Marriage is the ultimate expression of love between two people. It’s also a bit of a roll of the dice.
Many marriages go the distance, resulting in years or even decades of wedded bliss. But just as often, what started as a happy union ends in the divorce court.
In some states, marriage appears to be an especially dicey affair. In these places, marriages are shorter than they are in other parts of the country.
Of course, shorter unions can simply be a matter of folks marrying later in life. But in many other instances, divorce cuts a marriage short.
Following are the states with the shortest marriages, according to a recent analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by USAFacts, which describes itself as the largest source for standardized U.S. government data.
10. Georgia
Median duration of current marriage: 18.8 years
Median age at first marriage: 29.2 years
Residents age 15 or older who have ever been married: 64.8%
Atlanta is one of the “The Top 15 Cities for Remote Workers in 2023.” Maybe all that time together is taking a toll on Georgia marriages.
9. Idaho
Median duration of current marriage: 18.6 years
Median age at first marriage: 26.8 years
Residents age 15 or older who have ever been married: 72.6%
Idaho couples who are going through a rocky patch might want to plan a weekend getaway. Idaho is one of the “The 10 Best States for Summer Road Trips in 2023.”
8. Washington
Median duration of current marriage: 18.3 years
Median age at first marriage: 28.8 years
Residents age 15 or older who have ever been married: 67.85%
If spending concerns are dragging down your marriage in Washington — or anywhere else — read about “Why Separate Bank Accounts in Marriage Might Make Sense.”
7. Oklahoma
Median duration of current marriage: 18.2 years
Median age at first marriage: 27.4 years
Residents age 15 or older who have ever been married: 69.63%
Two places in Oklahoma — Oklahoma City and Tulsa — land on the unhappy list of the “The 15 Most-Divorced Cities in the U.S.”
6. Colorado
Median duration of current marriage: 18.2 years
Median age at first marriage: 29.55 years
Residents age 15 or older who have ever been married: 66.74%
Enjoying some outdoor time can let a little fresh air into a stale marriage. Fortunately, Colorado Springs is among the “The 15 Best Cities for Hiking.”
5. Utah
Median duration of current marriage: 18 years
Median age at first marriage: 25.8 years
Residents age 15 or older who have ever been married: 68.53%
Too much spending can undermine a household. Beware the warning, Utah couples: The Beehive State is among the “13 States Where People Spend the Most on Amazon.”
4. Nevada
Median duration of current marriage: 17.7 years
Median age at first marriage: 30.45 years
Residents age 15 or older who have ever been married: 65.02%
Getting together with friends strengthens bonds between couples and among acquaintances. So, fire up the grill in Sin City: Las Vegas is one of the “15 Best BBQ Cities in America.”
3. Texas
Median duration of current marriage: 17.6 years
Median age at first marriage: 28.45 years
Residents age 15 or older who have ever been married: 66.55%
If a strained budget is sinking your marriage, consider moving to a more affordable locale. For ideas, check out “10 of the Cheapest Places to Live in Texas.”
2. Alaska
Median duration of current marriage: 16.8 years
Median age at first marriage: 28 years
Residents age 15 or older who have ever been married: 66.38%
So-called “gray divorce” is on the rise, so older couples in Alaska might want to rekindle their romance with a train trip.
As we reported in “13 Trains That Offer Senior Discounts,” during the off-peak season, seniors 65 and older get a 50% discount on the Alaska Railroad train from Anchorage to Fairbanks, or any spot in between.
1. Washington, D.C.
Median duration of current marriage: 10.5 years
Median age at first marriage: 31.95 years
Residents age 15 or older who have ever been married: 44.66%
Money woes can sink a marriage, and the District of Columbia is one of the “10 Places Where People Have the Most Student Loan Debt.”
