Divorce and legal separation are common yet painful realities for many married couples in the United States. Although the emotional toll is difficult to quantify, data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey offers insight into how common divorce and separation are in various cities across the country, highlighting that some areas experience higher rates of divorce than others. This is an overview of the cities with the highest and lowest rates of divorce and separation, shedding light on potential factors that contribute to legal separation throughout the US.
U.S. Cities with the Highest Divorce Rates
One of the most surprising revelations from the 2022 data is that Medford, Oregon, holds the highest divorce rate in the U.S., with 15.8% of its population aged 15 and up obtaining a divorce. This percentage is significantly higher than the national average, which is 10.5%. Medford’s high divorce rate may be attributed to Oregon’s median age, which is 40.5 years, compared to the national average, which is slightly lower at 39. Additionally, divorce has become more common among older populations, a modern trend known as “gray divorce,” which refers to the rising rate of divorces among people over the age of 65. As older individuals tend to have more assets and complex financial situations that are intertwined with their spouses, gray divorces can be particularly challenging to navigate.
Medford is followed closely by Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma, and Dothan, Alabama, both of which have divorce rates of 15.1%. These cities also have higher divorce rates than the national average, with approximately 19,000 and 30,000 people currently divorced in these cities, respectively.
Other cities with high divorce rates in the United States include Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida (15%), Charleston, West Virginia (14.9%), and Bangor, Maine (14.9%). Many of these cities share commonalities, such as higher populations of aging couples, economic factors, or cultural influences that may contribute to a higher likelihood of marital dissolution.
Here is a full list of the top 10 U.S. cities with the highest rates of divorce:
- Medford, OR – 15.8%
- Fort Smith, AR-OK – 15.1%
- Dothan, AL – 15.1%
- Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL – 15%
- Charleston, WV – 14.9%
- Bangor, ME – 14.9%
- Pueblo, CO – 14.7%
- Texarkana, TX-AR – 14.7%
- Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA – 14.6%
- Jackson, MI – 14.6%
U.S. Cities with the Lowest Divorce Rates
In contrast to the U.S. cities with high divorce rates, some areas of the U.S. experience much lower rates of marital breakdown. Provo-Orem, Utah, has the lowest divorce rate in the country at just 5.7%, which equates to about 30,000 divorced people out of the 530,217 people aged 15 and older in this metro area. One possible explanation for the low divorce rate is the cultural influence of the Mormon population, which constitutes roughly 42% of Utah’s population. While the Mormon religion does not outright prohibit divorce, it strongly discourages it, which may account for the low divorce rate in Provo-Orem.
Laredo, Texas, is the second city in the U.S. with the lowest divorce rate at 6.8%. This is followed by College Station-Bryan, Texas (6.9%), San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California (7%), and Merced, California (7.3%).
The complete top 10 cities in the U.S. with the lowest divorce rates are as follows:
- Provo-Orem, UT – 5.7%
- Laredo, TX – 6.8%
- College Station-Bryan, TX – 6.9%
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA – 7%
- Merced, CA – 7.3%
- McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX – 7.7%
- Brownsville-Harlingen, TX – 7.8%
- San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA – 8%
- Lancaster, PA – 8%
- Yuma, AZ – 8%
It is interesting to note that many cities with low divorce rates tend to have strong cultural or religious factors that may help stabilize or provide support to marriages. With strong cultural and religious backgrounds in these areas, many choose to seek support and guidance before they choose to obtain a divorce. These areas also have younger populations on average, and residents tend to marry at a younger age compared to the national average age of marriage.
U.S. Cities with the Highest Separation Rates
Separation, though less final than divorce, is another indicator of marital strain, and is a common practice among married couples. Legal separation, while not considered a divorce, allows couples to live apart while remaining legally married, and it is often a precursor to divorce. However, not all states offer spouses the ability to pursue legal separation, which can impact legal separation statistics.
According to our research, the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas metro area has the highest separation rate in the U.S., with 3.5% of its population aged 15 and older identifying as legally separated. This is followed by Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas, and Lumberton, North Carolina, both of which have legal separation rates of 3.3%.
Here is a list of the top 10 U.S. cities with the highest separation rates:
- McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX – 3.5%
- Brownsville-Harlingen, TX – 3.3%
- Lumberton, NC – 3.3%
- Fayetteville, NC – 3.1%
- Columbus, GA-AL – 3%
- Jackson, TN – 3%
- Laredo, TX – 2.9%
- Monroe, LA – 2.9%
- Jackson, MS – 2.8%
- El Paso, TX – 2.7%
Several cities in the southern part of the U.S. appear on this list, which could be influenced by economic factors, cultural norms, and state laws for legal separation in these regions. It’s also worth noting that some southern states do not allow legal separation, which could explain why couples in these areas might remain separated for extended periods without pursuing a divorce.
U.S. Cities with the Lowest Legal Separation Rates
At the opposite end of the spectrum of legal separation statistics, Lafayette-West Lafayette, Indiana, has the lowest separation rate in the U.S., with just 0.5% of the population aged 15 and older being separated from a spouse legally. Other cities with low separation rates include Madison, Wisconsin (0.6%), Portland-South Portland, Maine (0.6%), and Green Bay, Wisconsin (0.6%).
Below is a list of the top 10 cities in the U.S. with the lowest separation rates:
- Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN – 0.5%
- Madison, WI – 0.6%
- Portland-South Portland, ME – 0.6%
- Green Bay, WI – 0.6%
- Punta Gorda, FL – 0.6%
- Provo-Orem, UT – 0.7%
- Rochester, MN – 0.7%
- Wausau-Weston, WI – 0.7%
- Fort Collins, CO – 0.7%
- Ogden-Clearfield, UT – 0.7%
Interestingly, cities with low legal separation statistics also tend to have low divorce rates, suggesting that marriages in these areas are more stable overall, whether it be due to the local economy, culture, or values.
Takeaways From Divorce And Legal Separation Rates In The U.S.
The data we gathered on divorce and separation rates across U.S. cities provides valuable insight into the geographical, cultural, and socioeconomic factors that can influence marriages. Cities with the highest divorce and separation rates tend to have older populations and may lack the religious or cultural structures that can help couples stay together, however, they also may be attributed to the gray divorce trend we are currently seeing.
Conversely, areas with lower divorce and separation rates often benefit from strong cultural or religious traditions that discourage divorce and promote family cohesion. Understanding these trends can provide couples, counselors, and state and local policymakers with useful information as they seek to address the factors that contribute to the dissolution of marriages in their communities.
