These Are The Best Cities For Single Dads

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Parenting is hard enough when there are two people sharing the responsibilities, but when you’re doing it alone, it’s twice as challenging. Of course, some places make the job a little easier and a new report reveals where those are. Just in time for Father’s Day, LawnStarter list of 2024’s Best Cities for Single Dads is now out.

They rated the 500 biggest U.S. cities in eight categories including affordability, child care, health & education, work-life balance and parent-friendly state policies.
They compared the cities on factors like housing affordability for male workers, hourly cost of a babysitter, quality of public schools, access to playgrounds and the average length of the work week for men.
Topping the list is Newton, Massachusetts, which is number one for safety, parent-friendly state policies and quality of public schools, and fourth for work-life balance.
But that can come at a cost, and Newton comes in 16th for affordability.
Carmel, Indiana, 47th overall, is first for affordability, as well as health & education.
Atlanta, which is 139th overall, is number one for child care, while Cambridge, Massachusetts, sixth overall, is first for work-life balance.
As for the worst city for single dads, this year it’s Pharr, Texas, with Miami Gardens, Florida, in second to last place.

The Top 10 Best Cities for Single Dads in 2024

Newton, Massachusetts
Redmond, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Mountain View, California
Warwick, Rhode Island
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Bellevue, Washington
Hillsboro, Oregon
Beaverton, Oregon

Looking For Love? North Carolina Named One Of 2023’s Best States for Singles

We are just a few weeks from Valentine's Day or known to some as Singles Awareness Day. If you're looking for love then you may be in the right place. That's correct, North Carolina was ranked as one of the top states for singles by a recent WalletHub study. And that makes me feel even worst about being single. There are a lot of factors that can influence your finding of that special someone you want to spend your life with. There are the superficial and looks but it's important. Other factors are personality, interests, career, and even location. Let's face it dating is easier when there are more options for places to go, people to meet, etc.

So states combine all of those qualities and therefore are ideal for singles? To answer that question, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 30 key indicators of dating-friendliness. The data set ranges from the share of single adults to online-dating opportunities to restaurants per capita. Keep reading to see exactly where North Carolina ranked for singles, and where you should relocate if you want an even better shot at love. You'll also find the 10 worst states, which feature our neighbors to the south. Interested in the full study? Check out WalletHub’s Best & Worst Cities for Singles report.

Best States For Singles

1. California

Marcelo Fabian Mollaretti/Getty Images Plus

Total Score: 68.03

Dating Opportunities: 2

Dating Economics: 49

Romance & Fun: 1

2. New York

(Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Allspring Global Investments)

Total Score: 67.28

Dating Opportunities: 1

Dating Economics: 50

Romance & Fun: 2

3. Florida

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Total Score: 65.57

Dating Opportunities: 4

Dating Economics: 36

Romance & Fun: 3

4. Texas

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Total Score: 63.12

Dating Opportunities: 12

Dating Economics: 21

Romance & Fun: 4

5. Pennsylvania

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Total Score: 62.25

Dating Opportunities: 8

Dating Economics: 31

Romance & Fun: 5

6. Illinois

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Total Score: 61.77

Dating Opportunities: 6

Dating Economics: 37

Romance & Fun: 6

7. New Jersey

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Total Score: 60.46

Dating Opportunities: 7

Dating Economics: 22

Romance & Fun: 8

8. Massachusetts

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Total Score: 59.86

Dating Opportunities: 3

Dating Economics: 48

Romance & Fun: 9

9. Wisconsin

Total Score: 57.74

Dating Opportunities: 19

Dating Economics: 10

Romance & Fun: 7

10. Virginia

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Total Score: 56.57

Dating Opportunities: 13

Dating Economics: 13

Romance & Fun: 22

11. Minnesota

Total Score: 56.24

Dating Opportunities: 21

Dating Economics: 5

Romance & Fun: 18

12. Colorado

Sean Pavone/Getty Images Plus

Total Score: 55.67

Dating Opportunities: 18

Dating Economics: 14

Romance & Fun: 11

13. Washington

Total Score: 55.65

Dating Opportunities: 11

Dating Economics: 25

Romance & Fun: 17

14. Connecticut

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Total Score: 55.02

Dating Opportunities: 9

Dating Economics: 45

Romance & Fun: 16

15. North Carolina

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Total Score: 54.40

Dating Opportunities: 17

Dating Economics: 24

Romance & Fun: 12

Worst States For Singles

40. Oklahoma

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Total Score: 42.42

Dating Opportunities:38

Dating Economics: 17

Romance & Fun: 39

41. Montana

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Total Score: 42.12

Dating Opportunities: 44

Dating Economics: 12

Romance & Fun: 32

42. Alabama

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Total Score: 41.45

Dating Opportunities: 41

Dating Economics: 20

Romance & Fun: 40

43. South Carolina

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Total Score: 41.34

Dating Opportunities: 40

Dating Economics: 28

Romance & Fun: 35

44. Alaska

A view of Denali, formerly known as Mt. McKinley

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Total Score: 39.60

Dating Opportunities: 31

Dating Economics: 46

Romance & Fun: 50

45. Mississippi

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Total Score: 39.26

Dating Opportunities: 36

Dating Economics: 29

Romance & Fun: 47

46. Kentucky

Total Score: 38.93

Dating Opportunities: 43

Dating Economics: 39

Romance & Fun: 31

47. Wyoming

The 10 Most Beautiful Places in the US to Vacation in the Winter

Total Score: 35.59

Dating Opportunities: 49

Dating Economics: 19

Romance & Fun: 43

48. North Dakota

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Total Score: 35.58

Dating Opportunities: 50

Dating Economics: 6

Romance & Fun: 45

49. Arkansas

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Total Score: 35.18

Dating Opportunities: 47

Dating Economics: 34

Romance & Fun: 44

50. West Virginia

Total Score: 34.13

Dating Opportunities: 46

Dating Economics: 42

Romance & Fun: 49

ManeyEditor

Steve Maney’s radio career has taken him all over the US, from interning with Howard Stern to working with Elvis Duran, this radio veteran now calls Charlotte and Kiss 95.1 home. He is Kiss’ staple entertainment guy writing about his thoughts on local news and funny topics like the name of the male Karen. It’s so much to know, but Maney will deep dive into any topic to get you a great piece to read.