Most Unfaithful Cities in America

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When it comes to sex and relationships, cheating can happen. That’s why we put together a list of who cheats, and the results are pretty fascinating.

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, we calculated something that we’ve dubbed the Infidelity Index for 200 major U.S. cities.

The study factored in the population’s relationship satisfaction by looking at marriage, divorce, and separation rates. In addition, the population’s life satisfaction by evaluating emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community. We also looked at the number of venues to meet for an affair, and the volume of searches on Google for affair hookup websites was also considered for the rankings.

While most would assume that bigger cities probably produce more cheaters per capita, this data shows us what we were already aware of; cheaters are everywhere, and infidelity can happen anywhere – in large cities and small ones.

It’s not singular to Florida, nor is it removed from quieter states like Pennsylvania or Arizona. And for what it’s worth, cheating comes in many forms and may look different for one person than it would for another. It can happen in marriages, emotionally, and just because of sudden circumstances…that have little to do with that person’s current relationship.

So keep reading to find out whether or not your current place of residence made the list of the 10 worst cities for staying monogamous.

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Best 10 Most Unfaithful Cities in America

1. Dallas, Texas

Dallas, Texas, USA

Marriage Rate: 47%
Divorce Rate: 12%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 49.00
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 32.85

2. Forth Worth, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Marriage Rate: 46%
Divorce Rate: 12%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 51.46
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 30.96

3. Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas, USA

Marriage Rate: 47%
Divorce Rate: 12%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 49.00
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 32.67

4. St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Marriage Rate: 47%
Divorce Rate: 9%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 42.85
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 32.04

5. Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Marriage Rate: 48%
Divorce Rate: 12%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 49.00
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 32.58

6. Philadelphia, pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsyvlania, USA

Marriage Rate: 46%
Divorce Rate: 13%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 51.72
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 31.59

7. New York, New York

New York City, USA

Marriage Rate: 47%
Divorce Rate: 9%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 47.84
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 31.77

8. Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Marriage Rate: 49%
Divorce Rate: 11%
Separation Rate: 3%
Happiness Index: 42.85
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 30.69

9. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Gerogia, USA

Marriage Rate: 47%
Divorce Rate: 9%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 50.36
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 33.66

10. Washington, District of Columbia

Washington, DC, USA

Marriage Rate: 47%
Divorce Rate: 9%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 42.85
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 30.78

Best 10 Most Faithful Cities in america

1. Pasadena, California

Pasadena, California, USA

Marriage Rate: 56%
Divorce Rate: 9%
Separation Rate: 1%
Happiness Index: 63.82
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 11.43

2. Torrance, California

Torrence, California, USA

Marriage Rate: 56%
Divorce Rate: 9%
Separation Rate: 1%
Happiness Index: 63.82
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 11.61

3. Roseville, California

Roseville, California, USA

Marriage Rate: 50%
Divorce Rate: 10%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 63.82
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 10.71

4. Visalia, California

Visalia, California, USA

Marriage Rate: 51%
Divorce Rate: 11%
Separation Rate: 1%
Happiness Index: 63.82
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 4.71

5. Laredo, Texas

Laredo, Texas, USA

Marriage Rate: 49%
Divorce Rate: 12%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 63.82
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 15.03

6. Montgomery, Alabama

Montgomery, Alabama, USA

Marriage Rate: 47%
Divorce Rate: 11%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 49.00
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 1.71

7. Orange, California

Orange, California, USA

Marriage Rate: 53%
Divorce Rate: 10%
Separation Rate: 1%
Happiness Index: 42.99
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 2.25

8. West Valley City, Utah

West Valley City, Utah

Marriage Rate: 51%
Divorce Rate: 12%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 63.82
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 10.17

9. McAllen, Texas

McAllen, Texas, USA

Marriage Rate: 48%
Divorce Rate: 12%
Separation Rate: 1%
Happiness Index: 50.36
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 3.33

10. Syracuse, New York

Syracuse, New York, USA

Marriage Rate: 49%
Divorce Rate: 11%
Separation Rate: 2%
Happiness Index: 63.82
Google Search Interest for an Affair: 12.51

Methodology

To determine the most unfaithful cities in the nation, we calculated something that we’ve dubbed the Infidelity Index for major U.S. cities. We compared 200 of the largest metro areas across four key dimensions: 1) Relationship Satisfaction, 2) Life Satisfaction, 3) Infidelity Intent, and 4) Affair Activities.

We evaluated each of those dimensions using nine relevant metrics of infidelity friendliness. These are listed below with their corresponding weights. The metrics were combined to create a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for having an affair.

We determined each location’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered the largest metro areas in the USA. 

It’s a lot of math, but it boils down to that someone vulnerable to temptation is likely to make a poor (e.g., unfaithful) choice if they’re living in a city with a higher Infidelity Index. 

Relationship Satisfaction – Total Points: 36

  • Marriage Rate: Full Weight (~8.33 Points) 
  • Divorce Rate: Full Weight (~8.33 Points) 
  • Separation Rate: Full Weight (~8.33 Points) 

Infidelity Intent – Total Points: 36

  • Google Searches for ‘Affair’: Full Weight (~12.5 Points) Note: This metric measures how often ‘affair’ related searches on Google from each city have been made over the past 12 months.
  • Google Searches for ‘Ashley Madison’: Full Weight (~12.5 Points) Note: This metric measures how often ‘Ashley Madison’ related searches on Google from each city have been made over the past 12 months.

Life Satisfaction – Total Points: 14

  • Happiness Index: Full Weight (~25 Points) Note: This metric measures emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment.

Affair Activities – Total Points: 14

  • Acres of parkland: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
  • Nightlife per capita: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
  • Coffee & Tea Shops per Capita: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)
  • Restaurants per Capita: Full Weight (~6.25 Points)

Sources: Google Trends, WalletHub’s ‘The Happiest States in America’ Report, United States Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, TripAdvisor

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