Virginia is not the only state for lovers — two Arizona cities rank as some of the best places for newlyweds to start their lives together.
StorageCafe looked at large cities in the U.S. to determine which cities offer financially stable futures with ample amenities that encourage socialization and inspire an active lifestyle — two factors of the utmost importance to newly married couples.
Taking into account factors like marriage and divorce rates, income, housing availability, employment, utility costs, restaurants, air quality and online interest, Scottsdale ranked at No. 4, while Gilbert ranked at No. 10.
Although Scottsdale homes aren’t necessarily cheap, the city offers the second-highest housing inventory per capita in the nation. The city also has a higher share of luxury apartments, a common choice for newlyweds. Additionally, local unemployment is low (2.5%) and typical Millennial incomes surpass $100,000.
What makes Scottsdale even more popular for lovebirds is the lively dating scene. The city boasts 0.6 amusement and recreation opportunities per every 1,000 residents. That includes shopping and dining on the Boardwalk, hiking (Scottsdale has 9 miles of natural trails per every 10,000 people) and golfing.
Gilbert is not to be overlooked when it comes to newlywed bliss, though: the city has the second-highest share of married people in the country, with people in the age ranges where marriage typically occurs — 25 to 44 — making up nearly one-third of the population. The unemployment rate in Gilbert is even lower than that in Scottsdale at 2.4%, while the typical household income is nearly $108,000 annually. Gilbert also has a high level of sports and nature-related activities, including baseball diamonds and improved trails.
Here’s the full top 10 of the best cities for newlyweds to move to:
- Arlington, Virginia
- Irvine, California
- Plano, Texas
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Fremont, California
- Chesapeake, Virginia
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Seattle
- Gilbert, Arizona