Couples divorce for all kinds of reasons, but some marital dealbreakers are more common than others. Studies show that those who choose to split from their partners most often cite a lack of commitment, problems with infidelity, or frequent arguments as the root cause for the discord. But whatever it is that makes a couple's differences truly irreconcilable, experts say that there's another factor at play: you may be more or less likely to divorce depending on where you live. In fact, women's health site Intimate Rose has analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau to figure out exactly which major cities tend to divorce at the highest rates—and their findings may surprise you. Read on to find out how your area ranks when it comes to divorce.
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20 | Columbus, Ohio
ShutterstockIt seems the citizens of Columbus know the secret to long-lasting love: the city boasts a divorce rate of just 3.52 percent. Though the data shows that residents of this mid-sized city are among the least likely to get married—they had the lowest marriage rate among all of the considered cities—when they do, they commit for the long haul, rarely parting ways after saying "I do."
19 | Dallas, Texas
iStockThe Lone Star State is known—at least in part—for its strong sense of family values, so perhaps it's no surprise that one of its major metropolitan areas had the second-lowest divorce rate of all the cities on the list. Residents of Dallas divorced at a rate of just 5.38 percent.
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18 | San Jose, California
ShutterstockSan Jose is nestled within Silicon Valley, an area widely known for harboring the nation's leading tech start-ups—and many married couples. However, Town & Country shared a rather bleak insight into the city’s low 5.68 percent divorce rate. They claim that thanks to sudden, excessive wealth and a lack of prenup culture, "there are many unhappily married people who are afraid to get divorced because of what it would do to their net worth in the blink of an eye."
17 | Los Angeles, California
ShutterstockLos Angeles, California may be a notoriously difficult place to date, but judging from the city's relatively low divorce rate, it seems that fact only incentivizes long-term commitment. L.A. had the fourth-lowest rate of divorce at 6.16 percent.
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16 | Charlotte, North Carolina
ShutterstockCharlotte is a business hub, as well as a beloved university town—just two of the reasons that the city is regularly ranked one of the best cities for growing families. Now couples will have even more reason to love it: the divorce rate—just 6.22 percent—is relatively low compared with its peers.
15 | New York City, New York
iStockNew York City has a reputation for being the city that never sleeps. Yet as it turns out, New York is not all about the nightlife—people are making lifelong connections there, too. According to the data, roughly one-third of New Yorkers have married while just 6.48 percent call it quits.
14 | Fort Worth, Texas
ShutterstockOne of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., Fort Worth seems like a safe enough bet for lovebirds. While 28 percent of citizens are married, the divorce rate is still relatively low at 6.7 percent.
13 | San Francisco, California
kropic1/ShutterstockSan Francisco, known as a hub for hippies during the Summer of Love, is still a place where couples thrive. The marriage rate is high at over 34 percent, and the divorce rate is moderately low, at 7.04 percent.
12 | Washington, D.C.
ShutterstockIn Washington, D.C., divorce rates creep slightly higher, to the tune of 7.19 percent. And like many places—but perhaps especially because D.C. is a career-oriented city—it's seen an uptick in divorces during the pandemic. "Working at home has created added stress and tension and overall has made balancing marriage and work-life more challenging," D.C. divorce attorneys said in an interview with ABC. "Some have adapted and adjusted well and there are those who have not been able to fully integrate and process the new normal and thus overall there is more conflict among couples."
11 | San Diego, California
iStockSan Diego may look like paradise with its striking skyline and beautiful beaches, but the data shows that when it comes to the divorce rate, there may be some trouble in paradise after all. Those who tie the knot in "America's Finest City" have a 7.25 percent divorce rate—not astronomically high, but not exactly low, either.
10 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
iStockConsidering that Philadelphia was ranked the least happy city out of the bunch by the same data collectors, it may come as some surprise that the divorce rate isn’t higher. Sitting squarely in the middle of the list, Philadelphians divorced at a rate of 7.39 percent.
RELATED: If You and Your Spouse Disagree About This, You're Twice as Likely to Divorce.
9 | Chicago, Illinois
ShutterstockA hub of romantic restaurants and world-class museums, it’s no surprise that many couples come to Chicago to fall in love. Yet the divorce rate is on the high side, at 7.66 percent—a number that may give the city’s singles pause.
8 | Houston, Texas
ShutterstockConsidering getting hitched in Houston? The data suggests it's a bit of a gamble. The Texas city has a 7.86 divorce rate, putting it in the top 10 major cities for the highest likelihood of divorce.
7 | Phoenix, Arizona
ShutterstockAccording to data from the U.S. Census Bureau for 2019, Phoenix gained more new residents than any other U.S. city. But if it's year-round sunshine you're after, consider this slightly darker statistic: Phoenix residents tip the scales into a slightly higher bracket of divorce frequency, at a rate of 8.68 percent.
6 | Indianapolis, Indiana
ShutterstockHome to the world's largest children's museum, many families are flocking to Indianapolis to raise their broods. However, the divorce rate sits a bit high at 8.8 percent.
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5 | Seattle, Washington
roman_slavik / iStockIf you’re feeling sleepless in Seattle over a love lost, it turns out you're not alone. The West Coast city, often touted as a romantic getaway, was ranked fifth-highest for divorce out of the cities considered for the list. Seattle's divorce rate is 8.83 percent.
4 | San Antonio, Texas
ShutterstockWith historic architecture and a romantic canal running through it, it's easy to fall in love in San Antonio, Texas. However, the data—which pegs the city at a 9.15 percent divorce rate—reveals that for many, the bigger challenge is staying that way.
3 | Austin, Texas
iStockAustin, Texas has the highest marriage rate (40 percent) of all of the cities considered, but it also ranked high on the list of places in which you’re most likely to divorce. Residents of Austin split at a rate of 9.62 percent, coming in third-highest on the list.
2 | Denver, Colorado
ShutterstockDenver, Colorado is best known for its scenic views and bustling beer bar scene, but now the city has a less desirable distinction to add to the list. This lovely city had the second-highest divorce rates, clocking in at 11.08 percent.
1 | Jacksonville, Florida
iStockAnd, finally, the major city in which you're most likely to get divorced: Jacksonville, Florida. Jacksonville topped the list with a divorce rate of 11.93 percent, meaning for many couples, the beach honeymoon is officially over.
RELATED: You're More Likely to Divorce If You Met Your Spouse This Way, New Study Says.
