These Are the Best Cities for Singles Looking for Love—and the Ones To Avoid

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Looking for love? You might want to move to Minneapolis.

The Midwestern city was named the best for single young professionals by RentHop.

“It’s appealing because theres’s a lot of dating opportunities and young single people,” says Shane Lee, a data scientist at RentHop. “It has a low unemployment rate, and the median income for single people is above average compared to other cities.”

Plus, rents in the city are relatively affordable at a median of $1,525 a month, according to RentHop. The median home price for those eager to become homeowners was $294,700 in January—more than $100,000 less than the national median price of $409,500.

RentHop looked at career opportunities, cost of living, and dating opportunities in the 100 largest cities in the country to come up with its findings. These included things like local unemployment rates, median household incomes, percentage of the population between the ages of 20 and 34, and percentage of residents who are single, along with other metrics.

Finding love might be top of mind for many Americans this Valentine’s Day. Nearly half of all adults, 46.4%, are single, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That adds up to about 117.6 million unmarried adults. (Couples who aren’t married were counted as single.)

While these folks can always turn to a dating app or ask their friends to set them up, there are some cities where it just might be easier to have that magic meet-cute moment than others.

More than half of the top 10 cities for single professionals were in the Midwest, where real estate prices have typically been more affordable. Those lower prices have enabled many unattached folks to live comfortably on their own in rentalsor even in their own homes, says Lee.

College towns such as Minneapolis, Madison, WI, and Columbus, OH, also ranked highly on the list because there were more unattached, younger people in those areas. These cities also tended to be livelier with plenty of romantic restaurants and entertainment options for those planning dates.

“If there are more single young people, you’re more likely to find love,” says Lee.

On the flip side, the worst city for single young professionals was New York City. While the city is home to lots of singles and things to do, it also has exorbitant real estate prices. The median rent in the City That Never Sleeps was a median $4,000 a month. That’s tough to manage on just one salary.

“With that kind of median rent, there’s [almost] no way that someone making $50,000 or $60,000 a year can find housing for themselves,” says Lee. This assumes they’re not receiving some sort of financial assistance or getting a great deal. “That’s why many people have roommates in the city.”

Seven of the worst cities for single professionals were in California. New York City was followed by Hialeah, FL; Fremont, CA; Bakersfield, CA; and Anaheim, CA. Rounding out the top were Henderson, NV; Irvine, CA; Chula Vista, CA; Stockton, CA; and Fresno, CA.

The top cities for single young professionals

1. Minneapolis, MN
Median monthly rent: $1,525*

615 S 8th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404
This centrally located one-bedroom apartment is renting for $1,590 in Minneapolis, MN.

Realtor.com

Minneapolis, also known as the City of Lakes, isn’t just a place for singles to score a Tinder date. It’s also a good place for young professionals to launch a career.

The area is home to the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, and the school’s more than 50,000 students. It’s also the headquarters of large companies such as Target and Best Buy. The metropolitan area boasted a low unemployment rate of just 2.4% in December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2. Madison, WI
Median monthly rent: $1,550

Apartments in this Madison, WI, building range from $1,310 to $1,775 a month.

Realtor.com

The capital of Wisconsin is another big college town, thanks to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. That helps explain why about a third of the city’s population are between the ages of 20 and 34, prime dating ages, according to RentHop.

Bonus: Nearly two-thirds of the local population is unmarried, according to the rental site.

3. St. Paul, MN
Median monthly rent: $1,167

A one-bedroom, loft-style apartment goes for $1,200 a month in St. Paul, MN.

Realtor.com

Just a 15- to 20-minute drive east of Minneapolis lies St. Paul. Besides the area’s low unemployment, a big selling point of the state capital of Minnesota is the lower rental prices.

Literary lovers can geek out over the city being the birthplace of F. Scott Fitzgerald, who wrote “The Great Gatsby.”

4. Pittsburgh, PA
Median monthly rent: $1,395

2239 Railroad St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
One-bedroom apartments start at $1,045 a month in this newly built apartment complex in Pittsburgh, PA.

Realtor.com

Pittsburgh is a Rust Belt city that blends real estate affordability with a whole lot of young singles. More than two-thirds of the population is unmarried, a boon for those looking to meet someone special.

That might be highly possible as the city is home to the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.

5. Cincinnati, OH
Median monthly rent: $1,250

135 Garfield Pl, Cincinnati, OH 45202
This downtown Cincinnati, OH, complex offers apartments and townhomes for rent ranging from $1,300 to $1,800 a month.

Realtor.com

Another Rust Belt city on the list, Cincinnati scored highly thanks to its low cost of living—which is just what many singles are looking for today.

Tip: Take a date to the Findlay Market, the state’s oldest continuously operated market, where you can browse food vendors.

6. Atlanta, GA
Median monthly rent: $2,100

4021 Melvin Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30331
This charming three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Atlanta, GA, is renting for $2,000 a month.

Realtor.com

The only Southern city to make this list, Atlanta has plenty of Fortune 500 companies, including Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, and Home Depot. That’s good news for recent grads and young professionals looking for good jobs.

Plus, the city is known for its restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment where you could catch the eye of someone special.

7. Denver, CO
Median monthly rent: $2,000

19153 E 65th Bedroom Pl Unit Primary, Denver, CO 80249
For $1,500 a month, you can rent this 1,250-square-foot townhouse in Denver, CO.

Realtor.com

Denver is a popular city for younger folks, thanks to its outdoorsy culture, lots of fun things to do, and thriving craft beer scene.

For those looking to impress their dates, a sunset concert at the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre might just do the trick.

8. Lincoln, NE
Median monthly rent: $1,100

8320 Rockledge Rd, Lincoln, NE 68506
This cozy one-bedroom apartment is renting for $1,140 a month in Lincoln, NE.

Realtor.com

Those looking for cheap rents might want to head to Lincoln. The state capital of Nebraska offers tenants the best deal on this list, with median rents at just $1,100 a month.

It’s also home to the University of Nebraska and the school’s Cornhuskers football fans.

9. Seattle, WA
Median monthly rent: $2,050

311 Cedar St, Seattle, WA 98121
You can rent a one-bedroom apartment in Seattle, WA, with spectacular views of the Space Needle for between $1,840 to $2,000 a month.

Realtor.com

There are plenty of good-paying jobs in this tech hub, where companies such as Starbucks and Amazon are based. There is also no shortage of things to do on a Friday night, great for the roughly one-third of the city’s population between the ages of 20 and 34.

10. Columbus, OH
Median monthly rent: $1,360

Apartments in this centrally located building in Columbus, OH, range from $1,195 to $1,969 a month.

Realtor.com

The state capital is known for many things, including Ohio State University, lots of good restaurants, and a low unemployment rate.

Take a date on a stroll through German Village, settled by German immigrants in the mid-19th century. The neighborhood offers picturesque architecture and lots of good shopping.

* Rental prices are from August through January for listings on RentHop.

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