For many Washingtonians, finding love may be taking a back seat to career ambitions, rising living costs, and changing attitudes toward dating.
A new study analyzing Census data has ranked Washington, DC as the No. 3 most single city in America, tied with Milwaukee, after finding that 55.10% of adults are officially single.
The ranking comes as dating becomes increasingly expensive nationwide.
The report found that the average “all-in” cost of a date in the United States—including dinner, drinks, transportation, and pre-date grooming—has climbed to $189, up from $168 just one year ago.
At the same time, nearly half of single Americans say dating is no longer worth the financial investment, highlighting how economic pressures are reshaping modern relationships.
Why Washington, D.C. ranks among the nation’s most single cities
Washington’s high concentration of young professionals appears to be a major factor behind its ranking.
That steady influx of ambitious young workers creates a fast-paced environment where career advancement often takes priority over dating and long-term relationships.
The city also stood out for another reason: it was the only city in the study where single women outnumbered single men.
Researchers found that 56.23% of women in Washington are single, compared to 53.82% of men.
Several factors may contribute to those numbers, including Washington’s highly educated workforce, demanding professional culture, and constant flow of newcomers arriving for government, nonprofit, legal, and private-sector careers.
With housing costs and everyday expenses remaining high, many residents may also be reconsidering how much time and money they dedicate to dating.
As the study suggests, romance is increasingly being evaluated through the lens of affordability.
How researchers determined the rankings
The study used U.S. Census data to examine the percentage of adults officially recorded as single across major American cities.
Researchers compared the share of unmarried adults in each location and ranked cities by the proportion of unmarried residents.
The analysis comes amid broader shifts in dating behavior nationwide.
