Cities with the most divorced people
ThiagoSantos // Shutterstock
Cities with the most divorced people
There was a time in American society when marriage was, essentially, final—intractable, incapable of being dissolved, in fact. It wasn’t until New York state’s Married Women’s Property Act of 1848 that women even began to be seen as “legal entities,” to say nothing of equals to men, at least in the eyes of the law. Through the end of the 19th century, divorce retained a distasteful patina; it was a source of failure, shame, or wrongdoing.
Yet there were parts of the country—such as Indiana, North and South Dakota, and Utah—that had become known as “divorce mills,” places a person could safely and discreetly obtain a divorce (in the same manner that today only select states offer protected abortion care). In fact, the rate of divorce in those particular states became such a concern that in 1887 the federal government began to keep statistics on the matter.
Fast-cut to the 21st century and divorce is not only obtainable across the country, but it also has, in large part, shed the veil of secrecy and shame that once enshrouded it. The National Center for Health Statistics found in its most recent data that in 2020, across 45 reporting states and Washington D.C., there were more than 630,000 divorces. That’s 2.3 divorces per 1,000 population. And while it is a 116,000-divorce drop from 2019, it would not take a divorce lawyer to puzzle out the pandemic’s effect on those numbers.
Where you live may have a lot to do with your odds of getting divorced. Using 5-year estimate data from the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, Stacker created a list of the 50 metropolitan areas with the highest number of divorced people. The metropolitan areas, all of which had to have more than 50,000 residents to make the list, are ranked by the percentage of their divorced adult population. Adult population is considered 15 years old and over.
Here, the percentage of the adult population that is divorced is listed along with its percentage point difference versus the national average. The percentage of the adult population that is currently separated, married, or widowed also is noted, as are any resulting ties in the data.
Read on to find out if you live in a city with one of the highest divorce rates.
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Sara Goth // Wikimedia Commons
#50. Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma
– Percent currently divorced: 13.6% (2.8 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 2.3% (0.5 points above national average)
– Currently married: 50.8% (2.8 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 7.1% (1.5 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 26.2% (7.6 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 196,463
Rob Hainer // Shutterstock
#49. Panama City, Florida
Cityscape image of Panama City Beach
– Percent currently divorced: 13.6% (2.8 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 2.1% (0.3 points above national average)
– Currently married: 50.1% (2.1 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.7% (1.1 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 27.5% (6.3 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 149,399
Montanabw // Wikimedia Commons
#47. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Arkansas (tie)
– Percent currently divorced: 13.6% (2.8 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.9% (0.1 points above national average)
– Currently married: 48.1% (0.1 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 5.8% (0.2 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 30.6% (3.2 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 599,679
Jeremywagg // Wikimedia Commons
#47. Longview, Washington (tie)
– Percent currently divorced: 13.6% (2.8 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.9% (0.1 points above national average)
– Currently married: 48.8% (0.8 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.6% (1.0 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 29.1% (4.7 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 88,694
The American Explorer // Shutterstock
#46. Weirton-Steubenville, West Virginia-Ohio
The historic Market Street Bridge between Weirton, West Virginia and Steubenville, Ohio.
– Percent currently divorced: 13.6% (2.8 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.6% (0.2 points below national average)
– Currently married: 47.8% (0.2 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 8.3% (2.7 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 28.7% (5.1 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 99,107
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Photolitherland // Wikimedia Commons
#45. Great Falls, Montana
– Percent currently divorced: 13.6% (2.8 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.5% (0.3 points below national average)
– Currently married: 50.3% (2.3 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.6% (1.0 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 28.1% (5.7 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 67,945
j.s. clark // Wikimedia Commons
#44. Springfield, Illinois
– Percent currently divorced: 13.6% (2.8 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.3% (0.5 points below national average)
– Currently married: 46.6% (1.4 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.1% (0.5 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 32.4% (1.4 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 170,792
Brandonrush // Wikimedia Commons
#43. Billings, Montana
– Percent currently divorced: 13.6% (2.8 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.0% (0.8 points below national average)
– Currently married: 51.6% (3.6 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 5.6% (0.0 points below national average)
– Percent never married: 28.3% (5.5 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 147,751
Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Reno, Nevada (tie)
– Percent currently divorced: 13.7% (2.9 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.7% (0.1 points below national average)
– Currently married: 47.4% (0.6 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 4.9% (0.7 points below national average)
– Percent never married: 32.4% (1.4 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 396,915
Felix Mizioznikov // Shutterstock
#41. Port St. Lucie, Florida (tie)
Aerial drone image of Port St Lucie.
