love is in the air

Texas flirts with greatness as the 2nd best state for dating, report says

Texas has the highest number of restaurants per capita, the report found.

Good news for singles living in the Lone Star State as Valentine's Day approaches: You may not be lonely for long.

In the latest edition of WalletHub's annual "Best and Worst States for Singles" report, Texas overtook California and New York to become the No. 2 best state for dating in 2024.

Rankings were determined by comparing dating economics, opportunities, and romance and fun across all 50 states. For the second year in a row, Texas tied with California for the most movie theaters per capita, and landed in a four-way tie with California, New York, and Florida for the highest number of restaurants per capita.

Texas also received the following rankings in other categories:

No. 10 – Median annual household income (adjusted for the cost of living)
No. 18 – Mobile-dating opportunities
No. 21 – Online-dating opportunities

"If you fall in love with a Texan and want to move to the state, the good news is that there’s a high rate of employment growth, which shows that the state’s economy is doing well," the report says. "Plus, Texas residents’ search history indicates that there are a lot of people who are interested in dating online – so installing a few apps may be a good idea."

The No. 1 best state for dating in 2024 is Florida, which ranked No. 3 in 2023. Rounding out the top five best states for dating are California (No. 3), New York (No. 4), and Pennsylvania (No. 5).

WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe suggested the best destinations for single people are often those that have a variety of venues that are suitable for dates, like bars, fun new restaurants, and more.

"Finding love can be tough, but being in the right place can contribute to a successful relationship," Happe said. "The unfortunate tradeoff is that dating usually isn’t cheap in states that provide these ideal conditions."

As Valentine's Day approaches, keeping a few splurge-worthy date ideas top of mind for a significant other may be valuable, but it's equally important to not break the bank just to impress a date. On average, Texans spend about $58 on Valentine's Day, according to a separate report by Casino.org. Residents in Houston are expected to spend the most out of all Texas cities in 2024, with a projected budget of $105.27. Dallas isn't too far behind with an estimated Valentine's Day spending budget of $79.25.

The full report and its methodology can be found at wallethub.com.

texas dating dating in texas wallethub reports

State Fair News

Texas drivers can now say 'howdy' with State Fair themed license plate

SFOT

State Fair of Texas license plate.

State Fair of Texas fans can now display their love on their license plate: The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board of Directors has given their approval for a State Fair of Texas specialty license plate, marking an exciting milestone for Fair enthusiasts, not to mention supporters of higher education.

Texans will be able to purchase the custom-designed plates starting in 2025. The plate features Texas icon Big Tex and his signature, “Howdy, Folks!”

The Big Tex Scholarship Program provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors from across the state of Texas. Beneficiaries include students who have participated in livestock events at the State Fair; graduating seniors from six Dallas Independent School District high schools near Fair Park; and longtime seasonal employees of the State Fair of Texas or their dependents.

The Big Tex Scholarship Program has awarded more than $18.8 million to more than 3,500 Texas students since 1992.

Texas license plates come in all sorts of themes: military, high schools, Texas institutions, hobbies, nature, sports, fraternities & sororities, and charities.

“The State Fair of Texas is a cherished tradition, and this new specialty license plate provides an incredible opportunity for Texans to showcase their pride while supporting Texas students,” said Karissa Condoianis, SVP of Public Relations.

driving state fair