Worst states for singles
When you've done all you can to put yourself out there —downloading the hottest dating apps, frequenting the trendiest bars, finding that perfect haircut — dating can feel like a fruitless endeavor. But what many tend to forget is how much location and economy plays into a successful dating pool. In the end, much of it is a numbers game — the more single people you meet, the higher the chances you'll find a match. The more affordable activities like seeing a movie and grabbing a meal are available, the more likely people will be motivated to participate in the dating scene. When it comes to dating, not all places are created equal.
To identify the worst states for singles looking for love, Stacker looked to WalletHub's 2017 Best and Worst Cities for Singles, which ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia "across 23 key indicators of dating-friendliness." These indicators included factors such as "economics," "fun and recreation," and "dating opportunities." Here are the bottom 26 states in the country — where riding off into the sunset may be a bit more of a long shot.
#26. Massachusetts
Total score: 44.0
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 18.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank34.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank15.0
#25. Michigan
Total score: 43.4
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 13.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank26.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank43.0
#24. Missouri
Total score: 42.6
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 29.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank18.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank24.0
#23. Virginia
Total score: 42.5
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 17.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank20.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank35.0
#22. Ohio
Total score: 42.3
'Dating opportunities' rank: 20.0
'Dating Economics' Rank23.0
'Romance & Fun' Rank32.0
#21. Maine
Total score: 41.9
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 46.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank21.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank3.0
#20. Indiana
Total score: 41.5
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 25.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank14.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank36.0
#19. Georgia
Total score: 40.9
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 14.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank38.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank41.0
#18. New Jersey
Total score: 39.5
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 23.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank29.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank37.0
#17. Oklahoma
Total score: 39.2
'Dating opportunities' rank: 33.0
'Dating Economics' Rank13.0
'Romance & Fun' Rank40.0
#16. North Carolina
Total score: 38.9
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 27.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank24.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank38.0
#15. Connecticut
Total score: 38.6
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 36.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank45.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank17.0
#14. Kansas
Total score: 38.1
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 28.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank12.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank49.0
#13. Rhode Island
Total score: 37.8
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 43.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank39.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank12.0
#12. Delaware
Total score: 37.3
'Dating opportunities' rank: 45.0
'Dating Economics' Rank22.0
'Romance & Fun' Rank22.0
#11. Louisiana
Total score: 37.2
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 41.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank28.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank31.0
#10. Maryland
Total score: 37.1
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 31.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank27.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank39.0
#9. Tennessee
Total score: 36.5
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 39.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank32.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank33.0
#8. South Carolina
Total score: 35.8
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 44.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank25.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank29.0
#7. New Mexico
Total score: 35.7
'Dating opportunities' rank: 30.0
'Dating Economics' Rank36.0
'Romance & Fun' Rank46.0
#6. Kentucky
Total score: 33.8
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 42.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank31.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank44.0
#5. Alaska
Total score: 33.6
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 49.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank43.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank21.0
#4. West Virginia
Total score: 30.6
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 47.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank47.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank34.0
#3. Arkansas
Total score: 28.8
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 50.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank41.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank48.0
#2. Alabama
Total score: 28.7
'Dating opportunities' rank: 48.0
'Dating Economics' Rank33.0
'Romance & Fun' Rank50.0
#1. Mississippi
Total score: 25.9
‘Dating opportunities’ rank: 51.0
‘Dating Economics’ Rank42.0
‘Romance & Fun’ Rank51.0
