Relationships

These Are The Top Cities For Dating—And Why Experts Say Location Matters

We spoke with professional matchmaker Laura Jacobs to uncover what cities are best for dating and why your location matters when it comes to finding love. Is yours on the list?

By Nicole Dominique3 min read
Pexels/Victoria Strelka_ph

Dating expert and go-to matchmaker for billionaires, Laura Jacobs, has helped countless singles find love. She has a pretty blunt take that not too many of us want to hear: where you live absolutely matters. So if you think you’ve been unlucky when it comes to romance, it might not be you – it could really be your ZIP code.

"Dating is an economy. It’s supply and demand."

Laura lived in New York, a place that, as she reminds me, “was ranked high on the list of the worst cities for dating.” For one, many men in NYC have options, and they don’t want to settle. “I had a boyfriend there, but nobody wants to get married. Nobody wants to have kids. Nobody wants to have a kid in Manhattan. That’s crazy,” Laura points out. I mean, is she wrong? 

Courtesy of Laura Jacobs
Courtesy of Laura Jacobs

Her advice is to take a step back and look at the dating landscape analytically, “But dating is an economy just like everything else. It’s supply and demand. So, if you’re in a city that has tons of beautiful women, you’re just another beautiful woman,” she adds.

Places like New York and Los Angeles might seem like a dating jackpot, but according to Laura, they’re anything but. “Men get really spoiled, especially in L.A. and New York,” she says. “They feel like the prize because there are so many gorgeous women. All women want a relationship. There are very few women who are like, ‘I just want to play around.’ That’s not super normal these days. So, if a guy’s good-looking, he’s like, ‘I have a lineup outside the door.’”

One thing you'll notice about the "worst cities for dating" list is that they're mostly liberal cities. Therefore, you're most likely to go out with leftist men if you're in, say, Los Angeles. Meanwhile, conservative-leaning men value traditional relationships and are usually more chivalrous.

The option, then, is to seek out other men in other cities through dating apps… or move. But Laura can help! If you go on her website and join her registry here, you can get matched up with men looking for love. “Tip the scales,” she says. “You have to move somewhere where there’s less competition, and you’re going to be the prize.”

The Smaller City Advantage

If you’re open to relocating, Laura’s got some suggestions. She speaks from personal experience, having left Vancouver and New York to settle in Miami. “I can tell you 100% if I stayed in New York, Vancouver, where I’m from, I would still be single. I have no doubt in my mind. I 100% met my husband because I took the risk of moving to Florida.”

Why did Miami work so well for her? “The standard of beauty is different here,” Laura, a bodacious blonde, explains. “Miami likes some curves. It’s influenced by Latin culture. I’ve got a curvy *ss, I’ve got big boobs. Men were falling at my feet. Suddenly, I was being taken on the best dates. I found my husband within four months of living here. That’s because I was considered beautiful in Miami.”

But she’s not saying Miami is the answer for everyone. “It just depends,” Laura says. “If you’re one of those girls who fits the standard of beauty in a city like Miami, men are going to be falling over. Literally.” 

The Science (and Stats) Behind the Best Cities

Laura’s got the data to back up her advice, too. She’s looked into cities with favorable gender ratios, noting places where there are significantly more men than women—a stat that can tip the dating odds in your favor. According to BestPlaces.com, some highlights include:

  • San Jose, CA: Approximately 16.7% more men than women.

  • Las Vegas, NV: Approximately 13.1% more men than women.

  • Honolulu, HI: Approximately 10.1% more men than women.

  • Salt Lake City, UT: Approximately 5.5% more men than women.

  • Phoenix, AZ: Approximately 3.9% more men than women.

  • Grand Rapids, MI: Approximately 1.1% more men than women.

Cultural Standards and Relocation

One thing Laura emphasizes is the importance of understanding cultural beauty standards. She experienced this firsthand in Vancouver. “Culturally, I’m not considered beautiful in Vancouver. I’m not considered…no. Vancouver has a very Asian population. That transcends into the culture of the city, and think about what’s considered attractive in Asia. Very slim. So, although being blonde and cute was fine in Vancouver, I’m basically considered fat.” (And for the record, Laura’s far from “fat”). 

“I’m going on dates, and guys are literally saying to me, ‘You’re a lot heavier than your photos.’ I’m going home crying. I’m like, ‘Holy s***, I’m not considered beautiful here,’” she recalls.

Take Your Life Into Your Own Hands

At the end of the day, Laura’s advice boils down to this: don’t let your location hold you back. Whether that means moving to a city where your odds improve or simply expanding your horizons via dating apps. “Go on your app, set it to a different city that you’d consider going to or visiting,” she says. “I gave my friend this advice. She’s in Vancouver. Her boyfriend? She found him in Dallas. She paid for Bumble Premium, set it to Dallas, met him immediately, and now they’ve been together a year and a half. She’s finally moving to Dallas.”

The Best Cities to Date In

If you’re ready to make a move, here are some of the best cities for dating, according to WalletHub’s study:

  1. Atlanta, GA

  2. Las Vegas, NV

  3. Seattle, WA

  4. Pittsburgh, PA

  5. Tampa, FL

  6. Portland, OR

  7. Madison, WI

  8. Cincinnati, OH

  9. Denver, CO

  10. Austin, TX

If you're interested in joining Laura's private matchmaking network for free, click here.