Top 10 cities for singles looking for love and real estate
Romantic comedies might lead singles to believe if they're looking to partner up and settle down, big metro areas like New York are the place to be. According to a recent report conducted by Realtor.com, they're wrong.
The real estate website looked at cities around the country to find those with a high percentage of single-owned homes, median home prices that are relatively affordable for people earning the median income in the area and where the unemployment rate is near or less than the national average.
The analysis found that singles' best bets for love and real estate may actually be in smaller metro areas, such as Atlanta, Indianapolis and Denver.
These cities may be not be huge, but they still offer plenty of attractions and activities for a great first date, the study suggests. You might want to take your potential soul mate out ice skating in Minneapolis, on an art tour in Indianapolis or to the symphony in Raleigh.
So where should you go to look for a significant other and a new home? Here are 10 of the best cities for singles.
10. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Percentage of singles: 33 percent
Unemployment rate: 4.9 percent
Median list price: $144,000
About one-third of the population of Pennsylvania's second-largest town is single, according to Realtor.com, and unemployment is slightly lower than average.
There's no shortage of things to do here. Catch a game of the sport of your choice (Pittsburgh has professional baseball, football, hockey and soccer teams) or hang out in one of the city's many, many bars.
9. Orlando, Florida
Percentage of singles: 24 percent
Unemployment rate: 4.5 percent
Median list price: $244,000
More than tourism and amusement parks draw people to this city in central Florida. Singles could escape the north's harsh winters in a town where almost a quarter of the population is unattached and the unemployment rate is below the national average, according to Realtor.com.
While Orlando is known for its long history with Disney, it's also home to an indie movie scene and the Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival, which showcases new and unknown work by local playwrights.
8. St. Louis, Missouri
Percentage of singles: 29 percent
Unemployment rate: 4.7 percent
Median list price: $154,000
This Midwest town is packed with famous breweries -- the largest being Anheuser-Busch, which owns the Budweiser, Busch and Michelob brands, among others -- giving you plenty of places to grab drinks on a first date. The median home price in St. Louis is one of the lower ones on the list at $154,000, and it has the third-highest percentage of singles.
7. Nashville, Tennessee
Percentage of singles: 27 percent
Unemployment rate: 4.5 percent
Median list price: $298,000
This country music capital is a great place to meet your next do-si-do partner, according to Realtor.com. About 27 percent of the city is single. If you're not into guitars and cowboy boots, Nashville city offers a number of museums and historical sites like the locations of three Civil War battles and well-preserved plantation mansions where you can take a date for a quiet afternoon.
6. Denver, Colorado
Percentage of singles: 30 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.3 percent
Median list price: $490,000
You could take your love life to new heights in the Mile-High City. It has the second-highest percentage of singles on this list, but keep in mind that it also has the highest median list price. This area offers tons of activities for outdoorsy couples, including hiking, skiing, kayaking and camping. Those who prefer indoor activities can catch a show at Denver Performing Arts Complex, the country's second-largest performing arts center.
5. Atlanta, Georgia
Percentage of singles: 26 percent
Unemployment rate: 5.3 percent
Median list price: $234,000
Atlanta is a bustling economic center and home to the headquarters of major companies including Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines and Home Depot, to name a few. In recent years it has also become a hub for TV and film production, which means it could be a great place to look for your leading man or woman.
4. Birmingham, Alabama
Percentage of singles: 28 percent
Unemployment rate: 5.5 percent
Median list price: $170,000
This Southern industrial center is home to a number of festivals throughout the year, offering a variety of first date options. Check out the Taste of 4th Avenue Jazz Festival and Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival in August, the Southern Heritage Festival or the Do Dah Day pet parade in May.
3. Raleigh, North Carolina
Percentage of singles: 26 percent
Unemployment rate: 4.9 percent
Median list price: $274,000
People looking for love can find some Southern hospitality and housing deals in Raleigh, were 26 percent of the population is single and unemployment is slightly below the national average, according to Realtor.com. It also has a number of performing art venues and more than a dozen museums, including the North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina Museum of History and the Marbles Kids Museum.
2. Indianapolis, Indiana
Percentage of singles: 27 percent
Unemployment rate: 4 percent
Median list price: $148,000
Put your love life on the fast track in this motorsports hub and home to several major annual races. More than a quarter of Indianapolis' population is single, and the city has the second-least-expensive median list price on Realtor.com's list.
If racing isn't your thing, you could try exploring the museums and landmarks of the city's six cultural districts, like the Indianapolis Museum of Art or the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum.
1. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Percentage of singles: 28 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.2 percent
Median list price: $268,000
Minneapolis has the lowest unemployment rate on the list at just over 3 percent, one of the main factors that pushed it to the top of the list. It also has one of the higher percentages of singles on the list -- just behind Denver and St. Louis and tied with Birmingham. The larger of the Twin Cities offers one of the biggest theater scenes in the country, and it has year-round activities from boating on nearby Lake Harriet in the summer to ice skating in the winter.
The Minnesota winters can be harsh, but you'll have your love to keep you warm.