Where Americans Say “I Do” More (and Less)
Marriage is one of the biggest talks to have in a relationship. It’s an ultimate show of commitment, which leads to a large celebration and, of course, a lot of paperwork.
You might not know it, but where you live in the U.S. can influence your marriage chances. Factors like individual states’ economies and how easily you can get married affect how likely a couple is to tie the knot.
Law firm Schmidt & Clark broke down the numbers, determining the 10 states where lovebirds are the most and least likely to get married. If you’re living in the U.S. and are thinking about popping the big question to your significant other, the results here will interest you.
Analyzing Marriage Trends
Schmidt & Clark used data from the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. They analyzed the marriage history of residents above 15 years old in each state to identify the percentage of married people.
Marriage history included the percentage of residents who never married as well as those who married. Schmidt & Clark also took into account the number of times married people got remarried. They then used the figures to rank the ten states where Americans are the most likely to get married.
The data used in Schmidt & Clark’s ranking differs from other marriage data. As a comparison, in a 2023 report, Nevada ranked above other states when counting marriage rates, with 26.2 per 1,000 people.
With those numbers in consideration, does living in Nevada, the home of drive-thru marriages, increase someone’s chances of getting married?
1: Wyoming
- Population aged 15+: 468,774
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 72.25%
2: Idaho
- Population aged 15+: 1,480,536
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 71.60%
3: Maine
- Population aged 15+: 1,162,396
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 71.07%
4: West Virginia
- Population aged 15+: 1,497,896
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 70.89%
5: Arkansas
- Population aged 15+: 2,442,992
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 70.68%
6: Kentucky
- Population aged 15+: 3,666,715
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 70.22%
7: Montana
- Population aged 15+: 900,746
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 70.17%
8: Oklahoma
- Population aged 15+: 3,182,436
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 69.83%
9: New Hampshire
- Population aged 15+: 1,172,273
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 69.74%
10: Kansas
- Population aged 15+: 2,356,216
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 69.33%
Least Likely To Marry
Schmidt & Clark also ranked the 10 states where Americans are the least likely to get married. They measured the percentage of residents over 15 years old who married at least once in each state.
In 2023, it was reported that Louisiana had the lowest marriage rate with 4.4 marriages per 1,000 people. Do lower marriage numbers in the Bayou State decrease Louisianians’ chances of getting married?
1: Georgia
- Population aged 15+: 8,659,259
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 35.12%
2: Connecticut
- Population aged 15+: 3,009,682
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 35.55%
3: Maryland
- Population aged 15+: 5,036,900
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 35.62%
4: Illinois
- Population aged 15+: 10,445,144
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 35.88%
5: New Mexico
- Population aged 15+: 1,723,724
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 36.25%
6: Louisiana
- Population aged 15+: 3,741,120
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 36.27%
7: Massachusetts
- Population aged 15+: 5,868,418
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 37.14%
8: California
- Population aged 15+: 32,116,602
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 37.76%
9: Rhode Island
- Population aged 15+: 924,051
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 38.06%
10: New York
- Population aged 15+: 16,577,147
- Percentage of residents aged 15+ ever married: 38.61%
Wedding Cost Impact
According to recent data, the average wedding cost in New York is about $33,000, the tenth highest out of all states. In a separate report, New Jersey has the highest average wedding cost, at approximately $51,000.
Utah, Oklahoma, and Kansas tied for the lowest average wedding cost at $16,000. While Utah didn’t rank on either list, Oklahoma and Kansas made it in the top states where Americans are most likely to get married.
Experts warn that the guest list sizes have the biggest effect on wedding costs. A guest size of up to 50 people can cost around $14,000. Inviting more than 100 people to a wedding costs upwards of $38,000.
Marriage Rates Against Divorces
While Wyoming and Idaho topped the list of states where Americans are most likely to get married, both states also have high divorce rates. According to data from the 2021 U.S. Census, Idaho’s divorce rate was the highest among all states, with approximately 11 divorces per 1,000 women. Wyoming came in fifth place, with 8.9 divorces per 1,000 women.
Conversely, New Hampshire reportedly has the lowest divorce rate, with 4.3 divorces per 1,000 women. The state also ranks ninth in states where people are most likely to get married.
The State for Lovers
Virginia’s state motto is “Virginia is for lovers,” but it didn’t rank on either list of states where Americans are most and least likely to get married. The motto’s origins aren’t connected to relationships, tough. Coined by ad agency George Woltz of Martin & Woltz Inc. in 1969, the Virginia State Travel Service adopted the slogan to promote tourism.
The phrase caught on among young people in the late 1960s, possibly due to pop culture’s obsession with love, from the bestselling book Love Story to the “Peace and Love” associated with the Woodstock Music Festival. Nowadays, Virginians use the slogan to inspire everything from beers at breweries to special meals at local restaurants.
13 Leading Causes of Divorce in America
No one goes into marriage anticipating getting divorced, yet a significant number of marriages don’t last. Forbes ran a study to better understand the common reasons Americans choose to untie the knot.
13 Leading Causes of Divorce in America
11 Best States for Singles Looking for Love
Are you struggling to meet that special someone? According to data collected by WalletHub, it might be because you’re living in the wrong state.
