Fewer people are getting married, but even fewer are getting divorced, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2008, the marriage rate was 17.9 per 1,000 women; a decade later the figure was 16.6 per 1,000 women. The decrease in divorce rates was even more marked. It went from 10.5 per 1,000 women in 2008 to 7.7 per 1,000 women in 2018.
24/7 Tempo reviewed the percentage of residents who are divorced in U.S. cities with a population of at least 5,000 people using the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey to determine the divorce capital of each state.
Among all Americans age 15 and older — some states allow people to get married under 18 with parental consent — 10.8% are divorced and have not remarried. An additional 2% of people in that age group are separated but not divorced from their spouses. The percentage of the population that is divorced varies from state to state and from city to city. In some places, almost a quarter of residents are divorced; in others — just over a tenth are.
Couples decide to call it quits for different reasons, but there are a few common causes. Many studies over the years have tried to find an answer to why a marriage ends in divorce. Several of the reasons that are highlighted in almost every study include lack of commitment, infidelity, arguing too much, and growing apart, according to the Institute of Family Studies.
Money is also a fairly common reason for spouses to go their separate ways. Couples who are struggling with money appear to be more likely to split up. In all but six states, the divorce capital’s median household income is lower than the corresponding state median.
Working through a separation is a very stressful experience. While much of the stress is emotional, there is often a financial element as well. And lawyers don’t come cheap – here are the most expensive states to get a divorce.
Click here to see the divorce capital of every state.
Methodology
To identify the divorce capital of every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2018 5-Year Estimates to find the percentage of the 15 and older population that is divorced. Only places with a 15 and older population greater than 5,000 were considered. Data on household income and poverty rates also came from the ACS. The Census definition of those who are divorced includes only people who are legally divorced and who have not remarried. Those without a final divorce decree are classified as separated.
Alabama: Sheffield
> Divorced population: 17.5% (the largest out of 98 cities)
> Married population: 40.5% (24th smallest)
> Separated population: 2.2% (44th largest)
> Median household income: $34,688 (13th lowest)
> Sheffield total population: 8,986
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Alaska: Kenai
> Divorced population: 16.1% (the largest out of 17 cities)
> Married population: 45.6% (4th smallest)
> Separated population: 3.5% (the largest)
> Median household income: $61,007 (2nd lowest)
> Kenai total population: 7,687
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Arizona: Cottonwood
> Divorced population: 21.0% (the largest out of 83 cities)
> Married population: 39.8% (10th smallest)
> Separated population: 2.4% (14th largest)
> Median household income: $34,209 (3rd lowest)
> Cottonwood total population: 11,826
Arkansas: Newport
> Divorced population: 21.9% (the largest out of 55 cities)
> Married population: 30.3% (2nd smallest)
> Separated population: 5.2% (5th largest)
> Median household income: $29,877 (2nd lowest)
> Newport total population: 7,695
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California: Fort Bragg
> Divorced population: 21.6% (the largest out of 593 cities)
> Married population: 32.1% (16th smallest)
> Separated population: 3.9% (21st largest)
> Median household income: $43,003 (66th lowest)
> Fort Bragg total population: 7,298
Colorado: Gypsum
> Divorced population: 20.1% (the largest out of 97 cities)
> Married population: 51.1% (43rd smallest)
> Separated population: 2.8% (7th largest)
> Median household income: $80,486 (34th highest)
> Gypsum total population: 7,079
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Connecticut: Groton
> Divorced population: 18.7% (the largest out of 55 cities)
> Married population: 36.3% (11th smallest)
> Separated population: 1.3% (22nd largest)
> Median household income: $53,750 (11th lowest)
> Groton total population: 9,109
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Delaware: Seaford
> Divorced population: 16.4% (the largest out of 19 cities)
> Married population: 41.3% (6th smallest)
> Separated population: 0.6% (5th smallest)
> Median household income: $46,387 (2nd lowest)
> Seaford total population: 7,572
Florida: Live Oak
> Divorced population: 22.2% (the largest out of 428 cities)
> Married population: 37.0% (63rd smallest)
> Separated population: 5.6% (6th largest)
> Median household income: $39,827 (74th lowest)
> Live Oak total population: 6,888
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Georgia: Cumming
> Divorced population: 20.6% (the largest out of 145 cities)
> Married population: 34.9% (48th smallest)
> Separated population: 3.7% (25th largest)
> Median household income: $43,790 (60th lowest)
> Cumming total population: 6,027
Hawaii: Holualoa
> Divorced population: 14.9% (the largest out of 48 cities)
> Married population: 57.7% (8th largest)
> Separated population: 0.3% (4th smallest)
> Median household income: $85,811 (22nd highest)
> Holualoa total population: 9,136
