A new study reveals the 10 U.S. states where adults are most likely to remain unmarried — and the reasons may surprise you.

Marriage Is Losing Its Hold on America

If you’ve been swiping, dating, and still coming up empty, your address might be part of the problem. A new analysis from PlayCasino, drawing on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, identified the 10 states with the highest percentages of adults between the ages of 30 and 49 who have never been married. The results reveal a striking pattern — and suggest that geography may carry more romantic weight than most people realize.

The broader backdrop is hard to ignore. The share of American adults who have never married has doubled over the past six decades, rising from 15% in 1960 to 31% today, according to Pew Research. A record 25% of 40-year-olds have now reached that milestone without ever walking down the aisle — the highest figure recorded since Census tracking began in 1900, and a dramatic jump from just 6% in 1980. With more than 132 million unmarried Americans currently counted across never-married, divorced, and widowed adults, researchers are drawing a clear conclusion: marriage is no longer the default.

The States Where Singles Are Stacking Up

Here’s a breakdown of the 10 states where adults are most likely to remain unmarried:

1. New York — 36.3% never married. The Empire State tops the list. More than one in three New Yorkers between 30 and 49 has never been married. Sky-high living costs — with average monthly rent hovering around $3,931, nearly 150% above the national average of $1,577 — and an intensely competitive dating culture are among the key factors researchers cite.
2. New Mexico — around 33% never married. The Land of Enchantment ranks second, with roughly one-third of midlife adults who have never tied the knot, well above the national norm.
3. Hawaii — around 33% never married. Paradise looks stunning on postcards, but it hasn’t translated into wedding bells. Researchers point to the state’s elevated cost of living, large military population, tourism-driven workforce, and a trend among younger residents toward delaying marriage.
4. Nevada — around 32% never married. Las Vegas may be the self-proclaimed wedding capital of America, but the state’s transient population and culture of delay tell a different story about its residents’ long-term relationship patterns.
5. Rhode Island — around 31% never married. The nation’s smallest state carries a surprisingly large share of single adults, continuing a pattern seen broadly throughout New England.
6. Massachusetts — around 30% never married. Boston, where more than half of residents have reportedly never married, anchors the state’s ranking. The city continues to draw young professionals who are either postponing marriage or opting out altogether.
7. Louisiana — around 29% never married. The only Deep South state to crack the top 10, Louisiana’s ranking is largely driven by New Orleans, which has one of the highest concentrations of single adults among major U.S. cities.
8. Delaware — around 28% never married. Small in size but notable on this list, Delaware’s proximity to Philadelphia and its place within the Mid-Atlantic commuter corridor are factors researchers believe may be contributing to its high rate of never-married adults.
9. Pennsylvania — around 27% never married. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh continue to attract residents who are career-focused and personally driven, increasingly treating marriage as something to revisit later — or not at all.
10. Florida — around 26% never married. While the Sunshine State often conjures images of retirees, its working-age population is staying single longer than prior generations, landing Florida firmly in the top 10.

Where Love Goes to Wait — or Never Arrive

Researchers make clear that this isn’t simply about location — it’s about the layered pressures and shifting priorities that define modern life. Rising housing costs, evolving social norms, career ambitions, and a growing cultural acceptance of singlehood are all reshaping how Americans approach romantic commitment. Financial strain, in particular, is making traditional milestones harder to reach in high-cost urban centers.

Marriage, Redefined

What the data ultimately reflects is a generation — and increasingly, multiple generations — rewriting the rules around love and partnership. For millions of Americans, staying single isn’t a failure or a fluke. It’s a considered, deliberate choice. Whether that shift feels liberating or leaves you wondering what your own zip code might be quietly working against, one thing is certain: the old road map to happily-ever-after has been rerouted.

Source: Madamenoire