Best and Worst States for Single Seniors in 2025

A record 25.9 million seniors are single and ready to mingle in America, up 5.8 million from a decade ago, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

In addition, a record 4.2 million Americans are expected to turn 65 in 2025.

This means that more seniors will be in the dating pool this Valentine’s Day than at any other time in U.S. history.

While some seniors prefer to stay single, and others seek companionship, love does appear to be in the air, as marriage rates for seniors hit a 10-year high at 56.3%.

All these indicators, along with more seniors trying dating apps, suggest that cupid will be very busy in 2025.

Dating Challenges for Seniors

While a vibrant dating scene for seniors offers many great opportunities, it is not without its challenges, especially for people who have been out of the game for decades.

Dating in the digital age is a good way to meet people but it is also dangerous. Americans lost a record $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023. Seniors were by far the most targeted age group and should never send money to anyone they meet online.

The bedroom has gotten riskier, too, with sexually transmitted infections more than doubling among seniors between 2000 and 2022.

The cost of a date night has also increased, and will vary depending on where you live, as will the number of restaurants and entertainment venues in close proximity.

Determining the Best and Worst States for Single Seniors

With so many variables to consider, Seniorly conducted this study and analyzed 12 metrics of data across three main categories in all 50 states and D.C. 

• Health and Well-Being: health status, mental health, life expectancy and STI rates.
• Family Life: marital status, whether seniors live alone or with family, ratio of older women to men, and how engaged they are socially.
• Financial Health: Average date night costs, the availability of restaurants, the likelihood of falling prey to romance scams and spending on memberships and clubs.

The complete methodology with links to sources is at the bottom. 

Key Findings:

• Record Number of Single Seniors and Marriage Rate Hits 10-Year High: There are 25.9 million single seniors in America – the most ever – and the marriage rate hit a 10-year high at 56.3%.
• South Dakota ranked No. 1 due to its exceptionally low rate of mental distress among seniors (5.3%), high percentage of older adults in good health (82%), and a balanced gender ratio among older adults (1.11).
• West Virginia ranked last due to its low life expectancy for seniors (16.1 years), poor health outcomes (64.3% in good health), few restaurant opportunities (880 per 100,000) and fractured social support (53.8% of seniors talk with family and friends about issues at least once per month).
• More fish in the sea isn’t always better. The country’s four most populous states ranked in the bottom half overall: No. 30 New York, No. 34 California, No. 40 Florida, and No. 43 Texas. Pennsylvania, the fifth-largest state, ranked 23rd. This suggests that a larger population doesn't always translate to a better dating pool for older adults.
• States with fewer single seniors tended to score better overall. The ironic twist may reflect stronger long-term relationship stability, better social support networks, and healthier aging populations – all factors that contribute to a higher quality of life and more favorable rankings.

Best States

• No. 1 South Dakota stands out for its low rate of mental health problems (5.3%), healthy senior population (82% in good health), and low risk of romance scams (17.2 per 100,000). It also has a fairly balanced gender ratio, with 111 older women for every 100 men.
• No. 2 Minnesota follows closely with high life expectancy (19.4 years at age 65) and strong health outcomes (81.7% in good health), though date night is pricier than in most other states ($156.02).
• Meanwhile No. 3 Wyoming excels in social engagement (67.1% of older adults talk to family or friends about issues at least once per month), despite its lower life expectancy at age 65 (17.8 years) and below-average rate of seniors who are actually single (39.5%).
• No. 4 Colorado is known for its excellent health outcomes (80.7% in good health) and restaurant density (1,424 per 100,000), providing plenty of opportunities for social interaction. However, it does have a moderately high rate of sexually transmitted infections (15.8 per 100,000).
• No. 5 New Hampshire, on the other hand, stands out for having the highest proportion of seniors in good health (82.2%) and a very low rate of sexually transmitted infections (4.8 per 100,000), along with a fairly balanced gender ratio (1.14).

Worst States

• No. 51 West Virginia came in last due to its low life expectancy (16.1 years at age 65) and poor health outcomes, with 64.3% of seniors in good health and 11.3% reporting frequent mental health issues, some of the country’s highest rates. Despite these challenges, it has a very low STI rate: 4.2 per 100,000 seniors, the second-lowest level in the U.S.
• No. 50 Alabama was hurt by a high share of seniors experiencing frequent mental distress (10.4%), poor health outcomes (67% in good health), and low restaurant density (1,046 per 100,000 seniors). However, it boasts relatively affordable date night costs ($145.64) compared to other states.
• While No. 49 Arizona offers a more balanced gender ratio than most states (116 women to every 100 men) and moderate health status (76% in good health), its low ranking stems from having the lowest restaurant rate (859 per 100,000) and high risk of romance scams (56.3 per 100,000).
• Despite having the second most affordable date night ($141.15), No. 48 Arkansas faces challenges such as poor life expectancy (16.6 years) and health status (67.5% in good health).
• No. 47 Tennessee is undermined by poor health, with a life expectancy of 16.6 years at age 65, and one of the worst rates of mental distress (11.5%). It ranks last in seniors talking frequently with friends or family about issues (52.8% doing so at least once per month), further contributing to its low ranking.

