Where in the U.S. Are People the Most Willing to Date Older and Younger Partners?

Finding the right partner often comes down to compatibility, but age can still play a major role in the search for the perfect match. Some people prefer to date people closer to their own age, while others are open to a wider age range and are willing to date partners who are much older or much younger.

To better understand how Americans feel about age-gap dating, Tawkify conducted a survey over the past two years, collecting responses from 98,798 people across the U.S. The survey asked whether individuals would consider dating someone older or younger than themselves and how far they would be willing to date outside their age range. The results reveal trends in age-gap dating, highlighting which states are more open to dating older or younger partners, as well as differences in preferences between men and women nationwide.

Certain states stood out as particularly open to dating older partners, while others showed a greater willingness to date younger partners. Hawaii ranked as the state where both men and women are most open to dating younger partners. In contrast, less populous states like Alaska and Wyoming showed a higher willingness to date much older partners. Beyond these rankings, the findings offer insight into how dating preferences vary by gender, geography, and the size of the local dating pool.

Where in the U.S. Are People the Most Willing to Date Older Partners?

Wyoming is the state where men are most willing to date older partners, while Alaska tops the list for women. Because these states are less populated, singles may have a smaller dating pool, making them more open to pursuing relationships with someone significantly older or younger.

Wyoming earned the top spot for men, just ahead of North Dakota, which came in second. Men in Wyoming are willing to date someone an average of 11.22 years older, and 71.7% say they are open to dating an older partner. However, Delaware has the largest average age gap for older partners among men, at 11.26 years.

For women, Alaska ranks as the state with the highest willingness to date older partners. In addition to 93.1% of women in Alaska reporting they are open to dating someone older, the state also has the nation’s largest average age gap between women and their older partners, at 20.57 years.

Where in the U.S. Are People the Most Willing to Date Younger Partners?

Hawaii is the state where both men and women are most open to dating younger partners. The limited dating pool on the islands may prompt singles to broaden their age preferences to find compatible partners. Hawaii also has an older-than-average population, with a median age of 41.5, compared with the national median of 39.2. As a result, dating younger partners may be a more common and realistic choice.

In Hawaii, 96.8% of men said they would consider dating a younger partner, with an average acceptable age difference of 18.59 years. Women in Hawaii are also receptive to dating younger partners, with 92% expressing willingness to do so. However, their average acceptable age difference is significantly smaller, at 9 years. Overall, Hawaii has the nation’s largest average age range for younger partners among both men and women.

How Open Are Americans to Dating Older or Younger Partners?

Nationally, women are more open than men to dating older partners. On average, men are willing to date someone up to 8.76 years older, and 65.7% of those surveyed say they would consider an older partner. Women are far more likely to date older partners, with 95% saying they would be open to it. Women are also more likely to date considerably outside their age range, with the national average age gap for older partners reaching 14.12 years.

When it comes to dating younger partners, men are the most open. On average, men are willing to date someone up to 14.7 years younger, and 96.5% say they would consider a younger partner. Women, while also generally open to dating younger people, are somewhat less likely to do so: 88.1% are willing to date someone younger, and the national average age difference for younger partners is 7.14 years.

What Is the Record for the Biggest Age Gap in a Relationship?

According to Guinness World Records, the largest age gap between a married couple was 63 years. The marriage was between 18-year-old Gertrude Grubb Janeway and John Janeway, an 81-year-old Union Civil War veteran. The couple wed on June 9, 1927, and their marriage lasted 10 years until John’s death in 1937. Gertrude was the last Union widow of a Civil War veteran. She died in 2003 at age 93, having spent her life living in the home the couple had purchased together in 1932.

Can Age-Gap Relationships Work?

Relationships with an age gap can be successful, but like any relationship, they come with their own challenges. Couples with a significant age difference may face assumptions about power dynamics or skepticism about the sincerity of their relationship. Partners who are much older or much younger may be navigating different life challenges, such as career development, family planning, or health issues. However, these challenges are not necessarily deal breakers. If a couple has strong communication skills, shared values, and long-term goals, they can build a partnership that transcends age.

Interestingly, age differences can also have some advantages. Dating someone younger can bring fresh energy, a greater sense of adventure, and a renewed zest for life. An age-gap relationship offers both partners the opportunity to learn from each other’s life experiences. The key to making it work is finding someone whose goals, values, and emotional maturity align with your own.

