Love + Sex

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Best Cities for Singles - According to Hard Data!

By Maura Kelly

The other day, I was emailing with my adorably baby-faced friend, who moved to San Fran recently. He was telling me he thinks meeting women out west is harder than in New York. "You people in the Big Apple have the best singles scene!" he said.

It sure doesn't feel that way to me. And I wondered if there was any truth to King's take on things ...

After researching it a bit, I found out he's half-right and half-wrong, according to the amazing map below constructed by the team at THE CREATIVE CLASS GROUP . It tells you almost exactly how many more single men than women there are in certain parts of the country ... and how many more women than men in others!

THE SINGLES MAP

THE SINGLES MAP

As you can see, there are **200,000+ more single women than men in the Manhattan area!** (Sheesh! Ladies: if it feels especially hard here in Gotham, now we know why). The map also makes it clear why my friend thought dating in NYC was such a breeze as compared to SF: There are A LOT more single men out there --and in all of California, for that matter--than there are women.

I wonder how your city measures up ...

After finding this amazing map, I decided to interview the urban expert behind it: Richard Florida, author of the international bestseller THE RISE OF THE CREATIVE CLASS as well as a new book called WHO'S YOUR CITY?. He explains some of the reasons there are such crazy differences in the dating pool across the country--and talks about which regions are best for men and women.

BEST CITIES FOR SINGLE MEN AND WOMEN

ME: Where should single women move to meet men? What about the single guys?

RICHARD: If you are a single man or a single woman the odds of meeting a significant other vary dramatically across the country. Generally, women tend to have an advantage in the American West and Southwest, while men fare better in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Many regions in the American West have grown substantially over the past two or three decades, offering jobs in everything from the high-tech industry to construction. And as numerous studies show, men are initially more likely to move long distances for economic opportunity-out west, for example-while women are more likely to stay closer to home and family. As a reader of my blog put it, "The West still holds a 'Gold Rush' mentality for young men." 

ME: Oh, I see. So because men are leaving certain regions-like the Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast-to head west, they're creating a gender imbalance. Is that right?

RICHARD: Yes.

Get more from Maura Kelly at her daily blog: A Year of Living Flirtatiously

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Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 13
  • a c's Avatar
    Posted by a c Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:08pm PDT

    Men are come out west for economic opportunity? Maybe some... but maybe also to date other men. So that doesn't really make any better for us girls...

    Report Abuse
  • Linda's Avatar
    Posted by Linda Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:52am PDT

    thanks ymedillisa for the information

    Report Abuse
  • sally's Avatar
    Posted by sally Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:53am PDT

    sdnfiwerniu, if you dont feel safe dont go to meet him. i would tell you not to go, find someone around your age rage , but you have to make the call. I wouldnt go.

    Report Abuse
  • Aeris's Avatar
    Posted by Aeris Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:37am PDT

    lol @ sally's comment to the spambot ;)

    Ugh, there are so many guys in mid-FL, but they all suck... what's up with that??? :O

    Report Abuse
  • Jitendra's Avatar
    Posted by Jitendra Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:45am PDT

    kgjg dfjikgf kfdifg fdhfi sjfdfui dsfhyri hfutngjy kffufff

    Report Abuse
  • Zoey's Avatar
    Posted by Zoey Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:11am PDT

    fan to red far fan

    Report Abuse
  • An's Avatar
    Posted by An Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:36pm PDT

    san francisco!

    Report Abuse
  • __A_YAHOO_USER__'s Avatar
    Posted by __A_YAHOO_USER__ Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:38pm PDT

    Why?...Why?.....I was tryin' to keep it a secret. Now we're gonna get a bunch of Bozos screwin' up the whole program....Thanks.

    Report Abuse
  • Goutham's Avatar
    Posted by Goutham Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:58pm PDT

    How about a map of single straight 21-35 yr olds? There's a sizable gay population in some cities like San Fran. And all the old ladies in FL...This map is pretty useless!!!

    Report Abuse
  • bumble bee's Avatar
    Posted by bumble bee Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:18pm PDT

    would love to go to florida.

    Report Abuse
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