Best Cities for Dating 2022 with Local Dating Insights from Bumble
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Dating season is in full swing as people re-emerge from the holidays and get ready to find a new partner just in time for Valentine's Day. It should come as no surprise that Bumble data shows that the highest volume of messages in the US are exchanged between early January and Valentine’s Day.
With the most romantic day of the year just around the corner, Apartment List and Bumble are excited to share local dating insights to help singles find love.
We examined 85 US cities to determine the Best Cities for Dating in 2022.
Ranking Methodology
We used our Dating Satisfaction Score from Apartment List’s Annual Renter Satisfaction Survey to determine the best cities for dating. We asked renters: “How satisfied are you with opportunities for dating in your current city.”
We then ranked the cities highest to lowest based on their satisfaction scores.
To uncover additional insight into a city’s dating scene, we’ve partnered with Bumble to get the local scoop. Bumble’s provided us with top Profile Badges and Interest Badges for each city listed below.
Key Findings
- Cincinnati’s dating scene is on the rise! Despite not placing in the top 10 for our Best Cities for Singles or our Best Metros for Dating, Cincinnati scored 1st place in this report.
- Texas is the state of love. Our top 10 included 4 Texas cities. Between Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas… love is bubbling in the Lone Star State!
- East Coast takes the cake. The East Coast outscored the West Coast as 6 of the top 10 cities are from the East.
1. Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati takes home the crown as the best city for dating in 2022! Cincinnati scored 31.46% on dating satisfaction, the highest mark on our list of 85 cities.
Home to the nation’s first baseball team, sports are an important part of the Ohio culture. This isn’t surprising as Cincinnati Bumble users select “Sports” as one of their Interest Badges. Football, basketball, and running are the most popular activites among the Bumble community. Expect to see interest in Football spike this year with the Bengals making the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988.
If sports aren’t your thing, “Creativity” was another common Interest Badge for Cincy Bumble users. Consider a first date at the Cinncinnati Art Museum, have a wine and paint night at Smale Riverfront Park, or enjoy the orchestra at the Cinncinnati Music Hall.
2. Boston, MA
Only a few percentage points away from Cincinnati, Boston placed second with a dating satisfaction score of 31.40%. Not much has changed, Boston also ranked 2nd in our 2021 Best Cities for Singles report.
The date options are endless thanks to Boston’s walkability! It’s easy to get around and experience a lot of new things with that special someone. For example, you could have a full day of date activities starting with a morning stroll with coffee through Boston Commons. Then spend the late afternoon catching a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. Follow that up by hitting up the nearby bars at night.
With so much to do and a seamless way to get around, it's no wonder that Bostonians have a strong appetite for activity-based interests and often display “Going Out,” “Sports,” and “Traveling” as their Bumble Interest Badges.
3. Houston, TX
Coming in 3rd place is Houston! Houston scored 31.09% for its dating satisfaction. There are plenty of date options to choose from in Houston, but Houston Bumble users commonly select“Food & Drink” as their Interest Badge. This should come as no surprise as Houston is a hotbed for foodies. Looking for a date idea where you can spend a night indulging in diverse local fare? Take your S.O. to any one of Houston’s popular food courts like Underground Hall or Finn Hall.
Within the Food & Drink category, “brunches” are popular among Houstonians. Perhaps going to a nice weekend brunch could be the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your Bumble date this year!
While there are tons of things to do in Houston, like visiting the Museum of Fine Arts or the Houston Zoo in the Musem District, it wouldn’t be uncommon if you’d prefer to spend your date inside as Bumble users selected “Staying In” as one of their Interest Badges.
4. San Diego, CA
Moving to the only California city in our top 10, San Diego! San Diego scored 4th place with its 30.99% dating satisfaction score barely trailing behind Houston. Sunny San Diego is perfect for adventurers and people who prefer “Going Out” as indicated from our Bumble insights! San Diegans can spend time seal-watching at La Jolla shores, hiking at Torrey Pines, or enjoying the beachside bars in Pacific Beach.
Bumble users resonate with the adventure spirit that San Diego fosters, as they often choose “Traveling” as one of their Interest Badges. Not surprisingly, beaches are the top travel destination among Bumble profiles based in San Diego. Country escapes, winter sports, and fishing trips also ranked as popular travel activities in San Diego.
