Results from a recent study indicate that the Sunshine State may seem gloomy for singles. Florida finished in last place among all 50 states in a study conducted by a data aggregation site, Spokeo.com. The finding comes less than six months after WalletHub ranked Florida as the No. 1 state for singles.
Key Findings
- Massachusetts is the best state for singles in 2024.
- New York has the highest percentage of never-married adults above age 15, while Wyoming has the lowest.
- South Dakota has the least confidence and romance scams per 100,000 residents, while Arizona has the most.
To determine the best states for singles, Spokeo compared eight ranking factors across all 50 states. Here are the factors Spokeo considered when weighing our rankings:
- Percent of never-married adults above 15 per state – 20%
- Confidence/romance crime victims per state per capita – 15%
- Mental health providers per state per capita – 15%
- Unemployment rate per state – 15%
- Cost of living annual average – 15%
- States most likely to ghost you – 10%
- Formal volunteers per state per capita – 5%
- Registered voters per state per capita – 5%
Spokeo gave each state a score based on these factors and assigned a ranking. We deemed the states with the highest scores the best states for singles in the U.S.
Overall Rank | State | Percent Never-Married Above 15 Per State Ranking | Confidence/Romance Crimes by State (victim count) Per Capita Ranking | Mental Health Providers Per State 2023 Per Capita Ranking | State Unemployment Rates March 2024 Ranking | Cost of Living 2023 Annual Average Ranking | States Most Likely to Ghost You Ranking | Formal Volunteers Per State 2021 Ranking Per Capita | Registered Voters Per State Nov 2022 Per Capita Ranking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Massachusetts | 4 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 49 | 19 | 30 | 30 |
2 | Mississippi | 19 | 2 | 40 | 14 | 2 | 13 | 39 | 8 |
3 | Louisiana | 5 | 3 | 19 | 42 | 13 | 31 | 37 | 23 |
4 | Michigan | 16 | 18 | 20 | 35 | 10 | 3 | 26 | 37 |
5 | South Dakota | 39 | 1 | 38 | 2 | 17 | 19 | 5 | 24 |
6 | Connecticut | 7 | 10 | 8 | 43 | 39 | 19 | 13 | 26 |
7 | Iowa | 37 | 8 | 44 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
8 | Nebraska | 35 | 25 | 24 | 4 | 12 | 15 | 6 | 40 |
9 | Minnesota | 24 | 27 | 21 | 7 | 21 | 37 | 4 | 11 |
10 | Kansas | 39 | 24 | 37 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 8 | 16 |
11 | Wisconsin | 21 | 17 | 32 | 14 | 24 | 19 | 25 | 18 |
12 | Vermont | 31 | 39 | 4 | 3 | 43 | 5 | 11 | 15 |
13 | Georgia | 11 | 11 | 48 | 17 | 11 | 37 | 44 | 12 |
14 | Oklahoma | 45 | 30 | 12 | 27 | 1 | 10 | 33 | 7 |
15 | Illinois | 7 | 7 | 25 | 46 | 16 | 46 | 16 | 47 |
16 | Hawaii | 14 | 26 | 27 | 17 | 50 | 2 | 47 | 3 |
17 | Marlyand | 9 | 35 | 18 | 4 | 45 | 29 | 32 | 44 |
18 | New Mexico | 5 | 45 | 11 | 32 | 20 | 43 | 43 | 5 |
19 | Pennsylvania | 16 | 15 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 22 | 43 |
20 | Indiana | 33 | 21 | 43 | 27 | 13 | 7 | 18 | 13 |
21 | Rhode Island | 3 | 29 | 7 | 38 | 38 | 50 | 42 | 1 |
22 | North Carolina | 29 | 12 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 31 | 31 | 14 |
23 | Wyoming | 50 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 17 | 48 | 1 | 31 |
24 | Virginia | 23 | 34 | 36 | 11 | 32 | 15 | 19 | 21 |
25 | Alabama | 37 | 6 | 50 | 14 | 5 | 31 | 46 | 27 |
26 | Delaware | 28 | 23 | 23 | 35 | 31 | 17 | 10 | 17 |
27 | Tennessee | 41 | 14 | 45 | 20 | 8 | 19 | 29 | 28 |
28 | New York | 1 | 13 | 17 | 40 | 47 | 40 | 38 | 48 |
29 | California | 2 | 33 | 10 | 50 | 48 | 4 | 48 | 35 |
30 | Missouri | 32 | 40 | 35 | 22 | 6 | 19 | 9 | 42 |
31 | Utah | 33 | 42 | 14 | 9 | 34 | 31 | 2 | 33 |
32 | New Hampshire | 43 | 22 | 15 | 6 | 41 | 43 | 14 | 9 |
33 | Oregon | 24 | 46 | 3 | 39 | 42 | 1 | 15 | 32 |
34 | Ohio | 20 | 19 | 22 | 32 | 23 | 46 | 28 | 49 |
35 | Colorado | 21 | 36 | 9 | 31 | 35 | 41 | 20 | 19 |
36 | Kentucky | 41 | 5 | 28 | 43 | 15 | 19 | 36 | 38 |
37 | North Dakota | 26 | 47 | 39 | 1 | 22 | 48 | 21 | 2 |
38 | Maine | 48 | 28 | 5 | 22 | 37 | 37 | 3 | 6 |
39 | South Carolina | 30 | 31 | 41 | 17 | 24 | 8 | 35 | 45 |
40 | New Jersey | 11 | 9 | 29 | 46 | 40 | 26 | 45 | 46 |
41 | Alaska | 10 | 48 | 2 | 45 | 46 | 26 | 23 | 22 |
42 | Washington | 26 | 37 | 6 | 46 | 44 | 10 | 24 | 20 |
43 | Arkansas | 47 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 7 | 8 | 40 | 34 |
44 | Montana | 43 | 44 | 16 | 22 | 33 | 26 | 7 | 4 |
45 | Texas | 18 | 20 | 49 | 35 | 19 | 41 | 41 | 36 |
46 | Idaho | 49 | 38 | 34 | 22 | 28 | 5 | 17 | 39 |
47 | West Virginia | 46 | 43 | 47 | 40 | 4 | 18 | 34 | 25 |
48 | Nevada | 13 | 49 | 33 | 49 | 30 | 31 | 49 | 41 |
49 | Arizona | 14 | 50 | 46 | 32 | 36 | 43 | 27 | 29 |
50 | Florida | 35 | 41 | 42 | 20 | 29 | 31 | 50 | 50 |
More on why Spokeo picked these factors and how Spokeo analyzed them:
- Percent of never-married adults above 15 per state (20%): We referred to the most recent American Community Survey Data from 2022 to get the percentage of never-married adults per state. We included this data to consider the number of singles in each state. States with a high number of adults in this category were ranked higher. Note: Data from Spokeo’s own databases was not used in this analysis, as Spokeo only maintains data on adults 18 and over.
- Confidence/romance crime victims per state per capita (15%): We referred to the most recent data from the Internet Crime Complaint Center to find the total number of confidence/romance crime victims per state. To make the data more relevant across states, we calculated the average number of victims per 100,000 people. To do so, we divided the number of scams by the state’s population, then multiplied that value by 100,000 to get the number of confidence/romance crime victims per capita. Some states may have higher crime rates due to higher population size. We included this data since this can indicate how safe a state may be from catfishers and romance scammers. States with a high number of victims per capita were ranked lower.
- Mental health providers per state per capita (15%): We referred to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps‘ most recent data on the number of mental health providers in each state. Similar to crime victims, we also calculated mental health providers per 100,000 residents. We included this data since recent dating trends suggest that emotional intelligence, self-improvement, and general openness to discussing mental health and going to therapy are all important criteria for modern singles. States with a high number of mental health providers per capita were ranked higher.
- Unemployment rate per state (15%): We referred to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent data on state unemployment rates. We included this data to consider the area’s livability and the likelihood of making a living. Recent studies also suggest that modern singles are protective of their money and debt, and financial issues can pose problems for relationships. States with high unemployment rates were ranked lower.
- Cost of living annual average (15%): We referred to the most recent cost of living data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. We included this data to consider the area’s livability and the ongoing rise in the cost of living. States with high costs of living were ranked lower.
- States most likely to ghost you (10%): We referred to survey data from a recent Forbes Health survey that found the states where you’re most likely to be ghosted. We included this data to consider the possibility of getting ghosted since it’s especially prevalent for younger Americans. States with a high score were ranked lower.
- Formal volunteers per state per capita (5%): We referred to the 2021 AmeriCorps and U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement to find each state’s total number of formal volunteers. Similar to crime victims, we also calculated formal volunteers per 100,000 residents for each state. We included this data since recent dating trends suggest that modern singles are looking for those who are more attuned and involved with social causes and politics. A recent study also found that not caring about politics was a dating red flag for men and women. States with a higher number of formal volunteers per capita were ranked higher.
- Registered voters per state per capita (5%): We referred to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data to find the total number of registered voters in each state. Similar to crime victims, we also calculated registered voters per 100,000 residents for each state. We included this data since recent dating trends suggest that modern singles are looking for those who are more attuned and involved with social causes and politics. A recent study also found that not caring about politics was a dating red flag for men and women. States with a higher number of registered voters per capita were ranked higher.
Source list:
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2023 (State Population Totals)
- U.S. Census Bureau 2022 ACS 1-Year Estimates Subject Tables
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) 2023 State Reports
- County Health Rankings & Roadmaps Mental Health Providers
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics State Unemployment Rates March 2024
- Missouri Economic Research and Information Center Cost of Living 2023 Annual Average
- Forbes Health Ghosting Survey 2023
- AmeriCorps and U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement 2021
- U.S. Census Bureau Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2022 (Table 4c)