– Percent currently divorced: 13.7% (2.9 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.7% (0.1 points below national average)
– Currently married: 49.7% (1.7 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 8.0% (2.4 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 26.8% (7.0 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 408,646
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MicheleHaro // Wikimedia Commons
#40. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida
– Percent currently divorced: 13.7% (2.9 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.6% (0.2 points below national average)
– Currently married: 49.7% (1.7 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 7.7% (2.1 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 27.3% (6.5 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 511,055
Felix Mizioznikov // Shutterstock
#39. Albany-Lebanon, Oregon
– Percent currently divorced: 13.7% (2.9 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.5% (0.3 points below national average)
– Currently married: 52.2% (4.2 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 5.6% (0.0 points below national average)
– Percent never married: 27.0% (6.8 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 103,403
Lómelinde // Wikimedia Commons
#38. Sherman-Denison, Texas
– Percent currently divorced: 13.7% (2.9 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.4% (0.4 points below national average)
– Currently married: 51.6% (3.6 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.5% (0.9 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 26.8% (7.0 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 107,592
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
#37. Owensboro, Kentucky
– Percent currently divorced: 13.8% (3.0 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.8% (0.0 points below national average)
– Currently married: 51.8% (3.8 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.4% (0.8 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 26.3% (7.5 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 96,191
Chris Light // Wikimedia Commons
#36. Bangor, Maine
– Percent currently divorced: 13.8% (3.0 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.1% (0.7 points below national average)
– Currently married: 47.0% (1.0 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.3% (0.7 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 31.7% (2.1 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 129,781
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Andrew Farkas // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Flint, Michigan
– Percent currently divorced: 13.9% (3.1 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.6% (0.2 points below national average)
– Currently married: 43.9% (4.1 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.0% (0.4 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 34.5% (0.7 points above national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 330,915
Flintmichigan // Wikimedia Commons
#34. Casper, Wyoming
– Percent currently divorced: 13.9% (3.1 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.1% (0.7 points below national average)
– Currently married: 50.4% (2.4 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 5.5% (0.1 points below national average)
– Percent never married: 29.1% (4.7 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 63,411
Eudaimonic Traveler // Shutterstock
#33. Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio
Residential community covered with snow.
