NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Married couples across the U.S. have had access to no-fault divorce for more than 50 years, an option many call crucial to supporting domestic abuse victims and key to preventing already crowded family courts from drowning in complicated divorce proceedings.
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The Most Divorced Cities in the U.S.
Divorce rates have declined alongside increasing marriage ages since the 1980s
The link between rates of divorce and age at first marriage has been borne out over time, but it also explains geographic differences in rates of divorce. Today, most of the states with the lowest rates of divorce are also those with a higher median age for marriage. States like New Jersey, New York, California, and Massachusetts all stand out for having fewer than 10% of adults divorced and an age at first marriage above 30. One exception to this is Utah, which has the lowest overall median age for first marriage at 25.5 but also the third-lowest share of divorced adults at 9%, likely due in part to the state’s strong religious ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In contrast, Maine and Nevada lead all states in the share of the population currently divorced at 13.9% and 13.8%, respectively. And at the local level, many of the cities with the highest levels of divorce are found in Florida, Appalachia, and the Southwest.
Maine and Nevada have the highest proportions of adults currently divorced
The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. To determine the most divorced locations, researchers at ChamberOfCommerce.org calculated the percentage of adults currently divorced. In the event of a tie, the location with the higher percentage of adults currently separated was ranked higher. To improve relevance, only cities with at least 100,000 residents were included. Additionally, cities were grouped into cohorts based on population size: small (100,000–149,999), midsize (150,000–349,999), and large (350,000 or more).
Here are the most divorced cities in the U.S.
Small and midsize cities with the most divorced adults
15. Aurora, CO
Photo Credit: Jacob Boomsma / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 12.7%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.0%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 46.1%
- Percentage of adults never married: 34.9%
14. New Orleans, LA
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 12.8%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.7%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 28.5%
- Percentage of adults never married: 50.3%
13. Oklahoma City, OK
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 12.9%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.3%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 45.1%
- Percentage of adults never married: 34.2%
12. Colorado Springs, CO
Photo Credit: photo.ua / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.0%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 1.5%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 49.9%
- Percentage of adults never married: 31.1%
11. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
Photo Credit: Jonny Trego / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.0%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.0%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 41.9%
- Percentage of adults never married: 36.6%
10. Kansas City, MO
Photo Credit: Tupungato / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.3%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.2%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 39.7%
- Percentage of adults never married: 39.7%
9. Wichita, KS
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 1.9%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 45.9%
- Percentage of adults never married: 33.4%
8. Tampa, FL
Photo Credit: Kevin J King / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.4%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 38.5%
- Percentage of adults never married: 40.5%
7. Cleveland, OH
Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 3.4%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 24.7%
- Percentage of adults never married: 52.3%
6. Miami, FL
Photo Credit: Galina Savina / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 3.5%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 36.8%
- Percentage of adults never married: 39.8%
5. Las Vegas, NV
Photo Credit: f11photo / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.8%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.0%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 43.8%
- Percentage of adults never married: 35.3%
4. Jacksonville, FL
Photo Credit: CHARLES MORRA / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 14.0%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.2%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 42.3%
- Percentage of adults never married: 35.8%
3. Tucson, AZ
Photo Credit: LHBLLC / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 14.3%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.3%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 35.7%
- Percentage of adults never married: 42.5%
2. Tulsa, OK
Photo Credit: Valiik30 / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 14.6%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.5%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 42.2%
- Percentage of adults never married: 34.7%
1. Albuquerque, NM
Photo Credit: turtix / Shutterstock
- Percentage of adults currently divorced: 15.1%
- Percentage of adults currently separated: 1.4%
- Percentage of adults currently married: 39.8%
- Percentage of adults never married: 38.2%

