There are more unmarried Americans than ever before, and these are the five best US cities for singles looking to take full advantage of their independence.
If you’re single this Valentine’s Day, you’re far from alone. In fact, there are more singles in the United States than ever before.
According to a 2017 survey from the US Census Bureau, there are now 110.6 million unmarried people over the age of 18, or 42.5% of all adults. This represents a sea change from half a century ago; in 1960, 72% of adults were married. Of single Americans, 63% have never been married and a full 53% are women – that’s a lot of single ladies.
The very institution of long-term partnership is rapidly changing in the US, too, as more people are putting off marriage until they’re older or opting out of it entirely. The median age for marriage in 2017 for men was 29.5 and 27.4 for women; it was 23 and 20.8, respectively, in 1970. Plus, more than half of Americans believe getting married isn’t an important milestone for a happy adulthood.
Even though single people are a more powerful force than ever, not all cities are made for singles to thrive in equally. So, if you’re a solo traveler looking for adventures with like-minded people, or someone looking to move to a city where you can make the most of your independence, where should you go?Woman gazing at the city skyline. © Jeremy Lips / Alamy Stock Photo
To find out, we asked Culture Trip’s community of creators to tell us the best American cities for single citizens to live, work, play and build community in outside of a relationship – not just for them to hook up in. Respondents selected the five best cities out of 50 choices, and then we looked at which had the highest percentage of people searching for “singles” and “solo travel.” This killer combination gave us a list of cities perfect for inspired autonomy. Use this guide to pick your next city, whether you’re packing your bags for a weekend trip or with a one-way ticket in your pocket.