5. Austin, TX
Heading back to Texas, and we land at Austin! Austin is our 5th best city for dating, scoring 29.58% in dating satisfaction. Home to the Texas state capitol (and Bumble), it’s not surprising that Bumble users often select “Politics” as one of their Profile Badges.
Bumble users also display “Exercise” as one of their Profile Badges. There are tons of options for fitness lovers in Austinites can go on rock climbing, cycling, or even paddle boating dates.
Unsurprisingly for a city that’s known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” one of the top interest categories includes “Music” for Austinites on Bumble. Country music is the most popular music genre followed by R&B and rock. With the 2022 SXSW music festival coming up in March, this could be the best time to bond with your new Bumble connection over your shared love of music.
6. Detroit, MI
Moving up north, we’re at the 6th best city for dating, Detroit! Detroit scored 28.78% in dating satisfaction. Home to bustling city life, Detroit daters can spend time taking in the views of The Guardian Building, stop and smell the flowers at Belle Isle Park, or catch any sports game (MLB, NFL, NBA, or NHL) downtown.
Bumble users also selected “Going Out” and “Music” as their top Interest Badges. Based on those who selected Music as an interest, hip hop, country, and R&B are some of the most popular music genres among Detroiters on Bumble. There’s lots of opportunities to woo your special someone with your dance moves. Go on a date at the Detroit Jazz Fest, Movement Music Festival, or one of Detroit’s many karaoke bars to win them over.
7. Washington, DC
Heading south to Washington DC, DC ranks #7 on our list barely trailing behind Detroit with its 28.51% dating satisfaction. Washington, DC, home to Capitol Hill, is known for its historical and political nature. So it’s not surprising that Bumble users most often include, “Politics” in their Profile Badges and that “Going Out” was a popular Interest Badge.
DC Bumble users spend time attending concerts and visiting museums and galleries. Here, couples can go on dates to the National Museum of American History, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, or listen to their favorite band at Capital One Arena. “Pets” was also a popular Profile Badge for Bumble users. Perhaps, you could set up a doggy-walk date with your S.O.!
8. San Antonio, TX
Moving back to the Lone Star State, San Antonio ranks #8 on our list. San Antonio has a dating satisfaction score of 27.78%. Some of the top interests for San Antonians on Bumble include “Values & Traits”, “Sports”, and “Creativity”. Based on those who adopted Values & Traits as an Interest Badge, being family-oriented, ambitious, and positive are the qualities that resonate the most with the Bumble community in San Antonio. If you’re looking to start dating more seriously, San Antonio could be the place for you.
San Antonio is very family-friendly as you can visit LEGOLAND, Sea Life, and the San Antonio Zoo. Of course, if you aren’t ready to settle down quite yet, you can go on dates to the San Antonio Botanical Garden, take a wine tour in Hill Country, or listen to classical music at the San Antonio Symphony.
9. Miami, FL
Flying southeast, we land in Miami! Miami is ranked #9 for best cities for dating and has a dating satisfaction score of 27.63%. Miami is not only a popular tourist destination, but Miamians also love to travel as Bumble users often display “Traveling” as one of their Interest Badges.
Inside the city, singles can shop at the Dolphin Mall, eat authentic Cuban food at Little Havana, or catch some sun at Lummus Park Beach.
If you’re a zodiac believer, you’ll fit in quite well here! Miami Bumble users often displayed “Zodiac” in their profiles. Unfortunately, Leos were the most popular zodiac sign in Miami. With Leos on Bumble being the most lucky in love across the world, this might be a good sign for Miamians looking for love on Bumble this upcoming Valentine’s Day.
10. Dallas, TX
For the last city on our top 10, we’re headed back to Texas. Dallas is our 10th best city for dating! Dallas surveyors gave Dallas a dating satisfaction score of 27.27%.
Dallas daters can spend their time together attending concerts at the House of Blues, visiting the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens or watching the Dallas Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium. There’s simply a plethora of activities to do!
Bumble users included “Sports” and “Music” in their interest badges. Among those who like “Music”, it’s clear that there are big country music fans among the Bumble community in Dallas along with hip hop and R&B listeners. Known for its iconic Southern dishes and live music, Dallas’ House of Blues would be the perfect date spot!