How America Stacks Up Overall

Check out how the U.S. scores overall across the 12 metrics

In terms of the gender ratio, a figure closer to 1 indicates an almost equal number of women and men, providing more balanced opportunities for connection in the dating scene. Nationwide, the ratio stands at 1.21, meaning there are 121 older women for every 100 men.

Measures such as average date night costs, romance scams, and spending on clubs and memberships were adjusted for the state’s senior populations. That means they may not be precise, but serve as an illustration of the opportunities and challenges that older adults face there.

Martial Trends for Older Americans 

Marriage is not just great for romance, but a key ingredient to a longer and happier life. Married seniors can expect to live longer than their unmarried counterparts, are less likely to be lonely, and tend to be in better health.

While some seniors have sworn of dating, the federal data does show that love is in the air. 

Marriage rates for seniors hit a 10-year high at 56.3% according to the latest Census Bureau data, up from 55% a decade earlier

Finding Love in the Digital Age

Dating apps aren’t just for the young and restless – older Americans are swiping right too. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 13% of adults 65 and older are already in on the action.

With more than 1,000 online dating platforms out there, seniors looking for love have an overwhelming number of options. Check out their top picks – and how they compare to online daters overall.

10 Best Ways for Seniors to Find Love in 2025

1. 📱 Online Dating Apps: Swipe, Chat, Spark! Don’t be shy—senior-friendly dating apps like eHarmony, OurTime, and SilverSingles make it easy to jump back into the dating game. Start with a flirty chat, try a video call, and when you're ready, meet up for that perfect coffee date! ☕💘
2. 💻 Social Media & Online Hangouts: Swipe, scroll, and spark connections! Facebook groups, hobby forums, and virtual book clubs can lead to real-life romance.
3. 🎭 Local Fun & Community Events: Bingo nights, dance classes, and senior socials? Yes, please! Travel groups and cruise adventures are also full of heartwarming surprises.
4. 💪 Fitness & Active Lifestyles: Love is in the air—at yoga classes, walking groups, and pickleball courts! Parks and gyms are the new senior singles scene.
5. ❤️ Giving Back & Volunteering: Do good, meet great people! Volunteering at charities, hospitals, and community events naturally brings like-minded hearts together.
6. 🏡 Senior Living & Retirement Villages: Home is where the heart is—literally! 55+ communities offer endless activities (and chances for romance).
7. ✈️ Travel & Senior Dating Cruises: Adventure + companionship = the perfect match! Cruises, road trips, and group tours set the stage for exciting connections.
8. 🙏 Faith & Fellowship: Church groups, Bible studies, and faith-based retreats bring singles together in soulful ways. Bonus: dating sites like ChristianMingle & JDate make it even easier!
9. 💼 Second Careers & Workplace Love:
   Encore careers and part-time gigs aren’t just for income—they’re for meeting new people, too! Co-working spaces and networking events spark unexpected romance.
10. 💘 Speed Dating & Matchmaking Magic:
    Senior speed dating? Yes, it’s a thing! Quick chats, big laughs, and maybe even love. For a more curated match, professional services have your back!

Love is ageless—get out there and find your spark! ✨💞

Conclusion

The growing number of single seniors is reshaping societal norms around aging and romance, proving it's never too late to find meaningful relationships. Whether it's through an active social life, good health outcomes, or opportunities to hit the town, some states offer better conditions than others for seniors looking for love – but ultimately, success in the dating pool comes down to personal confidence, open-mindedness and the willingness to embrace new experiences regardless of age.

Methodology

We used the most recent data for 12 metrics across three categories to determine the best states for seniors looking for love. We used a Z-score distribution to scale each metric relative to the mean across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and capped outliers at +/-3. We multiplied Z-scores by -1 when a higher score was considered worse, for example rates of mental distress, STIs, romance scams, date night expenses and living with grandchildren. A state’s overall ranking was calculated using its average Z-score across the 12 metrics. Washington, D.C., was missing data on romance scams, so its score was calculated using the average of the other 11 metrics. Here’s a closer look at the data we used:

Health and Well-being

• Percentage of the 65+ population in good or excellent health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)
• Percentage of the 65+ population reporting frequent mental distress (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)
• Life expectancy at age 65 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
• Sexually transmitted infections (syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia) per 100,000 adults 65+ (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)

Family life

• Percentage of older adults who are single, i.e. divorced, separated, widowed or never married (Census Bureau, 2023)
• Ratio of older women to older men (Census Bureau, 2023)
• Percentage of older adults who live with their grandchildren (Census Bureau, 2023)
• Percentage of the 55+ population who discuss issues with friends and family at least once per month (Census Bureau and AmeriCorps, 2021)

Financial health

• Romance scam victims per 100,000, adjusted for adults 65+ (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2023)
• Spending on membership clubs, sports centers, parks, theaters, and museums per capita, adjusted for adults 65+ (Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2023)
• Restaurants per 100,000 adults 65+ (National Restaurant Association, 2023)
• Date night costs: The national average of $153.20 per date – including one bottle of wine ($13.78 in Nov. 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), movie tickets for two adults ages 65+ ($34 in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) and a weekly meal out for two adults ages 65+ ($105.42 in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) – multiplied by the regional price parity index for each state (Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2023)