The Best (and Worst) Cities For Singles

Are you single at this very moment, snuggled up in your apartment wishing you had someone special to share the holidays with? If so, brace yourself: the following stats on the best cities for singles — and the worst — will either make your day or ruin it.

According to data collected by personal finance social network WalletHub, there's a way to get that million dollar love without spending a dime; you don't have to go broke to find your next relationship, but the ideal cities for both your heart and your wallet might surprise you.

Upon releasing the report, Wallethub cited research by marketing strategists that found "the average tab for one traditional date can amount to $130 — including "$100 for a meal and drinks at a nice restaurant, plus $30 for two movie tickets and popcorn." With costs that can pile quickly over multiple first dates — the outcomes of which are often unpredictable — many singles are looking for ways to save money and still maintain an active dating life."

150 cities from across the nation were ranked on "The Economics of Dating," AKA how easy they were on the wallet, as well as on "Romance & Fun," or the quality and quantity of romantic possibilities in the area.

Coming out on top?

Best Cities

• Boise, ID
• Madison, WI
• Denver, CO
• Austin, TX
• Lincoln, NE
• Omaha, NE
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Reno, NV
• Minneapolis, MN
• Raleigh, NC

Perhaps most striking is the somewhat common theme: while the best-ranked cities happen (for the most part) to be in southern and mid-western states, of the 10 worst cities, five were on the east coast.

Worst Cities

• Mobile, AL
• Glendale, CA
• Philadelphia, PA
• New York, NY
• Jersey City, NJ
• Peoria, AZ
• Brownsville, TX
• North Las Vegas, NV
• Hialeah, FL
• Yonkers, NY

If you happen to live in one of these cities, don't buy out of your lease quite yet. While locations like North Las Vegas ended up on the short and easy guide to being forever alone, it also came out number one in "Highest Number of Night Life Options."

Other notable takeaways include Detroit's number one spot in the "Highest Percentage of Singles" rank and that, given that, online dating opportunities are twice as high in Irvine, CA than in Detroit.

So hey, Tinder creeps and Plenty of Fish nightmares aside, maybe online dating really could be for you. To get a look at the full list with some fun stats, visit WalletHub.

Images: Getty (1)