Best cities for dating girls

Dating is all about three things: location, location, location. And certain cities across the countries are absolute hotbeds for eligible bachelors looking for Mrs. Right. To find out which are the best places to be a single lady in the U.S., we consulted top relationship experts, dating websites and a whole lot of population data. Here's where to be in 20s, 30s and 40s:

In Your 20s

1. Boston, Massachusetts
"Finding someone smart and interesting is easy in Beantown," says Talia Goldstein, matchmaker and cofounder of the dating site ThreeDayRule.com. "With all of its universities, young people from around the U.S. flock to Boston. Young people are always congregating at bars and singing "Sweet Caroline" together at Fenway Park. If that's not enough, the cold weather makes you want to find someone to cuddle up with."

Boston was also named one of the best cities for singles in 2012 by The Daily Beast, which gave the city a "well-being" score of 68 percent, meaning that the majority of those living there are both highly emotionally healthy and physically active—a must for ladies looking for love in their 20s.

2. Austin, Texas
Single men outnumber single women in this lovely Southern town, says Marni Battista of DatingwithDignity.com. But the scene within this city is what makes it most attractive for young love. "Austin is currently a hub for festivals such as SXSW and Austin City Limits. It also hosts a great deal of activity in the 'Web-preneur' sphere, which means San Francisco-level intelligence and success, plus athletic Texas-guy builds," she says.

Goldstein adds that, "with the university and the great music scene, people from all walks of life mix and mingle in Austin. And given the all-day dining and drinking culture, you’re bound to hook your love."

3. Los Angeles, California
Hot young things should head west, with bikinis in tow, to take advantage of this city's vast dating scene says Goldstein. "While L.A. may get a bad rap for those trying to find love, dating in L.A. in your 20s is a piece of cake," she says. "L.A. is the town where guys of all ages want the next best thing, and right now, that's you!"

Battista agrees. "From the beach to Runyon Canyon, L.A. is home to many young guys trying to launch themselves into careers in entertainment or Silicon Beach, the new home base for Internet startups," she says. "Which means this city is a new home base for unattached girls in their 20s to meet Mr. Right. Or at least Mr. Right Now."

Another (sexy) draw? According to a recent survey by Match.com, 30 percent of single women in L.A. said they orgasm between 91-to-100 percent of the time when they have sex. Pack your bags!

4. New York, New York
Another fast-paced dating market that favors the young is the city that never sleeps. (Last call is usually 4 a.m. in most bars and clubs.) According to data from Match.com, singles in New York initiated the most first dates last year of any other city and 52 percent of women did the asking on their most recent first date. Plus, the probability of a casual fling becoming legit is high in this town: Thirty-one percent of New York singles have had a one-night stand turn into a long-term, committed relationship.

If you're looking for a man with a specific religious faith, New York guys are in the top cities making the most visits to JDate.com and ChristianMingle.com.

5. Washington D.C.
Dating is D.C. is downright fun, making it an ideal place for women in their 20s to find someone. According to data culled from dating hub HowAboutWe.com, most daters in this city are ditching ho-hum dinners for trips to museums and playful activities like playing Skee-ball or Laser Tag and taking trips to the batting cages. While single women do outnumber single men in this political-focused city, you'll have plenty of dating opportunities. "All the up-and-coming ambitious guys in their twenties are still looking for that special woman, leaving younger single gals the open field for men in the under-35 set," Battista says. "These guys are always on the hunt for a hot date in the capital." (Every Barack needs his Michelle, right?)

In Your 30s

1. Hoboken, New Jersey
A 2012 study by Bloomberg named this city as the absolute best place for single women in country, based on a number of factors that may entice women in their 30s, including the total population of single people, percentage of single men and women, and median household income.

This artsy New Jersey city is also just a hop, skip and a jump away from New York City, which is also a good place for women in their 30s to meet guys.

2. Chicago, Illinois
"Chi-town is where love is at in your 30s," says Goldstein. "People in Chicago are always out, about and ready to meet new people. Since men in Chicago are also known for their warm Midwest demeanor, meeting a nice guy you want to spend your life with might be easier than you think. After bearing the brutal Chicago winters, guys want to find a lovely girl in their 30s to come home to and keep them warm."

Data from Match.com shows that singles in the Windy City went on just as many first dates last year as their New York cohorts. Women in their 30s have ample opportunity to connect with guys on all fronts: 20 percent of singles meet their mates online, followed by introductions through friends, social networking and at the office.

