The Best Cities to Live Alone in the U.S.

These days more and more Americans are living solo. So we did research to determine the best cities to live alone in the US based on a number of factors.

These days, more and more Americans are living solo, in one-bedroom and studio apartments perfectly suited to their personal taste. Single-person households make up at least 19.4% of the population in every state and go all the way up to 45.6% in Washington D.C. For many people, the independence granted by living alone is often their first taste of adulthood. 

At Joybird, we’re all about celebrating each person’s unique personality and aesthetic through our customized furniture. We know just how it feels the first time you live on your own – all the food in the refrigerator is yours, and you never have to share a bathroom again! It’s a truly liberating feeling. And what’s better than designing your first apartment all to yourself exactly how you want it? 

Because many of our customers are reveling in that feeling, it got us thinking – just what makes a place so great to live in by yourself? What are the best factors for success, and where are they? We decided to dive into a research project to find out. Read on to discover what we determined to be the best cities to live alone in the nation.

Methodology 

To rank the best cities to live alone, we wanted to focus on affordability, safety, and the ability to meet new people. Based on the factors below, we compiled the data into a ranking system to determine where the best cities in the best cities to live alone are in the U.S. The cities included are the top 46 metro areas in the U.S. for which complete data was available. 

Factors:

• Avg. rent for 1 bedroom/studio units – Source: US Census
• % of housing stock with fewer than two bedrooms – Source: US Census
• % of Single Adults – Source: US Census
• Living Wage for 1 adult with no children (Cost of Living) – Source: MIT Living Wage Calculator
• Violent and Property Crime rate per 100k inhabitants – Source: FBI
• Number of bars, bookstores, and gyms per 100k inhabitants – Source: Yelp
• % of adults who volunteer – Source: The Corporation for National and Community Service

• Community Service

You can view the full list of cities, their respective factors, and overall score in the data table at the end of this post. 

The Cities with the Highest-Percentage of Single-Person Households

Before diving into the city rankings, we wanted to take a look at where exactly most people are living alone in the U.S. right now. According to data from the U.S. Census, the cities with the highest percentage of single-person households include Cleveland, OH, New Orleans, LA, and Pittsburgh, PA. All of the top 20 cities have a single-household population of at least 25%, so clearly, there must be something about them that draws in people with an independent spirit. But are these cities actually good places to live on your own?The Highest-Ranked Cities to Live Alone in the U.S.

So, according to the above factors, which cities came out on top? We’re happy to report that this data reflects the livability of some of America’s smaller cities that are on the rise in terms of popularity. Our overall winner was Milwaukee, WI, with our runner ups being Cleveland, OH and St. Louis, MO.

All of these cities have a unique combination of affordability, safety, and the potential to create new social networks, which make them perfect for someone looking to live alone or start over in a new city. The above graphic lays out the remaining cities that were highest-ranked on the list. Did any surprise you? Tweet us @wearejoybird and let us know! The Lowest-Ranked Cities to Live Alone in the U.S.

Of course, with any ranking, there will be some cities at the bottom of the list. Our study determined that cities like San Francisco are just way too expensive for most people to live in on their own. Cities like Atlanta, on the other hand, are more affordable but have a higher relative crime rate, and lower housing stock fit for a single person. 

That doesn’t mean these cities won’t work for you, though! It just means you may have to make some more accommodations if you’re trying to make it all on your own. And when you do, don’t be afraid to add your personal flair to your space with some custom-made designer furniture from our latest collections. 

Feel free to view the full list of cities, their respective factors, and overall score here. Clicking on a column header will organize the table by that column’s category.