For singles looking for their perfect match, no matter the age, Tawkify’s personalized matchmaking services focus on compatibility beyond surface-level preferences to help you find and cultivate a successful relationship. Our dedicated matchmakers take the time to understand you, your values, and what you’re looking for in a partner. Start your journey toward your last first date today!

Where in the U.S. Are People Most Open to Dating Partners Who Are Older or Younger?

Methodology

The states were compared and scored on two metrics, each worth up to 100 points, to determine where men and women are the most willing to date older and younger partners. The two metrics are the average number of years older/younger that men or women are willing to date, and the percentage of men or women willing to date an older/younger partner. The cumulative scores from these two metrics were then used to rank the 50 states by their willingness to date an older or younger partner.

The data on dating preferences was collected by Tawkify from 98,798 people over two years, from April 20, 2024, to April 20, 2026.

The States Most Willing to Date Older Partners

The States Where Men Are the Most Willing to Date Older Partners

• On average, men are open to dating someone up to 8.76 years older.
• 65.7% of men are open to dating someone older than themselves.

Rank	State	Average Number of Years Older They Are Willing to Date	Percentage Willing to Date an Older Partner	Cumulative Score
1	Wyoming	11.22	71.7%	195.54
2	North Dakota	11.19	71.7%	195.27
3	Alaska	11.07	71.4%	193.89
4	Iowa	10.39	74.8%	192.35
5	Mississippi	10.82	69.4%	188.96
6	Oklahoma	10.77	69.3%	188.37
7	Delaware	11.26*	64.0%	185.62
8	South Dakota	10.13	70.8%	184.72
9	Nebraska	9.34	74.2%	182.23
10	Kentucky	9.87	69.9%	181.16
11	Kansas	9.53	71.5%	180.25
12	Rhode Island	9.74	69.2%	179.05
13	Indiana	9.55	69.8%	178.19
14	West Virginia	9.45	70.1%	177.63
15	Montana	9.11	72.1%	177.35
16	Arkansas	9.72	67.2%	176.18
17	Ohio	9.33	69.7%	176.10
18	New Mexico	9.54	68.3%	176.05
19	Louisiana	9.75	66.6%	175.66
20	Wisconsin	9.30	69.3%	175.24
21	Alabama	9.60	66.8%	174.52
22	Missouri	9.06	69.9%	173.92
23	Oregon	9.09	68.9%	172.82
24	Minnesota	8.79	70.3%	172.07
25	Pennsylvania	8.97	67.8%	170.34
26	Maine	9.21	65.8%	169.76
27	New York	8.98	67.0%	169.33
28	Michigan	8.64	68.3%	168.09
29	Massachusetts	8.49	68.5%	167.06
30	New Jersey	8.83	66.1%	166.87
31	Georgia	8.65	66.4%	165.69
32	South Carolina	8.74	65.7%	165.43
33	Washington	8.40	67.9%	165.41
34	Illinois	8.42	67.3%	164.77
35	Nevada	9.15	62.1%	164.37
36	Arizona	8.74	64.1%	163.32
37	California	8.90	62.9%	163.12
38	Vermont	8.18	67.4%	162.86
39	Tennessee	8.39	66.0%	162.71
40	North Carolina	8.41	65.3%	162.08
41	Idaho	8.36	65.6%	162.00
42	Texas	8.53	64.2%	161.70
43	Maryland	8.34	65.0%	160.99
44	Hawaii	8.69	62.2%	160.32
45	New Hampshire	7.71	67.5%	158.67
46	Virginia	7.91	65.4%	157.81
47	Utah	7.83	64.6%	155.87
48	Colorado	7.33	66.3%	153.80
49	Florida	8.33	59.5%	153.54
50	Connecticut	7.45	63.1%	150.55

*State with the largest dating age gap

The States Where Women Are the Most Willing to Date Older Partners

• On average, women are open to dating someone up to 14.12 years older.
• 95% of women are open to dating someone older than themselves.

