
The following rankings were published in Business Week and are based on more than thirty weighted variables in five categories: the share of a population at the young and single life stage, economic strength; education levels and safety; economic growth; and local amenities. All 363 metropolitan areas in the U.S. were ranked.
Young singles between the ages of 20 and 29 (still in!) are looking for a few key ingredients: cities with diverse job opportunities, an abundance of potential life partners, and many universities.
1. Boulder, Colo.
Population: 90,507
Key Attributes: Natural scenery, outdoor recreation, best city for singles in a small region.
2. San Francisco, Calif.
Population: 757,604
Key Attributes: Outdoor recreation, big city, and among the cities with the highest percentages of young people with a bachelor’s degree or more.
3. Washington, D.C.
Population: 585,267
Key Attributes: Nearly every other person in Washington, D.C. has a college degree and it is the best city in a large region for recent college graduates to buy real estate.
4. Madison, Wisc.
Population: 219,843
Key Attributes: College town with ample outdoor recreation. It is the best city in a mid-size region for singles and gays and lesbians in their early life-stages.
5. Boston, Mass.
Population: 600,980
Key Attributes: Big city with many universities. It is among the cities with the largest percentages of young people with a bachelor’s degree or more (43%).
6. Los Angeles, Calif.
Population: 3,770,590
Key Attributes: Big city where single men outnumber single women by 40,000 (in the greater Los Angeles area). L.A. attracts entertainment moguls, actors, directors, and film companies.
7. New York, N.Y.
Population: 8,246,310
Key Attributes: Big city with many universities. Despite the downturn, New York is still a magnet for investment bankers, fashion designers, writers, and many others in the creative sector.
8. Santa Barbara, Calif.
Population: 88,978
Key Attributes: Among the best cities in a small region for singles. Santa Barbara has a high amount of diversity as measured by percent of the population born elsewhere.
9. Worcester, Mass.
Population:165,965
Key Attributes: Among the best mid-size cities for singles. High concentration of gays and lesbians, high percentage of workers with bachelor degrees.
10(Tie). Bridgeport, Conn.
Population: 130,748
Key Attributes: High amount of nightlife establishments and high amount of diversity as measured by percent of the population born elsewhere.
10(Tie). Trenton, N.J.
Population: 80,144
Key Attributes: Among the best small cities for singles, gays, and lesbians. Trenton has a high number of physicians per capita and high percentage of workers with a bachelor degree or above.
12. Ann Arbor, Mich.
Population: 113,100
Key Attributes: Multicultural college town that is among the best cities in a small region for singles.
13. Austin, Tex.
Population: 725,306
Key Attributes: Among the best buys in large region for recent college graduates.
14. Santa Rosa, Calif.
Population: 148,063
Key Attributes: Among the best cities in a small region for singles. Santa Rosa has a high number of creative professionals.
15. New Haven, Conn.
Population: 123,507
Key Attributes: College town that is among the best midsize cities for singles.
16. San Jose, Calif.
Population: 898,901
Key Attributes: San Jose has among the highest median household incomes in the country. It is among the best places in a large region to buy real estate for gay and lesbian singles.
17. San Diego, Calif.
Population: 1,264,263
Key Attributes: The top city in a large region for gay and lesbian singles. San Diego has a high percentage of creative workers and high employment in arts and culture.
18. Raleigh, N.C.
Population: 341,891
Key Attributes: Among the best midsize cities for singles, with the largest percentage of young people with a bachelor’s degree or more (45%).
19. Honolulu, H.I.
Population: 359,694
Key Attributes: Among the best midsize cities for gay and lesbian singles. High percentage of residents employed in arts and culture, high number of food establishments.
20. Albany, N.Y.
Population: 90,382
Key Attributes: High percentage of creative workers, high income growth.
21. Seattle, Wash.
Population: 565,809
Key Attributes: A magnet city for young graduates, Seattle also boasts stunning natural scenery.
22. Portland, Me.
Population: 62,986
Key Attributes: Among the top midsize cities for young singles. Portland has a low crime rate and a high percentage of creative workers.
23. Colorado Springs, Col.
Population: 390,397
Key Attributes: relatively low cost of living, high percentage employed in Bohemian occupations.
24. Providence, R.I.
Population: 170,220
Key Attributes: High amount of food establishments (3,799), high concentration of 25-29-year-olds.
25. Minneapolis, Minn.
Population: 362,513
Key Attributes: Among the best cities in large regions to buy real estate.
Source: Business Week
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