Looking For Love? It’s Tough In Houston!

Finding love has never been easy, and the numbers back it up. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, just over 49% of Americans are unmarried, whether they’re never-married, divorced, or widowed. That’s a massive dating pool… but the cost of actually using it keeps rising. From two-person dinners to movie tickets to just grabbing coffee, dating has quietly become an expensive hobby.

WalletHub.com dove into the data, comparing 182 U.S. cities across 35 indicators, everything from the share of singles to online dating opportunities to the price of a simple date night. Analyst Chip Lupo put it best: “Finding the perfect partner gets even tougher when your city doesn’t give you the right conditions, you need a big, balanced single population, plenty to do, and prices that don’t crush your wallet.”

So, where are the best places to look for love? Atlanta took the #1 spot overall, thanks to its huge attractions scene and massive percentage of singles. Las Vegas landed at #2 with its high-energy nightlife and surprisingly affordable date costs. And Tampa came in at #3, offering tons of restaurants, social clubs, and coffee shops that make dating feel easy and fun.

Here in Texas, Austin cracked the Top 10 at #6, powered by its outdoor culture, music scene, and strong single population.

Houston, meanwhile, ranked #46, not bad, but not exactly Cupid’s bullseye either. So if dating feels tough in H-Town, you’re not imagining it. You either take a road trip to date… or be perfectly happy doing your own thing right here at home until love finally decides to show up.

Doug O’Brien