What is the big attraction to place for young persons? Job growth? Low cost of living? Maybe the culture or sunny weather? Nope.

Where are the most singles?

When Forbes asked young singles of both genders what matters most in the places they live, the majority of single people surveyed said “The number of other singles.” Numerous studies have found that the primary focus of young people for where to live is often libido, not any concern for their future (self-control trap*).

You are where you live.

Certain locations have far more single people, along with more amenities and activities that bring single people together, says urban planner Richard Florida in his book Who’s Your City?. And the divergence of personalities in these urban “mating markets” means that any one person will find many more attractive single people than in others. Examining real-time relationship data for about half of Americans, a Facebook (2014) study ranked the top 50 major U.S. cities (by population) according to percentage of single people. The top five cities are:

  1.  Detroit, MI
  2.  Los Angeles, CA
  3.  New York, NY
  4.  Miami, FL
  5.  Memphis, TN

But hold the phone—raw meat alone doesn’t seal the deal. Overall, Facebook found that cities with the highest percentage of single people tended to have the lowest probability of relationship formation for a single person. Here are their top five picks for becoming an item:

  1.  Colorado Springs, CO
  2.  El Paso, TX
  3.  Louisville, KY
  4.  Fort Worth, TX
  5.  San Antonio, TX

Keep in mind that an unusually large number of singles of one gender added or subtracted in a particular location can skew the ratios. For example, the high numbers of incarcerated African-American men in Detroit; older, widowed women in “Snow Bird” cities like Miami; young men where there is a large military presence as in San Diego; and El Paso and San Antonio, with their large Hispanic populations that tend to marry early.

Find your place.

Nevertheless, if you’re trolling for Ms/r Right, going where there are lots of other single people, not where there are high couples rates, may be your best bet. You only need to form one relationship, but having lots of singles to choose from certainly improves your chances. Find a place that is right for you!

* Questionable beliefs can “trap” our better judgment, leading to poor decisions and unintended consequences. In the self-control trap, we sacrifice our long-term interests for short-term rewards and pleasures. Learn more about this, and other traps, in the Young Person’s Guide to Wisdom, Power, and Life Success.

Image credit: “Love Lane” by Totnesmartin (2008), licensed under public domain.