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Study finds higher early-marriage rates in middle America compared to major coastal hubs
Research from the Institute for Family Studies shows adults in their 20s marry at higher rates in the heartland, while coastal cities see higher rates for adults in their 30s.
The short version
- An Institute for Family Studies report found adults aged 22-29 have higher marriage rates in regions like Utah, Tennessee, and Indiana compared to major coastal metropolitan areas.
- Major urban areas such as New York and Los Angeles showed lower marriage rates for adults in their 20s, but higher marriage rates for adults aged 30 to 39.
- The analysis found positive correlations between early-marriage rates and areas that voted for Donald Trump in 2024, as well as regions with higher ratios of full-time employed single men.
Key facts
- A study by the Institute for Family Studies shows that adults aged 22-29 marry at higher rates in heartland regions, including Provo, Utah, and parts of Tennessee and Indiana, than in major coastal cities.[Fox News]
- Eight of the ten regions with the lowest marriage rates for adults in their 20s are located in the New York and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.[Fox News]
- For adults aged 30 to 39, the highest marriage rates were found in portions of the New York, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Chicago metropolitan areas, along with suburban Texas and Indiana.[Fox News]
- Marriage rates for adults in their 20s correlated positively with regions that supported Donald Trump in the 2024 election, whereas the correlation reversed for adults in their 30s.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The study measures current residence rather than where couples originally met or married, meaning post-marriage relocation could influence regional rates without proving causal effects.[Fox News]