WASHINGTON — Cuffing season is already well underway, which the singles among us might know all too well. If you're living in D.C. and trying to hunt down a holi-date for Christmas dinner, or a New Year's kiss by midnight, you might want to start with a plane ticket.
According to the experts at personal-finance website WalletHub, the District is far from the number one spot to date on their list, which compiled research to rank America's best and worst cities for singles.
WalletHub's experts assessed 36 key indicators of dating-friendliness in each city, with a data set ranging from the share of singles in a population to the number of online dating opportunities and the average price for a two-person meal or a pair of movie tickets. They also looked at the average taxi fare, how much a haircut or visit to the beauty salon will set you back, the share of nightlife and fitness centers and even the weather and walkability.
The experts analyzed the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state.
Out of their total 182 locales, D.C. landed at number 70 -- hey, at least it's the top half! But even more surprising than the ranking might be the cities that beat out our nation's capital.
Your dating life might really pick up if you're ready to pack a moving truck and head over to Fargo, North Dakota (number 23), Anchorage, Alaska (number 55), Albuquerque, New Mexico (number 51) or even Cheyenne, Wyoming (number 68).
Or if you're not afraid to drive for a great date, try hanging out nearby in Richmond, Virginia. The atmosphere for romance is a little improved there, at number 48. Maybe don't make a pitstop in Columbia, Baltimore or Philly -- they're at number 174, 138 and 89, respectively, according to WalletHub.
Of course, above all, your best shot will most likely be in the cities that topped the list. Here are the top 10:
- Seattle, Washington
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Denver, Colorado
- San Francisco, California
- Portland, Oregon
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Austin, Texas
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- San Diego, California
- Atlanta, Georgia
If you've had one too many awkward dinners, unrequited swipes right and first-date disappointments, the best spots to embrace the single life could be the cities that bottomed out the list:
172. Santa Rosa, California
173. Montgomery, Alabama
174. Columbia, Maryland
However, after you've already found that special someone, Columbia might be a perfect place to settle down. The Maryland city was named the safest in America this year.
175. Dover, Delaware
176. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
177. Shreveport, Louisiana
178. Fort Smith, Arkansas
179. Hialeah, Florida
180. Brownsville, Texas
181. Glendale, California
182. Warwick, Rhode Island
Find more cities on the list and read more about WalletHub's findings by clicking here.