Nearly half of Americans over the age of 15, or about 130 million, are single, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Marriage rates among the young are falling, according to the Institute for Family Studies. About 36% of adults under 65 today have never been married, compared to 26% in 1990. Even though an increasing number of people choose to not get married, that doesn’t mean they don’t want or like to be in a relationship.
But finding the right partner is a tricky endeavor, especially if you are looking at the wrong place or have few options to choose from. Some cities encourage dating simply by having more nightlife options as well as fun sights to visit during the day; others either don’t have so many or they cost too much.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed the portion of the adult population who is single in all U.S. metro areas, the concentration of restaurants and bars, and income levels to determine the worst cities for singles. Less than half of the adult population in all 25 cities on the following list is single. And the annual personal income in all of them as well is is below the national average. The cities offer less than the national average number or places for social interaction per capita.
Click here to see America’s worst cities for singles.
Source: RobHainer / Getty Images
25. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida
> Single population: 49.7%
> Total 15+ population: 530,507
> Annual personal income: $34,857
> Cost of living: 7.1% less than the national average
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Source: washuotaku / Flickr
24. Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, North Carolina
> Single population: 45.3%
> Total 15+ population: 300,794
> Annual personal income: $40,747
> Cost of living: 13.3% less than the national average
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
23. Laredo, Texas
> Single population: 49.8%
> Total 15+ population: 193,020
> Annual personal income: $32,222
> Cost of living: 10.9% less than the national average
Source: Ifistand / Getty Images
22. Clarksville, Tennessee
> Single population: 44.9%
> Total 15+ population: 214,243
> Annual personal income: $41,218
> Cost of living: 9.6% less than the national average
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Source: Jeffrey Schreier / Getty Images
21. Decatur, Alabama
> Single population: 45.0%
> Total 15+ population: 123,876
> Annual personal income: $41,078
> Cost of living: 15.7% less than the national average
Source: greeleygov / Flickr
20. Greeley, Colorado
> Single population: 43.1%
> Total 15+ population: 221,197
> Annual personal income: $42,597
> Cost of living: 0.8% less than the national average
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Source: Zereshk / Wikimedia Commons
19. Prescott, Arizona
> Single population: 44.3%
> Total 15+ population: 189,802
> Annual personal income: $36,614
> Cost of living: 4.4% less than the national average
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
18. Morristown, Tennessee
> Single population: 44.8%
> Total 15+ population: 95,419
> Annual personal income: $41,844
> Cost of living: 20.5% less than the national average
Source: AngelMcNallphotography / Getty Images
17. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona
> Single population: 47.7%
> Total 15+ population: 174,184
> Annual personal income: $31,589
> Cost of living: 8.2% less than the national average
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Source: mcpuckette / Getty Images
16. Fort Smith, Arkansas, Oklahoma
> Single population: 45.1%
> Total 15+ population: 224,458
> Annual personal income: $39,825
> Cost of living: 15.4% less than the national average
Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images
15. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
> Single population: 42.3%
> Total 15+ population: 84,590
> Annual personal income: $45,440
> Cost of living: 3.9% less than the national average
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Source: Bubba73 (Jud McCranie) / Wikimedia Commons
14. Hinesville, Georgia
> Single population: 44.6%
> Total 15+ population: 59,898
> Annual personal income: $33,852
> Cost of living: 9.7% less than the national average
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Source: Photoladybug / Getty Images
13. Punta Gorda, Florida
> Single population: 43.6%
> Total 15+ population: 155,406
> Annual personal income: $40,320
> Cost of living: 5.3% less than the national average
Source: Warren-Pender / Getty Images
12. Sebring, Florida
> Single population: 44.2%
> Total 15+ population: 85,587
> Annual personal income: $38,248
> Cost of living: 17.4% less than the national average
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Source: kenlund / Flickr
11. Logan, Utah
> Single population: 42.4%
> Total 15+ population: 98,285
> Annual personal income: $37,401
> Cost of living: 8.9% less than the national average
Source: DavieJones13 / Getty Images
10. Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas
> Single population: 47.8%
> Total 15+ population: 310,732
> Annual personal income: $31,569
> Cost of living: 16.2% less than the national average
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Source: DavidByronKeener / Getty Images
9. Idaho Falls, Idaho
> Single population: 39.2%
> Total 15+ population: 102,760
> Annual personal income: $44,785
> Cost of living: 10.2% less than the national average
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
8. Dalton, Georgia
> Single population: 44.0%
> Total 15+ population: 112,025
> Annual personal income: $39,283
> Cost of living: 16.6% less than the national average
Source: Panida Jittham / Getty Images
7. Yuma, Arizona
> Single population: 42.5%
> Total 15+ population: 160,012
> Annual personal income: $35,135
> Cost of living: 8.6% less than the national average
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Source: tirc83 / Getty Images
6. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
> Single population: 46.5%
> Total 15+ population: 603,493
> Annual personal income: $28,943
> Cost of living: 15.5% less than the national average
Source: kenlund / Flickr
5. St. George, Utah
> Single population: 38.9%
> Total 15+ population: 119,610
> Annual personal income: $35,283
> Cost of living: 5.4% less than the national average
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Source: kenlund / Flickr
4. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah
> Single population: 39.3%
> Total 15+ population: 471,902
> Annual personal income: $40,928
> Cost of living: 4.9% less than the national average
Source: Spenser A / Getty Images
3. Provo-Orem, Utah
> Single population: 40.2%
> Total 15+ population: 415,089
> Annual personal income: $37,126
> Cost of living: 3.2% less than the national average
Source: Michael Warren / Getty Images
2. The Villages, Florida
> Single population: 34.5%
> Total 15+ population: 109,591
> Annual personal income: $43,974
> Cost of living: 6.9% less than the national average
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Source: jopoe / Flickr
1. Enid, Oklahoma
> Single population: 43.5%
> Total 15+ population: 48,524
> Annual personal income: $46,774
> Cost of living: 9.6% less than the national average
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