Rank	State	Average Number of Years Older They Are Willing to Date	Percentage Willing to Date an Older Partner	Cumulative Score
1	Alaska	20.57*	93.1%	196.72
2	West Virginia	17.83	94.5%	184.80
3	Wyoming	15.93	94.5%	175.60
4	Iowa	15.98	94.2%	175.52
5	North Dakota	16.44	92.0%	175.41
6	Mississippi	15.86	94.0%	174.64
7	Nevada	15.58	95.0%	174.36
8	Montana	14.94	96.3%	172.62
9	South Dakota	15.36	94.2%	172.53
10	Kentucky	15.26	94.4%	172.17
11	Kansas	15.06	94.9%	171.75
12	Vermont	15.52	92.7%	171.72
13	Oklahoma	15.26	93.8%	171.63
14	California	14.90	95.5%	171.56
15	New York	14.68	95.6%	170.61
16	Arkansas	15.09	93.6%	170.51
17	Florida	14.74	94.5%	169.76
18	Louisiana	14.86	93.5%	169.38
19	Texas	14.47	95.4%	169.36
20	Delaware	14.80	93.4%	168.87
21	Alabama	14.86	92.9%	168.73
22	Nebraska	14.39	95.1%	168.68
23	Maine	14.25	95.4%	168.36
24	Ohio	14.31	94.7%	167.94
25	Missouri	14.20	94.9%	167.53
26	Hawaii	14.33	93.6%	166.88
27	New Mexico	14.59	92.1%	166.57
28	Arizona	14.01	94.7%	166.38
29	New Jersey	13.86	94.7%	165.69
30	Illinois	13.76	95.1%	165.58
31	Rhode Island	13.66	95.4%	165.41
32	Oregon	13.63	95.4%	165.27
33	Georgia	13.75	94.7%	165.16
34	Utah	13.59	95.3%	165.03
35	Pennsylvania	13.62	94.9%	164.75
36	Michigan	13.69	94.1%	164.28
37	Wisconsin	13.67	93.6%	163.65
38	Virginia	13.18	95.4%	163.11
39	Indiana	13.68	93.0%	163.09
40	Washington	13.17	95.3%	163.00
41	Tennessee	13.21	95.1%	162.94
42	Idaho	13.44	93.9%	162.85
43	South Carolina	13.35	93.7%	162.21
44	North Carolina	12.92	94.8%	161.18
45	Connecticut	12.79	95.0%	160.82
46	Colorado	12.50	96.1%	160.55
47	Minnesota	12.54	95.4%	160.04
48	Maryland	12.62	94.9%	159.91
49	Massachusetts	12.39	95.1%	159.00
50	New Hampshire	12.40	94.7%	158.58

*State with the largest dating age gap

The States Most Willing to Date Younger Partners

The States Where Men Are the Most Willing to Date Younger Partners

• On average, men are open to dating someone up to 14.7 years younger.
• 96.5% of men are open to dating someone younger than themselves.

Rank	State	Average Number of Years Younger They Are Willing to Date	Percentage Willing to Date a Younger Partner	Cumulative Score
1	Hawaii	18.59*	96.8%	197.83
2	Nevada	16.77	96.7%	187.94
3	Idaho	16.29	98.2%	186.96
4	Maine	16.40	97.3%	186.64
5	Montana	16.31	97.5%	186.31
6	Nebraska	15.89	98.9%	185.48
7	New Mexico	16.37	95.8%	184.94
8	North Dakota	15.92	97.0%	183.72
9	Vermont	15.78	97.7%	183.63
10	Arizona	15.74	97.4%	183.17
11	Oregon	15.67	97.6%	183.00
12	Florida	15.83	96.7%	182.96
13	South Dakota	15.72	97.0%	182.67
14	South Carolina	15.66	97.2%	182.51
15	Arkansas	15.71	96.8%	182.33
16	Tennessee	15.47	98.0%	182.30
17	West Virginia	15.70	96.5%	182.02
18	Alabama	15.72	96.3%	181.97
19	Missouri	15.47	97.4%	181.70
20	Wisconsin	15.39	97.0%	180.85
21	Colorado	15.24	97.7%	180.78
22	Indiana	15.22	97.8%	180.73
23	New Hampshire	15.28	97.1%	180.37
24	Wyoming	15.81	94.0%	180.06
25	Mississippi	15.39	95.6%	179.44
26	Oklahoma	15.36	95.1%	178.83
27	North Carolina	14.95	96.9%	178.39
28	Louisiana	15.19	95.5%	178.25
29	Connecticut	14.77	97.7%	178.22
30	Rhode Island	14.83	97.4%	178.20
31	Utah	14.81	97.4%	178.17
32	Michigan	14.75	97.3%	177.74
33	Washington	14.72	97.3%	177.59
34	Pennsylvania	14.83	96.7%	177.53
35	Ohio	14.80	96.6%	177.28
36	Kansas	14.86	95.9%	176.89
37	Kentucky	14.65	96.8%	176.63
38	Minnesota	14.45	97.4%	176.25
39	Texas	14.59	96.3%	175.92
40	California	14.57	95.8%	175.24
41	Georgia	14.45	96.0%	174.79
42	Virginia	14.29	96.8%	174.73
43	Delaware	14.57	94.9%	174.30
44	Maryland	14.18	96.0%	173.42
45	Iowa	14.01	97.0%	173.41
46	Massachusetts	14.03	96.7%	173.28
47	Illinois	13.82	96.6%	171.97
48	New Jersey	13.46	96.1%	169.59
49	Alaska	13.44	94.7%	168.10
50	New York	13.00	95.4%	166.35

