Red state heartlands put a ring on young love while progressive blue cities lag on early marriage
September 1, 2026
Young people looking to tie the knot in their 20s may want to rethink where they live. Moving to big coastal cities like New York and Los Angeles could mean lowering the odds of getting married — and living in an area with a high concentration of singles may not lead to more marriages.
According to a new study from the Institute for Family Studies (IFS), early-marriage rates are lower in many urban hubs and higher in parts of the heartland. The findings point to a geographical divide in family formation, with young adults in places like Tennessee, Indiana and Utah marrying at higher rates than their coastal big-city peers.