– Percent currently divorced: 14.0% (3.2 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.7% (0.1 points below national average)
– Currently married: 48.6% (0.6 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 7.7% (2.1 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 28.0% (5.8 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 297,755
Public Domain
#32. Parkersburg-Vienna, West Virginia
– Percent currently divorced: 14.0% (3.2 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.3% (0.5 points below national average)
– Currently married: 50.5% (2.5 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 7.8% (2.2 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 26.4% (7.4 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 74,210
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress // Wikimedia Commons
#31. Muskegon, Michigan
– Percent currently divorced: 14.0% (3.2 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.0% (0.8 points below national average)
– Currently married: 46.7% (1.3 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 5.8% (0.2 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 32.5% (1.3 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 142,179
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John Phelan // Wikimedia Commons
#30. Brunswick, Georgia
– Percent currently divorced: 14.1% (3.3 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 2.3% (0.5 points above national average)
– Currently married: 46.2% (1.8 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 8.0% (2.4 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 29.4% (4.4 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 93,561
Andrew Jameson // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Albuquerque, New Mexico (tie)
– Percent currently divorced: 14.1% (3.3 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.4% (0.4 points below national average)
– Currently married: 43.5% (4.5 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 5.5% (0.1 points below national average)
– Percent never married: 35.6% (1.8 points above national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 748,464
Ron Reiring // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Grand Junction, Colorado (tie)
– Percent currently divorced: 14.1% (3.3 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.4% (0.4 points below national average)
– Currently married: 50.2% (2.2 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.3% (0.7 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 27.9% (5.9 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 127,130
Inkknife_2000 // Wikimedia Commons
#27. Spokane-Spokane Valley, Washington
– Percent currently divorced: 14.1% (3.3 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.2% (0.6 points below national average)
– Currently married: 48.8% (0.8 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 5.3% (0.3 points below national average)
– Percent never married: 30.6% (3.2 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 471,724
M.Bucka // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Bay City, Michigan (tie)
– Percent currently divorced: 14.1% (3.3 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.1% (0.7 points below national average)
– Currently married: 47.1% (0.9 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 7.5% (1.9 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 30.3% (3.5 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 87,018
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Bubba73 (Jud McCranie) // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Lewiston-Auburn, Maine (tie)
– Percent currently divorced: 14.1% (3.3 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.1% (0.7 points below national average)
– Currently married: 48.3% (0.3 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.1% (0.5 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 30.3% (3.5 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 90,589
Dsdugan // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Lewiston, Idaho-Washington
– Percent currently divorced: 14.2% (3.4 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.2% (0.6 points below national average)
– Currently married: 50.8% (2.8 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 7.4% (1.8 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 26.3% (7.5 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 52,907
Yipdw // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Redding, California
– Percent currently divorced: 14.3% (3.5 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.8% (0.0 points below national average)
– Currently married: 49.0% (1.0 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.4% (0.8 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 28.5% (5.3 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 149,073
Phillip L. Hofmeister // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Jackson, Michigan
– Percent currently divorced: 14.3% (3.5 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.3% (0.5 points below national average)
– Currently married: 45.9% (2.1 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.0% (0.4 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 32.5% (1.3 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 132,247
Doug Kerr // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Terre Haute, Indiana
– Percent currently divorced: 14.3% (3.5 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.0% (0.8 points below national average)
– Currently married: 45.3% (2.7 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.5% (0.9 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 32.9% (0.9 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 153,098
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Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Anniston-Oxford, Alabama
– Percent currently divorced: 14.4% (3.6 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 2.4% (0.6 points above national average)
– Currently married: 44.1% (3.9 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 7.4% (1.8 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 31.7% (2.1 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 95,608
Tim Kiser // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Danville, Illinois
– Percent currently divorced: 14.4% (3.6 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 2.1% (0.3 points above national average)
– Currently married: 43.8% (4.2 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 7.6% (2.0 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 32.1% (1.7 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 60,043
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
#18. Pueblo, Colorado
Downtown Pueblo, Colorado during summer.
– Percent currently divorced: 14.4% (3.6 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.9% (0.1 points above national average)
– Currently married: 44.9% (3.1 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.3% (0.7 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 32.5% (1.3 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 136,439
Yinan Chen // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida
– Percent currently divorced: 14.4% (3.6 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.6% (0.2 points below national average)
– Currently married: 48.8% (0.8 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 7.9% (2.3 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 27.3% (6.5 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 566,607
John Wark // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Charleston, West Virginia
– Percent currently divorced: 14.4% (3.6 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.5% (0.3 points below national average)
– Currently married: 48.4% (0.4 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 8.2% (2.6 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 27.5% (6.3 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 216,592
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Beckley, West Virginia (tie)
– Percent currently divorced: 14.4% (3.6 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.4% (0.4 points below national average)
– Currently married: 50.2% (2.2 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 8.5% (2.9 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 25.5% (8.3 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 95,779
Ebyabe // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Homosassa Springs, Florida (tie)
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park sign.
