Feature photo by Whitney in Chicago
The First State is among the top 10 best states for singles this Valentine’s Day, according to a new study.
Based on 14 metrics, Delaware is the only MidLantic state to make the list and it comes in at No. 7, based on a wide range of dating-related costs and social factors.
The online Tarot entertainment company Tarotoo analyzed the economics, opportunities, and activities that go hand-in-hand with dating across all 50 U.S. states. The result is a ranking that reveals which states make it easier to meet people, go out, and enjoy February 14 without overspending … or striking out.
Singles are increasingly treating Valentine’s Day as a chance to date, socialize, or simply enjoy a night out without the pressure of grand gestures or overpriced menus. From speed-dating events and singles mixers to casual first dates and solo nights out, Valentine’s has quietly evolved into one of the busiest nights of the year for dating apps and nightlife venues.
At the same time, the cost of dating has become impossible to ignore. In some states, a night out can feel effortless and affordable. In others, it can feel like a financial commitment before the first drink arrives.
The highest-ranking states share a clear theme: lower costs, better dating odds, and surprisingly strong nightlife and attractions. Rather than being dominated by large coastal hubs, the top 10 is led by smaller, more affordable states where singles can do more, spend less, and meet people more easily.
1. Wyoming
Wyoming tops the list by making Valentine’s plans feel easy on both the wallet and the logistics. A meal for two averages $57.50 (5th nationally), and the “date-night extras” are unusually friendly too, with two beers at $8 (3rd) and late-night food at $18 (5th).
The biggest practical win is transportation: taxi fare is $2.75 (tied for 1st), which matters on a night when bars are busy and rides add up fast. It also delivers on things to do, ranking 4th for nightlife options (17.79 per 100,000), 9th for restaurants (239.76), and 3rd for attractions (321.94), meaning singles have plenty of choices beyond the classic dinner-and-a-drink routine.
What really boosts Wyoming is demand and “odds.” Even though its single population share is just 28.5% (49th), it’s still 4th for dating app interest (1,905), suggesting active intent to meet someone. Add a heavily male-leaning dating pool, with 123.6 unmarried men per 100 unmarried women (3rd), and Wyoming becomes a high-scoring state for singles who want to actually find plans (and people) instead of just scrolling all night. A likely reason for the strong finish: smaller-population states can look “quiet” overall, but when venues and attractions are dense per capita and costs are low, singles can move around more and say yes to more outings.
2. Nevada
Nevada lands in second place because it’s basically built for going out, and the data screams it. It ranks #1 in nightlife options with 34.63 venues per 100,000 people, by far the strongest “activities” profile in the top 10. Singles also have a deep pool to work with: 35.6% of residents are single (10th), while the state’s diversity index is 68.8 (3rd), a big advantage for meeting people from different backgrounds and finding niche social scenes. On costs, Nevada is more mid-pack than bargain-basement, with a meal for two at $67.83 (18th) and two movie tickets at $28 (31st), but it avoids the extreme sticker shock that drags down the big coastal states.
Nevada’s high ranking makes sense when you consider the Valentine’s reality: a good night isn’t just about a cheap entrée, it’s about options. With a strong single population and a nightlife scene that’s literally top-ranked nationally, you’re more likely to find events, parties, mixers, and spontaneous plans. The male-to-female ratio is also favorable for women at 116.5 (12th), and while taxi fare ($3, 27th) isn’t a standout, the sheer concentration of venues and social energy likely offsets that. In short: Nevada performs like a state where singles don’t have to “make” Valentine’s plans, they can just join them.
3. North Dakota
North Dakota ranks third largely because it makes dating dramatically more affordable than most states. It’s #1 nationally for a meal for two at $50, and it also ties for the best transportation cost with $2.75 taxi fares (tied 1st), a rare combo on a holiday when dining and moving around can get pricey. While two movie tickets cost $34 (46th), other parts of the “date-night bundle” are reasonable, and the broader environment is supportive: dating app interest is 1,854 (6th), showing strong online dating demand. North Dakota also stands out for being young, with a median age of 36 (2nd), which typically correlates with a more active dating scene.
The biggest “why it ranks so high” factor is dating odds. North Dakota has 127.2 unmarried men per 100 unmarried women (2nd), one of the strongest ratios in the entire study. That can matter a lot around Valentine’s, when single women often report more competition in dating markets elsewhere. Even though nightlife density is only 10.57 per 100,000 (26th), North Dakota compensates with a solid spread of restaurants (224.23, 12th) and a respectable attractions count (93.27, 14th). In other words, it’s a state where the date itself can be affordable, the dating pool is favorable, and the scene is active enough to keep February 14 from feeling like a ghost town.
4. Montana
Montana’s fourth-place finish is powered by a strong “night out for less” profile paired with a surprisingly deep food and attractions scene. Costs are consistently competitive: a meal for two is $57.50 (5th), a bottle of wine averages $12.99 (12th), and two beers cost $8 (tied 3rd). Like several top states, it also ties for the best taxi fare at $2.75 (tied 1st). That’s a big deal on Valentine’s, when the difference between “Let’s grab one more drink” and “Let’s go home” can come down to transport costs and late-night add-ons.
Montana is also a standout for where singles can actually go. It ranks 2nd nationally for restaurant options (286.14 per 100,000) and 5th for attractions (183.70), plus it’s solid for nightlife (12.68, 13th). The dating pool leans heavily male too, with 123 unmarried men per 100 unmarried women (4th), which helps its opportunities score even though the share of single residents is low (29.8%, 45th).
