The City of Santa Ana has shockingly been rated the 7th worst city for singles in the U.S., overall, this year, by a new study from Zumper.
Today’s singles are looking for more than just romance. They want vibrant social scenes, thriving job markets, and cities where the cost of living won’t break the bank. Zumper’s latest data report analyzed 100 of the most populous U.S. cities across key factors including single population, affordability, social opportunities, and career prospects to uncover the best cities for singles in 2025.
Highlights
- Santa Ana ranked as the 7th worst city for singles overall this year.
- Santa Ana scored poorly due to its lack of social opportunity.
- Santa Ana received F grades in four categories: Single Population, Restaurant Grades, Nightlife Grades and Entertainment Grades
There has been a long term effort to turn downtown Santa Ana into an Artists Village. But the net result has been high priced restaurants the local residents do not support. Contrast this with other downtowns such as Brea, Fullerton and Orange where the mix includes more affordable restaurants and tons of fun bars and nightclubs!
Best cities by category
Some cities shine in specific categories even if they did not break into the top ten overall. Asheville, North Carolina leads the way for food and fun, ranking first in both restaurants and entertainment while also earning the number two spot for nightlife. Other cities that stand out for restaurants include Fort Lauderdale, Houston, and Orlando.
When it comes to nightlife, New Orleans, Louisiana claims the top spot, followed closely by Asheville, Fort Lauderdale, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh. For entertainment, Asheville again leads, followed by New Orleans, Orlando, Atlanta, and St. Louis.
Affordability is also a key factor for singles. The cities with the most affordable cost of living are Oklahoma City, Augusta, Tulsa, Des Moines, and Knoxville, proving that singles do not need to sacrifice financial stability to enjoy a vibrant lifestyle.
Why these cities stand out
What makes these cities special is balance. Places like St. Louis and Pittsburgh combine affordability with a strong social scene, while cities like Asheville and Atlanta offer some of the country’s most exciting entertainment and nightlife. Others, like Knoxville and Salt Lake City, provide a mix of low rents, strong incomes, and stable job markets. Together, these cities highlight the diverse ways singles can thrive depending on what matters most to them.
The 5 worst places to be single
The 5 worst cities to be single in 2025 were Henderson, San Jose, Fresno, Gilbert, and Bakersfield. Henderson had the lowest single population across the country at 28% and ranked poorly for restaurants and nightlife. San Jose, though ranking in the top 5 for income, was dragged down by its high cost of living and low scores in social activities and single population. Fresno ranked in the bottom 5 for nightlife and entertainment and had a high unemployment rate. Although Gilbert had the second lowest unemployment rate overall and a high median income, the social scores for restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment all ranked in the bottom 2. Lastly, Bakersfield had a relatively affordable median rent but was pulled down by low scores in the social categories as well as single population.
Methodology
To compile this comprehensive ranking of the best cities for singles, we analyzed and ranked 100 of the most populous US cities on eight metrics. For categories like restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment, we measured the number of options relative to the city’s population (per capita) rather than the total count, ensuring smaller cities weren’t overshadowed by larger ones.
About Zumper
Zumper is a fast-growing online rental platform designed to simplify the apartment and house-hunting process across the U.S. and Canada. It allows renters to browse listings, schedule tours, apply for rentals, and even sign leases—all digitally. For landlords and property managers, Zumper offers tools to list properties, screen tenants, and manage leases efficiently. With features like real-time alerts, interactive map searches, and credit screening, Zumper aims to make renting as seamless as booking a hotel. The platform supports millions of users annually and is known for its user-friendly interface and commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.