 127.1
• Single (never married): 43.3%
• Married: 36.0%
• Widowed: 4.7%
• Divorced: 13.3%
• Separated: 2.7%

3. Fayetteville, North Carolina

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 126.9
• Single (never married): 39.4%
• Married: 38.7%
• Widowed: 5.0%
• Divorced: 13.5%
• Separated: 3.4%

4. Colorado Springs, Colorado

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 126.1
• Single (never married): 31.3%
• Married: 52.6%
• Widowed: 3.8%
• Divorced: 11.2%
• Separated: 1.2%

5. Fresno, California

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 125.6
• Single (never married): 43.1%
• Married: 41.0%
• Widowed: 4.7%
• Divorced: 8.7%
• Separated: 2.7%

6. Vancouver, Washington

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 122.8
• Single (never married): 34.7%
• Married: 45.7%
• Widowed: 4.8%
• Divorced: 13.5%
• Separated: 1.4%

7. Anchorage, Alaska

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 122.7
• Single (never married): 36.5%
• Married: 48.7%
• Widowed: 3.0%
• Divorced: 10.9%
• Separated: 0.9%

8. Aurora, Colorado

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 122.5
• Single (never married): 38.6%
• Married: 44.9%
• Widowed: 3.3%
• Divorced: 10.7%
• Separated: 2.5%

9. Anaheim, California

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 122.4
• Single (never married): 41.3%
• Married: 44.3%
• Widowed: 4.3%
• Divorced: 7.7%
• Separated: 2.4%

10. Oxnard, California

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 121
• Single (never married): 42.0%
• Married: 44.8%
• Widowed: 4.3%
• Divorced: 7.3%
• Separated: 1.6%

Top 10 Cities With the Most Single Women Compared to Single Men

1. Washington, DC

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 84.5
• Single (never married): 55.1%
• Married: 31.0%
• Widowed: 4.2%
• Divorced: 8.0%
• Separated: 1.7%

2. Mobile, Alabama

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 89.1
• Single (never married): 42.0%
• Married: 35.6%
• Widowed: 7.1%
• Divorced: 13.0%
• Separated: 2.3%

3. Baltimore, Maryland

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 89.6
• Single (never married): 51.5%
• Married: 29.8%
• Widowed: 5.7%
• Divorced: 10.7%
• Separated: 2.4%

4. New Orleans, Louisiana

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 89.7
• Single (never married): 48.4%
• Married: 32.2%
• Widowed: 6.4%
• Divorced: 11.0%
• Separated: 2.0%

5. Birmingham, Alabama

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 89.8
• Single (never married): 49.2%
• Married: 28.1%
• Widowed: 7.7%
• Divorced: 12.7%
• Separated: 2.4%

6. Orlando, Florida

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 90.4
• Single (never married): 41.3%
• Married: 42.0%
• Widowed: 3.9%
• Divorced: 11.0%
• Separated: 1.8%

7. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 90.9
• Single (never married): 55.1%
• Married: 28.3%
• Widowed: 4.3%
• Divorced: 10.0%
• Separated: 2.3%

8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 91.6
• Single (never married): 50.6%
• Married: 32.7%
• Widowed: 5.1%
• Divorced: 9.0%
• Separated: 2.6%

9. Memphis, Tennessee

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 92.7
• Single (never married): 48.1%
• Married: 30.9%
• Widowed: 6.2%
• Divorced: 11.3%
• Separated: 3.5%

10. Boston, Massachusetts

• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 93.4
• Single (never married): 56.6%
• Married: 30.3%
• Widowed: 3.0%
• Divorced: 7.8%
• Separated: 2.4%

Top 10 Cities With the Highest Rates of Marriage

1. Fremont, California

• Married: 63.8%
• Single (never married): 26.4%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 136.7
• Widowed: 4.3%
• Divorced: 4.8%
• Separated: 0.7%