*State with the largest dating age gap

The States Where Women Are the Most Willing to Date Younger Partners

• On average, women are open to dating someone up to 7.14 years younger.
• 88.1% of women are open to dating someone younger than themselves.

Rank	State	Average Number of Years Younger They Are Willing to Date	Percentage Willing to Date a Younger Partner	Cumulative Score
1	Hawaii	9.00*	92.0%	198.33
2	Maine	8.72	93.6%	196.90
3	New Mexico	8.92	91.2%	196.53
4	New Hampshire	8.42	92.8%	192.65
5	Vermont	8.35	90.5%	189.40
6	Idaho	8.09	92.1%	188.34
7	South Carolina	7.97	92.9%	187.82
8	Nebraska	8.10	90.4%	186.55
9	Oregon	8.00	90.4%	185.50
10	Montana	7.87	91.0%	184.61
11	Tennessee	7.74	91.7%	183.91
12	North Carolina	7.67	91.8%	183.30
13	Connecticut	7.64	92.1%	183.24
14	Minnesota	7.57	91.5%	181.76
15	Missouri	7.68	90.2%	181.70
16	Washington	7.64	90.5%	181.52
17	Wisconsin	7.79	88.8%	181.40
18	Kansas	7.70	89.5%	181.15
19	Rhode Island	7.59	90.6%	181.08
20	Arizona	7.62	90.1%	180.92
21	Colorado	7.44	91.5%	180.37
22	Indiana	7.59	89.7%	180.20
23	Wyoming	7.95	85.6%	179.80
24	Alabama	7.72	87.5%	179.20
25	Louisiana	7.52	88.9%	178.53
26	Utah	7.43	89.8%	178.45
27	North Dakota	8.16	81.8%	177.96
28	Delaware	7.56	87.8%	177.74
29	South Dakota	7.82	84.8%	177.51
30	Ohio	7.40	89.1%	177.39
31	Mississippi	7.47	88.4%	177.38
32	Michigan	7.32	89.5%	176.98
33	Pennsylvania	7.32	89.4%	176.73
34	Maryland	7.16	91.0%	176.70
35	Iowa	7.53	86.9%	176.52
36	Arkansas	7.49	87.4%	176.51
37	Massachusetts	7.16	90.7%	176.41
38	Nevada	7.37	87.7%	175.57
39	Oklahoma	7.36	87.7%	175.40
40	Georgia	7.17	89.5%	175.24
41	Virginia	7.12	89.9%	175.20
42	Kentucky	7.36	87.4%	175.17
43	Florida	7.13	87.5%	172.76
44	Illinois	6.94	87.9%	170.99
45	Texas	6.89	87.2%	169.69
46	West Virginia	7.15	83.5%	168.63
47	New Jersey	6.65	87.6%	167.49
48	California	6.89	84.9%	167.24
49	Alaska	7.60	77.1%	166.81
50	New York	6.23	85.1%	160.05

*State with the largest dating age gap

Data Source

Tawkify’s matchmaking data on dating preferences, collected from 98,798 people between April 20, 2024, and April 20, 2026.

About Tawkify

Tawkify is a human-first matchmaking service built for people who are serious about finding lasting love and done with leaving it to algorithms. Where dating apps reward volume and surface-level swiping, Tawkify offers a deeply personalized, expert-curated experience designed to introduce you to compatible partners who are equally invested in building something real. If future faking has left you wary of putting your trust in yet another stranger, Tawkify’s matchmakers are here to help you date with intention and finally skip the guesswork.

Fair Use Statement

We encourage the free sharing of this data for editorial and educational purposes. If you use this research, please attribute it to Tawkify and link back to this page so your readers can access the full findings.