Struggling on Tinder? Switch things up: check out this map of the best cities in the U.S. for dating

If your dating app success rate hovers somewhere between “left on read” and “ghosted again,” did you ever consider that it might not be you? Of course you did. But you may not have thought that instead it could be related to the city you live in.

That’s right, there’s a new Yahoo study that has analyzed where in the United States singles actually stand a fighting chance, and I found the results somewhat surprising. Credit for this goes to Emma Rubin, who compiled the rankings using what the team calls a “mingle score” a mashup of single population stats, local date spot density, and dating affordability.

Where is the best dating chance?

According to Rubin’s number crunching, New Orleans tops the list, beating out bigger, supposedly sexier cities. Its abundant single population and high density of date-friendly venues appears to make it a goldmine for romantic prospects. But there are obviously no guarantees so still bring your A-game to that first, and all subsequent dates.

Runners-up include Toledo, Ohio, and New Haven, Connecticut, where your odds of finding someone are apparently way better than in the likes of L.A. or Miami.

Which states show poor dating data?

On the flip side, Utah’s Provo and Ogden metro areas came in dead last, largely because they’re said to be packed with already-married 20-somethings. And if you’re a woman in Colorado Springs, dating is a numbers game you’re not likely to win – only 80 single women for every 100 men.

Techy hubs like Seattle and San Jose didn’t fare much better, skewed by too many men and steep prices. You can check out more details along with Yahoo’s map.

So, while this is by no means a sure-fire guide to finding love, it may help for some. And if nothing else, it can offer up an excuse for those struggling to find a match.

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