The 5 best cities for singles — and the 5 worst in 2026

WalletHub set out to find the best and worst places for singles, analyzing more than 150 U.S. cities across dozens of metrics

It’s not easy to find love. But could where you live be making it harder? 

WalletHub was determined to find out, analyzing 182 cities across the United States to find the best and worst places for singles in 2026. It compared each place across three main categories: economics; fun and recreation; and dating opportunities, considering 35 specific metrics ranging from the percentage of single people in the area, the average cost of a meal for two, and the number of nightlife options per capita.

“The already difficult process of finding the perfect partner can be made even tougher when cities lack the conditions necessary to make dating successful,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “The best cities for singles have large, gender-balanced single populations, along with a wide variety of indoor, outdoor, daytime, and nighttime activities. 

“They also have reasonable prices for dating activities or high average incomes to help ease the sting of inflation,” Lupo added.

Continue reading to see the best and worst places for singles in 2026.

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5th best: Denver, Colorado 

John Coletti / Getty Images

If you live an active lifestyle, Denver is a great place to look for love. While a night out isn't the cheapest—a movie ticket averages........

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