– Percent currently divorced: 14.4% (3.6 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.4% (0.4 points below national average)
– Currently married: 52.7% (4.7 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 10.5% (4.9 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 21.0% (12.8 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 133,225
Matt Morse // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Grants Pass, Oregon
– Percent currently divorced: 14.5% (3.7 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 2.0% (0.2 points above national average)
– Currently married: 52.3% (4.3 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.7% (1.1 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 24.4% (9.4 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 73,486
Prestinian // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Gadsden, Alabama
– Percent currently divorced: 14.5% (3.7 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.8% (0.0 points below national average)
– Currently married: 45.5% (2.5 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 8.7% (3.1 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 29.5% (4.3 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 85,077
Joseph Novak // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Michigan City-La Porte, Indiana
– Percent currently divorced: 14.5% (3.7 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.1% (0.7 points below national average)
– Currently married: 47.0% (1.0 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.0% (0.4 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 31.4% (2.4 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 92,175
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K.Woolf // Shutterstock
#10. Texarkana, Texas-Arkansas
Texarkana, Texas and Arkansas State Line in front of Post Office.
– Percent currently divorced: 14.6% (3.8 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 2.7% (0.9 points above national average)
– Currently married: 45.5% (2.5 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 7.1% (1.5 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 30.1% (3.7 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 118,882
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
#9. Carson City, Nevada
Aerial view of Carson City.
– Percent currently divorced: 14.6% (3.8 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 2.5% (0.7 points above national average)
– Currently married: 45.2% (2.8 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 7.7% (2.1 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 30.0% (3.8 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 48,085
Billy Hathorn // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Kingsport-Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia
– Percent currently divorced: 14.6% (3.8 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 2.2% (0.4 points above national average)
– Currently married: 50.4% (2.4 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 8.3% (2.7 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 24.5% (9.3 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 259,755
Little Mountain 5 // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Medford, Oregon
– Percent currently divorced: 14.9% (4.1 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.2% (0.6 points below national average)
– Currently married: 51.1% (3.1 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 5.9% (0.3 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 26.9% (6.9 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 183,553
Quibik // Wikimedia Commons
#6. St. Joseph, Missouri-Kansas
– Percent currently divorced: 15.1% (4.3 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.5% (0.3 points below national average)
– Currently married: 46.4% (1.6 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.4% (0.8 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 30.6% (3.2 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 100,058
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Tim Kiser // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Battle Creek, Michigan
– Percent currently divorced: 15.1% (4.3 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.3% (0.5 points below national average)
– Currently married: 44.7% (3.3 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 6.3% (0.7 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 32.6% (1.2 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 108,885
CWanamaker // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Hot Springs, Arkansas (tie)
– Percent currently divorced: 15.3% (4.5 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 2.1% (0.3 points above national average)
– Currently married: 48.8% (0.8 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 8.5% (2.9 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 25.3% (8.5 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 83,268
Sharon Day // Shutterstock
#3. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona (tie)
– Percent currently divorced: 15.3% (4.5 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 2.1% (0.3 points above national average)
– Currently married: 51.0% (3.0 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 8.7% (3.1 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 23.0% (10.8 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 181,749
Martha.baden // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Prescott Valley-Prescott, Arizona
– Percent currently divorced: 15.5% (4.7 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.3% (0.5 points below national average)
– Currently married: 52.9% (4.9 points above national average)
– Currently widowed: 8.0% (2.4 points above national average)
– Percent never married: 22.3% (11.5 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 202,886
Asaavedra32 // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Santa Fe, New Mexico
– Percent currently divorced: 16.1% (5.3 points above national average)
– Currently separated: 1.2% (0.6 points below national average)
– Currently married: 46.5% (1.5 points below national average)
– Currently widowed: 5.6% (0.0 points below national average)
– Percent never married: 30.7% (3.1 points below national average)
– Total adult population estimate: 131,477
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