Is Illinois a Good State to Live in if You’re Single?
If you're a single (unmarried) person here in the Land of Lincoln, you may have, at one time or another, wondered if there might be a better place to be in order to meet that special someone. In a nutshell, is there a better place than Illinois for the singles lifestyle?
Breaking it down, the answer is yes and no. According to a new report from WalletHub, there are 19 states that offer more of what singles want than Illinois does, but there are 30 states that apparently do not.
How did WalletHub come to their conclusions about states and singles?
WalletHub’s data team compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 23 key indicators of dating-friendliness. Our data set ranges from “share of single adults” to “movie costs” to “nightlife options per capita.” In states with low cost of living, for instance, your income might stretch a lot further, which means cheaper or more frequent dates, depending on what you value more — or your level of stamina. With a bit more financial leverage, on the other hand, you might appreciate a state with relatively more attractions guaranteeing new experiences for both you and your potential other half. But dating is also a numbers game, so a state with a higher proportion of single adults automatically improves your prospects.
Let's look first at Illinois' numbers. Overall we are ranked at #20. Here's the breakdown:
Dating in Illinois (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
17th – % of Single Adults
29th – Gender Balance of Singles
25th – Online-Dating Opportunities
14th – Mobile-Dating Opportunities
18th – Median Annual Household Income
32nd – Restaurants per Capita
38th – Movie Theaters per Capita
22nd – Crime Rate
The five best states for being single:
- Washington
- Colorado
- California
- Montana
- South Dakota
And, the five worst:
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- West Virginia
- Alaska