Single Houston residents are living in one of the most charming cities for dating, according to a new national report.
Real estate marketplace Zumper compiled its list of “The Best U.S. Cities for Singles in 2025” by analyzing 100 of the most populous U.S. cities across eight metrics: The percentage of single individuals out of the entire city’s population; median rent prices for a one-bedroom apartment; the number of restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment options per capita; a cost of living index; the median non-family annual income; and unemployment rates.
According to these comprehensive measures, Houston is winning over hearts as the 27th most single-friendly city in the nation. H-Town tied with Kansas City, Missouri for the No. 27 spot.
Unattached Houstonians that want to explore the best cities for dating will have to head out of state to places like No. 1-ranking St. Louis, Missouri; Knoxville, Tennessee (No. 2); or Salt Lake City, Utah (No. 3).
Rather than giving scores or numerical ratings, the survey gave letter grades for each of the eight key dimensions (“A” being the best, and “F” being the worst). Houston’s highest grade was an “A” in the cost of living category (without explanation) and the city earned a “B” in the categories for the one-bedroom rent prices, its nightlife and entertainment options, and for its unemployment rates.
Shockingly, Houston’s worst grade was a “D” for its number of restaurants per capita and its single population rate. That left Houston’s single income rating with a middling “C” grade.
On the bright side, Houston’s dating scene is certainly not the worst in Texas. Plano, a Dallas suburb, ranked as the No. 78 “best” U.S. city for singles in the report. Other North Texas cities like Irving (No. 70) and Fort Worth (No. 75) also ranked low on the list. So it could be much worse.
“The U.S. is seeing a rising share of adults living single, and while romance is still on the wish list for many, today’s singles are also prioritizing vibrant social scenes, strong career opportunities, and an affordable cost of living,” the report’s author wrote.
Houston singles who want a better dating scene without having to travel to Missouri or Tennessee will find it in Austin, which was the highest-ranked Texas city and came in at No. 10 nationally. The report found that about 44 percent of Austin’s population is single.
“What helps Austin stand out is its high single median income of $68,630, one of the strongest among all the top cities, which supports both affordability and lifestyle,” the study said.
The top 10 best U.S. cities for singles are:
No. 1 – St. Louis, MissouriNo. 2 – Knoxville, TennesseeNo. 3 – Salt Lake City, UtahNo. 4 – Atlanta, GeorgiaNo. 5 – Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaNo. 6 – Tallahassee, FloridaNo. 7 – Minneapolis, MinnesotaNo. 8 – Asheville, North CarolinaNo. 9 – Richmond, VirginiaNo. 10 – Austin, Texas