5. Oklahoma
Oklahoma hits the top five by basically becoming the budget hero of Valentine’s. It ranks #1 for two movie tickets at $20, which is a huge advantage when many couples and singles default to dinner-and-a-movie. It also ranks #1 for late-night food at $17, and ties for #1 taxi fare at $2.75, making it easier to keep the night going without turning it into a mini financial crisis. The wine price is another standout: $10.75 per bottle (2nd), one of the strongest “at-home date or pregame before going out” signals in the whole study.
Oklahoma’s activity metrics are weaker, as nightlife options are 8.24 per 100,000 (40th) and attractions are 47.25 (38th), but it still ranks highly because the cost side is so strong, and the dating market has helpful signals like a younger population with a median age of 37 (5th). Its single population share is lower (31.1%, 41st) and dating app interest is also low (1,448, 43rd), which suggests this isn’t a “swipe all night” state. The likely explanation for its high rank is simple: when Valentine’s gets expensive, people stay home. Oklahoma’s prices make it easier for singles to say yes to plans, whether that’s a first date, a friends’ night out, or a low-pressure movie meetup.
6. South Dakota
South Dakota ranks sixth thanks to strong affordability across the core Valentine’s night staples. It places 2nd for a meal for two at $54.17, and ties for #1 taxi fare at $2.75, removing one of the biggest pain points of going out. Drinks are also manageable: two beers cost $9 (tied 5th), and the late-night add-on is affordable as well at $18 (5th). That’s a clean cost profile for singles who want a real night out rather than an at-home Valentine’s with a frozen pizza and a “we’ll try again next year.”
South Dakota also has a relatively favorable dating environment: median age is 38 (8th) and the male-to-female ratio is 117.5 (10th), which can make meeting someone easier compared to states with more balanced or female-leaning markets. Activity options are steady rather than flashy — nightlife ranks 15th (11.81 per 100,000), restaurants are 19th (214.92), and attractions are a strong 7th (150.37).
7. Delaware
Delaware’s seventh-place ranking is driven by a strong “affordable and active” mix, especially for singles who want options without paying big-city prices. It’s 8th for a meal for two at $59.17, 8th for a bottle of wine at $12.50, and 6th for movie tickets at $22, a rare combination of top-10 affordability across multiple classic Valentine’s categories. Add in the study’s best taxi fare again at $2.75 (tied 1st), and Delaware starts to look like a state where a full night out is feasible even if you’re dating casually or going on multiple first dates in the same month.
Delaware’s dating app demand is also a major bright spot: dating app interest is 1,897 (5th), alongside a solid 33.2% single population share (24th). The one weak point is dating odds: its male-to-female ratio is 106.1 (42nd), meaning the pool is relatively balanced compared with the male-heavy states above it. Still, Delaware has decent activity options — restaurants rank 20th (212.10) and attractions are 17th (79.63). A plausible reason it ranks this high: small states with strong commuter and metro spillover can have lively dining scenes and high app engagement, giving singles lots of opportunities without the major-city cost penalty.
8. Alaska
Alaska is the wild card of the top 10, ranking high despite some of the steepest dating costs. A meal for two averages $85 (39th), two beers cost $16 (45th), and late-night food runs $23 (46th), not exactly the budget Valentine’s dream. But Alaska compensates with a powerful combination of dating opportunities and unique “things to do.” It ranks #1 nationally for attractions options per 100,000 people (416.80), making it the ultimate state for singles who want a Valentine’s that isn’t just dinner, drinks, and awkward small talk. It also ranks 6th for nightlife options (16.13), so it’s not lacking social venues either.
The dating market indicators are also unusually strong. Alaska has the most male-heavy pool in the study with 129.2 unmarried men per 100 unmarried women (1st), plus a younger population with a median age of 36 (tied 2nd) and a strong single share at 34.5% (14th). So while a Valentine’s night out can cost more, there’s a bigger dating pool and far more activity variety.
9. Nebraska
Nebraska earns ninth place by being reliably affordable and quietly strong on the basics that make Valentine’s feel doable. It ties for #1 taxi fare at $2.75, and places well on key spending points like movie tickets at $25 (13th), two beers at $9 (tied 5th), and late-night food at $18 (5th). Dinner is more mid-pack at $66.67 (17th), but overall Nebraska looks like a state where you can build a full date night without needing to “pick one” between dinner, drinks, and getting home safely.
Nebraska also has helpful opportunity signals: dating app interest is 1,750 (10th) and the median age is 37 (tied 5th), both pointing to an active dating population. The single share is lower (31.5%, 36th), and nightlife density is weaker (8.65, 37th), but restaurant options are decent at 215.27 (18th).
10. Kansas
Kansas rounds out the top 10 with a cost structure that keeps Valentine’s from turning into a budget-buster, plus a dating pool that’s more favorable than many states. A meal for two averages $60 (9th), wine is $13 (13th), two beers cost $10 (9th), and late-night food is $18 (5th). It also ties for the best taxi fare at $2.75 (tied 1st) — a repeated theme among top performers, and not a coincidence. When transportation is cheap, singles can say yes to more plans, hop between venues, and avoid the “I’ll just stay in” trap.
On dating opportunities, Kansas has a helpful ratio for women with 122 unmarried men per 100 unmarried women (6th) and a solid median age of 38 (8th). Its single population share is lower (31.1%, 41st) and nightlife/restaurant density is among the weakest in the top 10 (nightlife 8.03, 41st; restaurants 185.67, 45th; attractions 45.15, 40th), which suggests Kansas’s strength is affordability and odds more than “endless options.”