The 15 Best Cities To Live For Singles

Despite what some romantic comedies might have viewers believe, being single in the city can be exhilarating – especially if those places offer ample opportunities to have more solo experiences and meet new people safely and affordably. Though various online dating sites and apps can help people find love and friendship anywhere, these cities offer more events, communities and amenities to do so in person.

Finding The Best Cities For Singles

The researchers at BestPlaces.net used the following metrics to determine places for enjoying singlehood, meeting people with similar interests, building new friendships and/or finding love.

• Percent of population aged 25+ who are single
• Amenities
• Cultural opportunities
• Recreation opportunities
• Violent crime rate
• Unemployment rate
• Cost of living

Based on data curated and ranked by BestPlaces.net and Rocket Homes^SM, these are the best U.S. cities for singles to live in 2023.

1. San Francisco, California

• Metro population: 4,725,584
• Percent of single residents 25+: 38.6%

There’s a better chance of meeting people in San Francisco, where the population density is higher than 99% of the major metro areas across the country. And with mountain ranges, beaches, Silicon Valley, wine country and busy metro areas nearby, it can be easier to find others with similar lifestyles and interests. The city also often ranks as one of America’s most LGBTQ+ friendly cities, with some of the most prominent communities and celebrations in the country.

2. New York City, New York

• Metro population: 20,011,812
• Percent of single residents 25+: 39.7%

With hundreds of museums, performance halls and music venues and countless other enriching institutions, New York City ranks in the top 1% of the country for its cultural opportunities. This gives singles plenty of chances to explore and grow on their own – or with a family, someday, if they so choose. Not only is the Big Apple one of the best cities for singles, it’s also one of the best cities for families – in part because of its many cultural offerings. And since New York City is known for its walkability and large, efficient public transportation system, residents can get to most of these places without needing a car or dealing with the infamous NYC traffic. 

3. Los Angeles, California

• Metro population: 13,202,558
• Percent of single residents 25+: 40.2%

From its 25 miles of beaches along a stunning coastline to its 63,000 acres of parks, lakes and natural areas, Los Angeles ranks in the top 1% of the country for recreation opportunities. Singles itching to spend solo time outdoors can find solitude on a surfboard, nearby mountaintop, inside a botanical garden or along a scenic drive. Or, they can gather friends and hit one of the many famed restaurants or bars in LA’s nightlife hotspots. And with more celebrity residents than any other city, there’s also a greater chance of making a famous friend.

4. Providence, Rhode Island

• Metro population: 1,668,019
• Percent of single residents 25+: 39.3%

Creative singles will find their niche – and some great date spots – in one of 15 neighborhoods in Providence. Along the Riverwalk, residents can take in a multisensory art installation called WaterFire, held multiple times throughout the year and featuring bonfires and live music on the city’s three rivers. Curious minds can explore the many museums or go on a ghost tour in College Hill, while foodies can take culinary tours and cooking classes in Federal Hill.

5. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

• Metro population: 6,105,897
• Percent of single residents 25+: 42.4%

Those looking to build friendships – or more – with other single people may have luck in Fort Lauderdale, which has a higher percentage of singles than 98% of the biggest metros in the country. And the city’s residents are looking to mingle. According to a 2023 report by Meetup.com, it ranks in the top five most active cities on the social site. Meetup.com is a place for finding and building like-minded communities and is popular among users for hosting events and gatherings around the city and meeting others based on similar interests.

6. Portland, Oregon

• Metro population: 2,493,429
• Percent of single residents 25+: 37%

With more amenities than 95% of metro areas in the country, Portland has several dating opportunities and places to meet someone or hang with new friends. That includes breweries and coffee shops (the city is known for its craft beer and coffee, after all). Other spots include hundreds of food carts, more than 200 parks and gardens and the one and only Portland Saturday Market – the country’s largest continuously running, open-air arts and crafts fair.

7. Tampa, Florida

• Metro population: 3,146,074
• Percent of single residents 25+: 40.7%

Tampa ranks in the top 10% of metro areas across the country for its lower cost of living. Adding to the city’s affordability is the fact that Florida has no income tax. That can make it easier to live in the area with a single income, while still enjoying the splendors of single life safely. U.S. News and World Report even ranked Tampa one of the safest places to live in 2023.