3. Denver, Colorado
On the dating app Are You Interested?, male users outnumber women 6 to 1 in Denver, which is reason enough to consider the Mile High City as a good place to meet a man in your 30s. According to data compiled by Match.com, Denver has the highest rate of dates per user. Forty-seven percent of singles in Denver report that they went out with someone they met online, while 32 percent of Denver singles on the site went on one or more dates last year.

But there are plenty more reasons why Denver is fabulous for finding a guy, says Goldstein. "For those looking for a fun, outdoorsy guy to hang out with on the slopes, look no further," she says. "Denver is a fun, male-driven town where a lady can certainly lose her breath—not just from the altitude."

Battista agrees, noting that Denver has an endless number of opportunities to meet attractive, available guys. "Go for a hike in the morning to a ski session in the afternoon, and remember that a nice happy hour bar scene is a goldmine for ladies who like to be active," she suggests.

4. Phoenix, Arizona
"Thirty percent of the male population is single...need I say more?" Battista asks. Well, that's reason enough not to overlook sunny Phoenix as a hot spot (literally) for finding love, but there's more to the city than just a favorable male to female ratio.

Singles in Phoenix are super open-minded, according to HowAboutWe.com. The city has the highest proportion of singles willing to date outside of their religion. So, if you're looking for a date in this Arizona metropolis, you may have more options for eligible men than you think. Don't rule out a guy just because you two have different religious beliefs.

5. Palo Alto, California
Home to Facebook and Google, this Northern California city is ideal for smart, savvy thirtysomethings looking to settle down. "In Palo Alto, guys outnumber ladies 5 to 1—with a ratio like that, there’s little to fear about being single," says Battista

Nearby San Jose also favors the ladies when it comes to dating. According to a data from Rent.com, this smaller hub is one of the top five places for single women, boasting a favorable male-to-female.

In Your 40s

1. Seattle, Washington
The city that gave us Starbucks is home to plenty of single men over 40. "Meeting your partner in your 40s is easy in a city like Seattle," Goldstein says. “Seattle isn't really a bar city so healthy singles in their 40s tend to meet at farmer's markets while shopping for fruits and veggies or doing something outdoorsy like hiking. Singles in Seattle also fill stadiums at Mariners and Sounders games—they take their sports seriously and sporting events are an easy place to start up conversations.”

For those women willing to date a single dad, Seattle is the place to do it. According to Match.com, the single dads on their site are 46 percent more likely to meet somebody than are their childless peers. Seattle is a great place to meet a foodie dad, if culinary arts are your thing.

2. San Francisco, California
Battista thinks that San Fran is a great place for fortysomething women to find love. "People in this Northern California city tend to get married later than most, so you still have time! With Napa Valley close by, in addition to amazing restaurants and things like Alcatraz, you’ll never be lacking for an exciting date."

Goldstein concurs. "At this point, the man of your dreams is no longer chained to his cubicle," she explains. "The city of San Francisco’s pedestrian and public transportation-friendly layout helps you explore areas outside of your own neighborhood, thereby increasing your chances of bumping into Mr. Right." Romance is alive and well in in the City by the Bay—more than 60 percent of singles here believe in love at first sight, according to a poll from Match.com.

3. Atlanta, Georgia
HowAboutWe.com reports having more over-40 users in Atlanta than in any other city, and there are more men arriving all the time: Since 2000, the city has experienced a 30 percent population bump overall. Battista says that the nightlife and restaurant scene have been growing right along as well, making "Hotlanta" a fun place to date.

It also doesn't hurt that 100 percent of single men in Atlanta said it was important to satisfy their partner sexually while having sex according to a recent Match.com survey. Hotlanta, indeed!

4. Miami, Florida
"When you’re looking for love in your 40s, Miami is [a great] place to be," says Goldstein. "Unlike most other cities, people in Miami are out and about rather than living in their offices. Miami is also filled with bars and an amazing nightlife scene to help you get out there to meet new people."

She adds that there a large group of men in Miami looking for love the second time around, so don't discount dating a guy who's been divorced.

5. Tampa, Florida
Over on Florida's west coast, Tampa has the most single people over 40 than any other city in the country, according to population data. Religious-based dating sites JDate and ChristianMingle also boast major sign-ups among fortysomethings in both Miami and Tampa for those looking for a man of the same faith.

A version of this story originally appeared on iVillage.