Just in time for Valentine’s Day, a Colorado city that’s often praised for its stunning beauty and ample opportunities for outdoor recreation has been dubbed the worst place for singles nationwide.

A recent report from Consumer Affairs sought to determine the best cities for dating in 2026, comparing the 110 largest cities around the United States across a number of metrics related to local dating opportunities, cost of living, quality of life, and dating interest. Three Colorado cities were large enough to be included in the ranking and while none of the trio performed particularly well, one of those spots ranked dead last.

Denver ranked the best among the three, though the Mile High City dropped from its 2025 ranking of 17th nationwide to 35th of the 110 cities included in the 2026 report. While Denver’s cost-of-living brought the city down in the overall rankings, it ranked 26th in terms of quality of life and 38th in terms of both dating opportunities and dating interest.

Aurora was the next-highest ranking Colorado city for singles looking to date – though it ranked 94th of the 110 spots, dropping 14 places compared to its 2025 ranking of 80th. Quality of life ranking was above-average in Aurora, as well – 48th, though the city ranked 96th in terms of dating opportunities and 74th in terms of cost of living. Dating interest, however, was deemed to be relatively high – not as high as that of Denver, but it was Aurora’s highest rank among the four categories of metrics at 43rd.

And now for the worst places to date per the Consumer Affairs report – not just in Colorado, but among all of the 110 largest cities in the United States. Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs ranked 110th for dating nationwide, somehow managing to slip from its already abysmal ranking of 103rd in 2025.

Dating interest in Colorado Springs – based on Google search trends related to dating apps – was actually tied with Aurora at 43rd, though this category of metrics was weighted the lowest in overall scores. On the opposite end of the spectrum was the city’s ‘dating opportunities’ rank – 110th of 110. This category of metrics was weighted the heaviest in each city’s overall score, consisting of data points related to a city’s local single population. Meanwhile, the city also ranked slightly below-average in terms of cost of living (66th) and quality of life (63rd).

Two key metrics that brought down Colorado Springs’ in the ranking included its share of single residents and median rent. It was determined that just 347 of every 1,000 people were single – the second-lowest share among the 110 cities including in the ranking. Meanwhile, median rent for a one-bedroom apartment was high – about $1,510, thus singles might have less money to spend on dating.

“Sorry, nature lovers! Colorado Springs ranks as the worst U.S. city for dating,” reads the report. “One major problem is that its social spots are just less dense compared with in our top-ranked cities. That means it’s not only harder to meet new people at a bar or restaurant — it’s also harder to snag a reservation that will impress your date.”

Many locals may be familiar with the phrase “find someone in Denver and settle down in the Springs.” This report seems to echo that sentiment.

The top city for dating nationwide was determined to be Rochester, New York, followed by Pittsburgh and Boston. Find the full breakdown here.

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