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Idaho: Blackfoot
> Divorced population: 17.2% (the largest out of 28 cities)
> Married population: 51.7% (11th smallest)
> Separated population: 0.6% (5th smallest)
> Median household income: $42,606 (6th lowest)
> Blackfoot total population: 11,854
Illinois: Harrisburg
> Divorced population: 22.1% (the largest out of 299 cities)
> Married population: 41.9% (74th smallest)
> Separated population: 2.7% (24th largest)
> Median household income: $34,578 (6th lowest)
> Harrisburg total population: 8,958
Indiana: Martinsville
> Divorced population: 22.7% (the largest out of 109 cities)
> Married population: 39.4% (23rd smallest)
> Separated population: 2.5% (13th largest)
> Median household income: $46,635 (54th lowest)
> Martinsville total population: 11,646
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Iowa: Knoxville
> Divorced population: 16.4% (the largest out of 60 cities)
> Married population: 47.3% (25th smallest)
> Separated population: 0.4% (5th smallest)
> Median household income: $45,678 (13th lowest)
> Knoxville total population: 7,200
Kansas: Chanute
> Divorced population: 18.5% (the largest out of 51 cities)
> Married population: 45.7% (19th smallest)
> Separated population: 2.1% (8th largest)
> Median household income: $36,288 (3rd lowest)
> Chanute total population: 9,119
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Kentucky: Leitchfield
> Divorced population: 23.4% (the largest out of 71 cities)
> Married population: 43.2% (32nd smallest)
> Separated population: 4.6% (3rd largest)
> Median household income: $30,773 (6th lowest)
> Leitchfield total population: 6,784
Louisiana: Jefferson
> Divorced population: 18.7% (the largest out of 92 cities)
> Married population: 31.7% (14th smallest)
> Separated population: 3.0% (26th largest)
> Median household income: $49,593 (43rd highest)
> Jefferson total population: 10,341
Maine: Augusta
> Divorced population: 23.4% (the largest out of 26 cities)
> Married population: 36.2% (2nd smallest)
> Separated population: 1.0% (10th largest)
> Median household income: $40,340 (5th lowest)
> Augusta total population: 18,635
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Maryland: Edgewater
> Divorced population: 17.1% (the largest out of 176 cities)
> Married population: 46.9% (89th largest)
> Separated population: 2.2% (74th largest)
> Median household income: $86,586 (81st highest)
> Edgewater total population: 9,689
Massachusetts: Foxborough
> Divorced population: 17.5% (the largest out of 106 cities)
> Married population: 42.2% (38th smallest)
> Separated population: 1.9% (37th largest)
> Median household income: $70,634 (48th lowest)
> Foxborough total population: 5,912
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Michigan: Walled Lake
> Divorced population: 21.8% (the largest out of 150 cities)
> Married population: 36.1% (41st smallest)
> Separated population: 1.7% (41st largest)
> Median household income: $50,847 (73rd highest)
> Walled Lake total population: 7,193
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Minnesota: Brainerd
> Divorced population: 18.2% (the largest out of 127 cities)
> Married population: 32.0% (2nd smallest)
> Separated population: 1.5% (26th largest)
> Median household income: $33,415 (the lowest)
> Brainerd total population: 13,389
Mississippi: Waveland
> Divorced population: 23.3% (the largest out of 58 cities)
> Married population: 36.8% (24th smallest)
> Separated population: 4.3% (10th largest)
> Median household income: $41,998 (27th highest)
> Waveland total population: 6,358
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Missouri: Dexter
> Divorced population: 21.0% (the largest out of 123 cities)
> Married population: 43.1% (44th smallest)
> Separated population: 2.7% (25th largest)
> Median household income: $36,084 (13th smallest)
> Dexter total population: 7,885
Montana: Livingston
> Divorced population: 17.3% (the largest out of 19 cities)
> Married population: 48.9% (5th largest)
> Separated population: 1.1% (7th smallest)
> Median household income: $42,635 (13th lowest)
> Livingston total population: 7,478
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Nebraska: La Vista
> Divorced population: 15.0% (the largest out of 28 cities)
> Married population: 49.4% (13th smallest)
> Separated population: 0.9% (4th smallest)
> Median household income: $67,605 (3rd highest)
> La Vista total population: 17,077
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Nevada: Laughlin
> Divorced population: 23.4% (the largest out of 31 cities)
> Married population: 38.3% (3rd smallest)
> Separated population: 2.4% (6th largest)
> Median household income: $33,851 (the lowest)
> Laughlin total population: 7,502
New Hampshire: Exeter
> Divorced population: 18.9% (the largest out of 22 cities)
> Married population: 45.8% (11th largest)
> Separated population: 0.9% (9th smallest)
> Median household income: $66,604 (10th highest)
> Exeter total population: 9,070
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New Jersey: Crestwood Village
> Divorced population: 16.6% (the largest out of 229 cities)
> Married population: 43.1% (53rd smallest)
> Separated population: 1.4% (113th largest)
> Median household income: $28,708 (3rd lowest)
> Crestwood Village total population: 8,164
New Mexico: Taos
> Divorced population: 24.3% (the largest out of 40 cities)
> Married population: 30.0% (3rd smallest)
> Separated population: 2.0% (16th largest)
> Median household income: $30,893 (8th lowest)
> Taos total population: 6,021
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New York: South Lockport
> Divorced population: 17.4% (the largest out of 300 cities)
> Married population: 42.0% (80th smallest)
> Separated population: 1.8% (132th largest)
> Median household income: $45,476 (247th lowest)
> South Lockport total population: 7,315
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North Carolina: Wendell
> Divorced population: 18.3% (the largest out of 130 cities)
> Married population: 43.2% (54th smallest)
> Separated population: 4.3% (14th largest)
> Median household income: $56,011 (52th highest)
> Wendell total population: 6,828
North Dakota: Jamestown
> Divorced population: 13.3% (the largest out of 12 cities)
> Married population: 43.6% (4th smallest)
> Separated population: 0.9% (6th largest)
> Median household income: $53,310 (6th lowest)
> Jamestown total population: 15,368
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Ohio: Cambridge
> Divorced population: 20.6% (the largest out of 254 cities)
> Married population: 35.9% (36th smallest)
> Separated population: 2.9% (29th largest)
> Median household income: $33,184 (14th lowest)
> Cambridge total population: 10,432
Oklahoma: Sallisaw
> Divorced population: 19.3% (the largest out of 65 cities)
> Married population: 45.7% (28th smallest)
> Separated population: 3.3% (4th largest)
> Median household income: $29,656 (the lowest)
> Sallisaw total population: 8,547
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Oregon: Umatilla
> Divorced population: 22.2% (the largest out of 91 cities)
> Married population: 31.9% (the smallest)
> Separated population: 2.5% (15th largest)
> Median household income: $41,707 (14th lowest)
> Umatilla total population: 7,114
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Pennsylvania: Butler
> Divorced population: 19.0% (the largest out of 197 cities)
> Married population: 31.6% (27th smallest)
> Separated population: 2.8% (53th largest)
> Median household income: $33,034 (13th lowest)
> Butler total population: 13,182
Rhode Island: Woonsocket
> Divorced population: 14.7% (the largest out of 16 cities)
> Married population: 36.5% (5th smallest)
> Separated population: 2.4% (4th largest)
> Median household income: $39,932 (2nd lowest)
> Woonsocket total population: 41,539
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South Carolina: Little River
> Divorced population: 19.3% (the largest out of 86 cities)
> Married population: 50.6% (21st largest)
> Separated population: 2.8% (39th smallest)
> Median household income: $48,064 (44th highest)
> Little River total population: 9,523
South Dakota: Rapid City
> Divorced population: 13.5% (the largest out of 16 cities)
> Married population: 45.7% (6th smallest)
> Separated population: 1.1% (6th largest)
> Median household income: $50,742 (7th highest)
> Rapid City total population: 73,721
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Tennessee: Greeneville
> Divorced population: 21.8% (the largest out of 95 cities)
> Married population: 41.4% (27th smallest)
> Separated population: 2.9% (29th largest)
> Median household income: $34,296 (17th lowest)
> Greeneville total population: 14,896
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Texas: Marble Falls
> Divorced population: 20.5% (the largest out of 335 cities)
> Married population: 34.7% (11th smallest)
> Separated population: 1.2% (78th smallest)
> Median household income: $43,390 (76th lowest)
> Marble Falls total population: 6,382
Utah: Vernal
> Divorced population: 20.9% (the largest out of 80 cities)
> Married population: 45.1% (4th smallest)
> Separated population: 1.2% (40th largest)
> Median household income: $51,301 (10th lowest)
> Vernal total population: 10,653
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Vermont: Barre
> Divorced population: 24.9% (the largest out of 11 cities)
> Married population: 32.8% (3rg smallest)
> Separated population: 1.0% (6th largest)
> Median household income: $39,187 (the lowest)
> Barre total population: 8,711
Virginia: Sandston
> Divorced population: 19.2% (the largest out of 171 cities)
> Married population: 35.4% (20th smallest)
> Separated population: 4.0% (18th largest)
> Median household income: $48,962 (31st lowest)
> Sandston total population: 7,056
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Washington: Clarkston
> Divorced population: 22.7% (the largest out of 172 cities)
> Married population: 35.3% (8th smallest)
> Separated population: 2.3% (29th largest)
> Median household income: $36,854 (2nd lowest)
> Clarkston total population: 7,360
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West Virginia: Dunbar
> Divorced population: 20.9% (the largest out of 25 cities)
> Married population: 44.4% (13th largest)
> Separated population: 2.8% (3th largest)
> Median household income: $42,411 (12th lowest)
> Dunbar total population: 7,462
Wisconsin: Tomah
> Divorced population: 18.1% (the largest out of 132 cities)
> Married population: 37.4% (10th smallest)
> Separated population: 2.7% (the largest)
> Median household income: $49,383 (33rd lowest)
> Tomah total population: 9,349
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Wyoming: Riverton
> Divorced population: 16.3% (the largest out of 17 cities)
> Married population: 45.5% (5th smallest)
> Separated population: 1.9% (5th largest)
> Median household income: $51,033 (3rd lowest)
> Riverton total population: 11,069
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