8. Chicago, Illinois

• Metro population: 9,607,711
• Percent of single resident 25+: 37.5%

Famous for its architecture, museums, pizza and sports, Chicago has more cultural offerings than 98% of the country. The city’s diversity also helps create a place to meet people from all different kinds of backgrounds and with many different lifestyles. From past to present, all walks of life have resided in one of the city’s 77 neighborhoods – from notorious mobsters and rappers to renowned talk show hosts, EGOT-winning actresses and even U.S. presidents.

9. San Diego, California

• Metro population: 3,296,317
• Percent of single residents 25+: 36.6% 

Near-perfect weather isn’t the only thing you’ll encounter in San Diego year-round. With a higher population density than 95% of metro areas in the country, America’s Finest City gives residents a greater chance of meeting new people every day. Known for its beaches, parks and world-famous zoo, San Diego has plenty of places to meet up with new-found friends.

10.  New Haven, Connecticut

• Metro population: 864,751
• Percent of single residents 25+: 40.4%

New Haven ranks in the top 10% of the country’s largest metros for its high percentage of singles who are 25 and older. There’s plenty for single residents to enjoy solo, as a duo or in a group within the city, which features 40 miles of shoreline, several orchards and farms and the world’s largest indoor ropes course. And residents looking for flowers won’t need anyone to buy them – during the Daffodil Festival, they can view more than 600,000 bulbs blooming at Hubbard Park.

11.  Boston, Massachusetts

• Metro population: 4,912,030
• Percent of single residents 25+: 36.5%

Younger singles in Boston may feel less anxiety about meeting people their age. Not only is it one of the least stressed cities in America, it’s also a place where the median age of its residents is around 32 and about one-third of the population is between the ages of 25 and 45. The metropolitan area – home to Harvard University and MIT – is also home to a highly educated population, with more than half of adult residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

12.  Seattle, Washington

• Metro population: 3,971,125
• Percent of single residents 25+: 36%

Outdoor enthusiasts may find their home in Seattle, which sits at the top 1% of cities across the country for outdoor recreation offerings. These include all kinds of water activities in the bay, whale watching, acres of city parks and scenic hikes on Mount Si or Mount Rainier. The Emerald City is also one of the most sustainable cities in the country.

13.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Metro population: 6,215,222
• Percent of single residents 25+: 39.25%

It’s hard not to fall in love when taking a stroll in Philadelphia – more walkable than 98% of the country’s large cities. On any given day, a resident’s commute may take them on a tour of American history, through a magic mosaic garden or to the city’s iconic Love Sign. Hopeless romantics can also hop on the Market-Frankford Line to read rooftop love letters to the city and its residents. The 50-mural collection by Steve Powers was completed in 2010 in partnership with Philly’s Mural Arts Program.

14.  Eugene, Oregon

• Metro population: 380,532
• Percent of single residents 25+: 37.6%

Singles with four-legged friends will be happy to know that Eugene is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the U.S. One reason it makes the list is due to its abundance of greenspaces, parks and hiking trails, which are also great places to meet people with similar interests. There are also tons of other places to meet singles – with or without a dog – including public markets, wineries and music venues.

15.  Asheville, North Carolina

• Metro population: 465,558
• Percent of single residents 25+: 38.8%

It can be hard to feel alone in Asheville, a small city surrounded by mountains, forests and other natural splendors. With ample hiking opportunities, a thriving arts scene and growing culinary and craft beer culture, the “Paris of the South” gives residents plenty to see, taste and experience on their own or with friends.

Methodology: Finding The Best Cities To Live For Singles

In this study, we reveal the best places in the United States for singles.  Our study looks at the resources of metropolitan areas which provide the conditions for singles to meet and connect with each other. We focus on singles over the age of 25, avoiding the trap of focusing on the places which look like they have a high concentration of singles, but which may be primarily college students. We chose metrics which are as current as possible (as of February 2023) and as detailed as possible to provide the most relevant insight.

The places analyzed in our study are the 150 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.  These 150 metro areas are home to nearly three-fourths (74%) of all U.S. residents.  Metropolitan areas are particularly useful for our rankings because they include not only each area's major cities but also the surrounding counties which include the suburbs.

Each data category is normalized and transformed to a common range of 0-100 points for scoring and comparison. Weights are applied to each metric which reflects its importance in the study.  The weighted scores for each metric are summed to create the overall best places for singles score for each place. The final scores are sorted to produce the final rankings.

Other statistics and sources were used in this study including the following: