Singles looking to meet someone may want to set their sights on Atlanta and Las Vegas, and avoid Brownsville in Texas and Pearl City in Hawaii, both of which were found to rank low in terms of dating opportunities and entertainment options, according to a new study.
WalletHub compared 182 U.S. cities, including the 150 most populated cities as well as at least two of the most populated cities in each state, across three core dimensions, which include economics, fun & recreation, and dating opportunities.
Those categories were evaluated using 35 different metrics—including factors like the cost of a meal and movie tickets, the number of restaurants and nightlife options per capita, and the share of the population that is single. Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale, and cities were ranked based on their weighted average.
WalletHub ranked Atlanta as the best city for singles, giving it an overall score of 64.15 out of 100. The study found that Atlanta offers an “extremely high number of attractions, restaurants, and nightlife activities,” giving singles a wide variety of venues for dates. It also stood out for the number of shopping centers, spas, and social clubs per capita.
Beyond nightlife and entertainment, the study said Atlanta benefits from a deeper dating pool, noting that around 70 percent of the city’s population is single, the ninth-highest share among cities included. WalletHub also highlighted Atlanta’s transportation accessibility—ranking it 30th-most accessible—and pointed to the city’s 16th-highest median annual household income, exceeding $85,000, as another advantage for singles looking for financially stable partners.
Las Vegas, Nevada, came in second with an overall score of 63.71, with WalletHub describing it as one of the best cities for nightlife, attractions, and restaurants. The report singled out Las Vegas for its high number of music festivals, spas, shopping centers, and social clubs, adding that the city ranked in the lower half nationally for most dating-related costs.
Las Vegas ranked especially well for appearance-related expenses, with the lowest haircut costs, the 12th-lowest fitness club membership costs, and the 64th-lowest beauty salon costs among the cities evaluated. The report further said Las Vegas had the 37th-closest gender balance among single people.
Rounding out the top three was Tampa, Florida, with a score of 62.73. WalletHub highlighted Tampa’s variety of attractions and restaurants and pointed to strong rankings for the number of social clubs, shopping centers, and coffee and tea shops, making it a standout for date-night options.
The study also emphasized Tampa’s economic appeal, noting the city holds the 65th-highest median household income in the country—over $73,000 per year, adjusted for cost of living—and describing its growing economy as a draw for career-minded professionals. Tampa also ranked well for demographics, with a “relatively high share” of single people and the 13th-best gender balance among singles.
At the bottom of the list was Brownsville, Texas, which WalletHub ranked as the worst city for singles with an overall score of 37.09 out of 100. The city ranked last for dating opportunities and placed 166th in fun and recreation.
Brownsville was followed by Pearl City, Hawaii (overall score 39.20), which WalletHub said ranked among the top five cities with the most expensive movie tickets—along with Honolulu, which also appeared in the movie theater price grouping.
The third-worst city for singles was Yonkers in New York (overall score 39.32), followed by Hialeah, Florida (overall score 40.74), which WalletHub noted ranked among the five cities with the highest beauty salon costs as well as the highest rent for a one-bedroom apartment. Port St. Lucie in Florida rounded out the bottom five with a score of 40.99.
The data for the study was compiled using sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI, Numbeo, HUD, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Walk Score, Google Trends, and other major public datasets and platforms, with information collected as of November 4, 2025.
10 of the Best Cities for Singles
- Atlanta, GA — 64.15 (overall score out of 100)
- Las Vegas, NV — 63.71
- Tampa, FL — 62.73
- Seattle, WA — 62.32
- Denver, CO — 61.15
- Austin, TX – 60.71
- Pittsburgh, PA – 60.63
- Orlando, FL – 60.51
- St. Louis, MO – 60.27
- Portland, OR – 60.26
10 of the Worst Cities for Singles
- Brownsville, TX — 37.09 (overall score out of 100)
- Pearl City, HI — 39.20
- Yonkers, NY — 39.32
- Hialeah, FL — 40.74
- Port St. Lucie, FL — 40.99
- Grand Prairie, TX – 41.94
- Pembroke Pines, FL – 41.95
- Glendale, CA – 41.99
- Little Rock, AR – 42.11
- Jackson, MS – 42.72
Source: The rankings are based on a study by WalletHub, which compared 182 U.S. cities, including the 150 most populated cities as well as at least two of the most populated cities in each state, across three core dimensions, which include economics, fun & recreation, and dating opportunities.
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