Americans Are Waiting Longer to Marry — New York, DC and Massachusetts Top 31 While Utah Marries Before 26

UNITED STATES — Americans are continuing to delay marriage, with the median age at first marriage in 2021 reaching 30 or older in many states, according to newly mapped data. The numbers show a clear regional divide — with the Northeast and West Coast marrying later, and parts of the South and Mountain West tying the knot earlier.

The data highlights how dramatically timelines have shifted compared to previous generations.

Washington, DC Has the Highest Median Marriage Age

The District of Columbia stands out with the highest median age at first marriage at 31.95 years.

Close behind are:

Massachusetts – 31.3
New York – 31.2
Rhode Island – 31.0
California – 30.9
Vermont – 30.6
Florida – 30.5
Nevada – 30.45
New Jersey – 30.4
Illinois – 30.35

These states reflect a broader trend of later marriages in urbanized, high-cost regions where education and career establishment often take priority before marriage.

Utah Marries the Earliest in the Country

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Utah has the youngest median marriage age at 25.8 years, the only state under 26.

Other younger-marrying states include:

Arkansas – 26.7
Idaho – 26.8
Kentucky – 27.05
Wyoming – 27.15
Oklahoma – 27.4
Indiana – 27.7
Nebraska – 27.7
Kansas – 27.85
Tennessee – 27.9

Many of these states are in the Midwest and South, where cultural norms and cost of living may influence earlier marriages.

Midwest States Sit Near the National Middle

Several Midwest states fall in the 29–30 range:

Michigan – 29.45
Wisconsin – 29.55
Minnesota – 29.7
Missouri – 29.0
Ohio – 29.35
Iowa – 28.45

Illinois, at 30.35, trends slightly older than many neighboring states.

West Coast and Northeast Lean Older

The West Coast and Northeast consistently show higher ages at first marriage:

California – 30.9
Oregon – 29.7
Washington – 28.8
Connecticut – 30.55
New Hampshire – 30.1
Pennsylvania – 30.0

Meanwhile, Maine (28.8) and Alaska (28.0) sit closer to the national middle range.

Southern States Show Mixed Patterns

The South presents a mix of earlier and later averages:

Georgia – 29.2
North Carolina – 28.9
South Carolina – 29.1
Alabama – 28.4
Mississippi – 29.0
Louisiana – 29.65
Texas – 28.45

While not the youngest region overall, the South trends slightly below many coastal states.

A Nationwide Shift Toward Later Marriage

The visual data makes one trend clear: very few states now have a median marriage age below 27, and a growing number exceed 30.

Urban density, higher education attainment, career prioritization, housing costs, and shifting cultural norms are often cited as contributing factors. In major metro areas like New York City, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, people are waiting longer to marry compared to past decades.

The map illustrates a modern reality — marriage in America increasingly begins in the late 20s or early 30s rather than the early 20s.

As generational patterns continue evolving, these numbers may climb even higher in the coming years.

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