Looking to get married? Avoid these ‘singles’ states like the plague

Georgia Worrell
·2 min read
2
Newly married couple raising their hands in celebration at City Hall; two infographics by law firm Schmidt & Clark shows states least and most likely to marry
Newly married couple raising their hands in celebration at City Hall; two infographics by law firm Schmidt & Clark shows states least and most likely to marry

New Yorkers are the least likely to say “I do” out of all Americans, a not-so-romantic new study found.

One in three adults in New York have never been married — a startling 17.4% more than the national average, according to Washington DC-based law firm Schmidt & Clark’s study, which analyzed federal census data and the American Community Survey to find marital rates of people 15 and older in each state.

In the Empire State, 36.3% of women — the highest percentage in the US — have never married, the study found.

Out of New York’s entire population, 38.61% are uncuffed. Stefano Giovannini
Out of New York’s entire population, 38.61% are uncuffed. Stefano Giovannini
“It feels like no one wants to settle down” in New York, 38-year-old Gerald Whittaker, who lives in Brooklyn, told The Post. Stefano Giovannini
“It feels like no one wants to settle down” in New York, 38-year-old Gerald Whittaker, who lives in Brooklyn, told The Post. Stefano Giovannini

A staggering 41.1% of New York men haven’t tied the knot, which is the second highest bachelor rate, behind only Rhode Island’s 41.2%.

Brooklynite Camile Alvarez wasn’t surprised to learn that so many New Yorkers stay single.

“It’s expensive to live here, so I feel like people are focused on their careers so they can survive.

“But there’s also just so much to do in New York, so it’s not like we’re in Texas and there’s nothing else to do other than getting married and having babies,” said Alvarez, 23, who lived in Austin growing up.

“I’ve also been on some pretty bad dates here so I know it’s slim pickings,” the single law school student added with a laugh.

“It feels like no one wants to settle down, and the apps make it that much easier – but also harder – to find a love match,” 38-year-old Gerald Whittaker, who lives in Brooklyn, told The Post.

One in three adults in New York have never been married — a startling 17.4% more than the national average. New York Post
One in three adults in New York have never been married — a startling 17.4% more than the national average. New York Post

Behind New York’s 38.61% single population, Rhode Island ranked second among states least likely to marry, with 38.06% of its population uncommitted.

California was third at 37.76%, followed by Massachusetts (37.14%) and Louisiana (36.27%).

As for those states where people are rushing down the aisle, Wyoming residents were most likely to marry, with 72.25% of its overall population cuffed, followed by Idaho (71.60%), Maine (71.07%), West Virginia (70.89%) and Arkansas (70.68%).