2. Port St. Lucie, Florida

• Married: 53.3%
• Single (never married): 27.1%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 104.3
• Widowed: 6.3%
• Divorced: 12.6%
• Separated: 0.7%

3. Colorado Springs, Colorado

• Married: 52.6%
• Single (never married): 31.3%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 126.1
• Widowed: 3.8%
• Divorced: 11.2%
• Separated: 1.2%

4. Virginia Beach, Virginia

• Married: 50.2%
• Single (never married): 31.1%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 109.5
• Widowed: 4.9%
• Divorced: 12.3%
• Separated: 1.5%

5. Chula Vista, California

• Married: 50.2%
• Single (never married): 34.3%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 110.9
• Widowed: 4.9%
• Divorced: 8.8%
• Separated: 1.8%

6. Brownsville, Texas

• Married: 49.5%
• Single (never married): 34.5%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 114.7
• Widowed: 5.7%
• Divorced: 7.2%
• Separated: 3.1%

7. Anchorage, Alaska

• Married: 48.7%
• Single (never married): 36.5%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 122.7
• Widowed: 3.0%
• Divorced: 10.9%
• Separated: 0.9%

8. San Jose, California

• Married: 48.6%
• Single (never married): 38.4%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 117.4
• Widowed: 5.0%
• Divorced: 6.9%
• Separated: 1.1%

9. Mesa, Arizona

• Married: 48.5%
• Single (never married): 33.9%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 116.6
• Widowed: 5.2%
• Divorced: 11.2%
• Separated: 1.3%

10. Irving, Texas

• Married: 48.3%
• Single (never married): 38.8%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 107.7
• Widowed: 2.7%
• Divorced: 7.9%
• Separated: 2.3%

Top 10 Cities With the Highest Rates of Divorce

1. Spokane, Washington

• Divorced: 15.0%
• Single (never married): 36.9%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 115.3
• Married: 41.9%
• Widowed: 4.5%
• Separated: 1.6%

2. Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Divorced: 14.9%
• Single (never married): 39.4%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 111.5
• Married: 38.4%
• Widowed: 5.6%
• Separated: 1.7%

3. Springfield, Missouri

• Divorced: 14.8%
• Single (never married): 40.3%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 103.6
• Married: 36.0%
• Widowed: 6.5%
• Separated: 2.4%

4. Columbus, Georgia

• Divorced: 14.6%
• Single (never married): 38.3%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 99.2
• Married: 38.0%
• Widowed: 6.4%
• Separated: 2.7%

5. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

• Divorced: 14.6%
• Single (never married): 40.1%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 106
• Married: 37.7%
• Widowed: 5.4%
• Separated: 2.2%

6. Hialeah, Florida

• Divorced: 14.0%
• Single (never married): 32.5%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 120.4
• Married: 44.0%
• Widowed: 6.2%
• Separated: 3.3%

7. Tulsa, Oklahoma

• Divorced: 14.0%
• Single (never married): 37.2%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 106.3
• Married: 40.7%
• Widowed: 6.1%
• Separated: 1.9%

8. Boise City, Idaho

• Divorced: 13.8%
• Single (never married): 36.6%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 107.3
• Married: 44.2%
• Widowed: 4.3%
• Separated: 1.1%

9. Henderson, Nevada

• Divorced: 13.7%
• Single (never married): 31.0%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 97.6
• Married: 48.0%
• Widowed: 6.0%
• Separated: 1.3%

10. Amarillo, Texas

• Divorced: 13.7%
• Single (never married): 34.7%
• Ratio of unmarried men per 100 unmarried women: 102.5
• Married: 43.1%
• Widowed: 5.9%
• Separated: 2.5%

Data and Methodology

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 1-Year American Community Survey for 2024. 115 cities with populations of 100,000 or more for which data was available were considered. Variables observed include marital status of the population age 15 and older, including married, separated, widowed, divorced, and never married. The ratio of unmarried men aged 15 to 44 to that of 100 unmarried women aged 15 to 44 was also considered.

This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.