Now that vaccines are widely available and COVID-19 cases are on the wane, many singles are ready to get out there again—and perhaps meet that special someone.

Those living in San Francisco may have an edge in the game of love. The city was named the best place to be single, according to a recent report from Cinch Home Services. Cinch provides home warranties on major appliances and system breakdowns.

“I’m not surprised,” says San Francisco–area real estate broker Herman Chan, with Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Real Estate. He notes the city is popular with younger residents as well as solo boomers eager to socialize. “San Francisco is a great draw for singles because it has a lot of top-tier universities, and lots of startups are here. And it’s really easy to go out and zip around.”

To come up with its findings, Cinch looked at the 100 largest cities. They were ranked by a combination of the percentage of the population that is single; average wages after taxes; median rent for a one-bedroom apartment; and the number and ratings of recreational activities.

Notoriously expensive San Francisco may seem like an odd top pick considering that one of the criteria was rental prices. But its high numbers of single residents and plethora of things to do helped the city take the top spot. And while it has long been one of the most expensive real estate markets in the nation, prices fell dramatically during the height of the pandemic.

While rents fell about 20%, they began rebounding in the beginning of the year, according to Patrick Carlisle, chief market analyst of the San Francisco Bay Area for Compass. Median prices for one-bedroom apartments in the city were $2,330 in July, according to Apartment List.

“Now that the tech companies are calling back their workers and the economy is improving, the single people are coming back for their jobs,” says Chan. That’s pushed up prices, but he says they’re not back to their pre-pandemic level.

It also may be easier to be romantically unattached in many of the larger cities where the dating pools are larger and there are plenty of places to plan a hot date.

San Francisco was followed by Chicago; Atlanta; Seattle; Los Angeles; New York City; Boston; Houston; Pittsburgh; and Philadelphia.

Smaller cities didn’t fare as well for singles. Chesapeake, VA, topped the list of worst cities for those looking for mates. It was followed by Gilbert, AZ, and Irving, TX.

The post These Are the Best—and Worst—Places for Singles To Live appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.