Best Cities for Dating Data
| Ranking | City | Average Dating Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati, OH | 31.46% |
| 2 | Boston, MA | 31.4% |
| 3 | Houston, TX | 31.09% |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | 30.99% |
| 5 | Austin, TX | 29.58% |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | 28.78% |
| 7 | Washington, DC | 28.51% |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | 27.78% |
| 9 | Miami, FL | 27.63% |
| 10 | Dallas, TX | 27.27% |
Best Cities for Dating by Gender and Education Level
To uncover further insights into local dating scenes, we wanted see how things break down by gender. Did men and women agree on the top cities for dating? Spoiler alert–they didn’t.
Houston is the Best City for Dating for Women: Houston women ranked Houston #1 for the best city for dating, giving it a score of 30.16%.
Boston is the Best City for Dating for Men: Bostonian men ranked Boston #1 for the best city for dating, giving it a score of 46.51%.
Best Cities for Dating by Gender Data
| Ranking | Women | Average Dating Satisfaction | Ranking | Men | Average Dating Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | 30.16% | 1 | Boston, MA | 46.51% |
| 2 | Kansas City, MO | 27.91% | 2 | Detroit, MI | 42.86% |
| 3 | Cincinnati, OH | 27.27% | 3 | Chicago, IL | 41.27% |
| 4 | Austin, TX | 26.47% | 4 | Washington, DC | 41.07% |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | 25% | 5 | Dallas, TX | 39.06% |
| 6 | Albany, NY | 24% | 6 | Las Vegas, NV | 37.5% |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | 23.61% | 7 | San Diego, CA | 34.29% |
| 8 | Grand Rapids, MI | 23.08% | 8 | Minneapolis, MN | 34.15% |
| 9 | Miami, FL | 21.7% | 9 | Miami, FL | 33.87% |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | 21.36% | 10 | San Francisco, CA | 33.33% |
We then were interested in how college education affected dating satisfaction. Did having a degree impact which city people thought was best for dating? Take a look!
Boston is the Best City for Dating for College Educated: Boston takes the cake again! Scoring as the second-best city for dating, best city for dating for men, and best city for dating for college graduates, Boston seems like THE place to be. Boston scored #1 for the best city for dating for college educated people and gave it a score of 33.77%.
Austin is the Best City for Dating for Non-College Educated: Despite Austin being home to 16 colleges and universities, they ranked their city the best city for dating for non-college graduates and gave it a score of 42.31%.
Best Cities for Dating by Education Level Data
| Ranking | College Educated | Average Dating Satisfaction | Ranking | Non-College Educated | Average Dating Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | 33.77% | 1 | Austin, TX | 42.31% |
| 2 | Houston, TX | 33.33% | 2 | Cincinnati, OH | 35.9% |
| 3 | Detroit, MI | 32.56% | 3 | Houston, TX | 31.91% |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | 31.58% | 4 | Detroit, MI | 31.15% |
| 5 | Miami, FL | 29.35% | 5 | Kansas City, MO | 31.03% |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | 28.81% | 6 | St. Louis, MO | 30.3% |
| 7 | Virginia Beach, VA | 28.57% | 7 | Charlotte, NC | 29.27% |
| 8 | Washington, DC | 28.1% | 8 | Tampa, FL | 28.07% |
| 9 | Denver, CO | 27.87% | 9 | Las Vegas, NV | 28.07% |
| 10 | Austin, TX | 26.67% | 10 | Dallas, TX | 26.67% |
Bumble’s Local Dating Insights
To add some local flavor to each city, we collaborated with Bumble to provide some local dating insights. These insights are taken from Bumble’s Profile Badges and Interest Badges. These are tools daters can use to get to know their potential dates better.
- Profile Badges: Folks on Bumble can use Profile Badges to indicate their values and lifestyle choices such as religion, politics, fitness, and even their astrology signs!
- Interest Badges: Available to those on Bumble Date, Interest Badges are an extension of Bumble’s Profile Badges where people can select up to 5 Badges from over 150 interests that range in various categories including sports, creative hobbies, favorite movie genres and so much more.
The data and insights in this report highlight some of the most compelling local insights about folks using Bumble in top cities for dating. If you are in need of additional tips and advice on how to find love just in time for Valentine’s Day, Bumble offers helpful insights on their content hub, The Buzz. Here you can find helpful information such as how to make the first move before Valentine’s Day and tips and tricks for flirting on Bumble.
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