Median Age at First Marriage: Geographic Variation
Family Profile No. 9, 2025
Author: Natalie Bankey
In this profile we provide estimates of the median age at first marriage for the nation and each state by sex among those aged 15-54, using 2023 1-year estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS) (Table B12007). Direct estimates of the age at which half of males and females (who in the last year) married for the first time as well as the associated margins of error are provided. The ACS has been collecting data on marriage since 2008. This profile is an update to previous research on the median age at first marriage (FP-24-08).
Trend in Median Age at First Marriage by Sex, 2008-2023
- Since 2008, the age at first marriage for males has increased by 2.6 years, reaching 30.6 years of age in 2023. Among females the median age at first marriage has increased by 2.5 years reaching 28.7 years of age.
- The U.S. median age at first marriage remains stable and at its highest levels for both males and females since the ACS began collecting data on marriage in 2008.
Notes: Universe is males and females between the ages of 15 and 54. The standard 2020 ACS 1-year data products were not released due to the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on data collection and data quality (for more information click here).
Figure 1. Median Age at First Marriage, 2008-2019 & 2021-2023
States with the Highest and Lowest Median Age at First Marriage by Sex, 2023
- In 2023, among males, those living in Hawaii had the highest median age at first marriage at 32.5 years. In contrast, those living in Utah had the youngest at 26.8.
- Among females, those who lived in Washington D.C. experienced the highest median age at first marriage (31.7) whereas those living in Utah had the lowest (25.2 years old).
- Only two states ranked at the top for oldest ages at first marriage among both males and females: Massachusetts and New York.
- Similarly, two states ranked at the bottom with the youngest ages at first marriage for both males and females: Idaho and Utah.
Table 1. Median Age at First Marriage, 2023: Males’ Top and Bottom Five States
| Rank | State | Age | MOE |
| 1 | Hawaii | 32.5 | ±1.8 |
| 2 | New York |
32.2 | ±0.4 |
| 3 | California | 32.1 | ±0.2 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 32.0 | ±0.5 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 31.8 | ±0.6 |
| U.S. | 30.6 | ±0.2 | |
| 46 | Idaho | 27.8 | ±0.9 |
| 46 | Kentucky | 27.8 | ±0.7 |
| 48 | West Virginia | 27.7 | ±3.1 |
| 49 | Mississippi | 27.6 | ±1.1 |
| 50 | South Dakota | 27.2 | ±1.2 |
| 51 | Utah | 26.8 | ±0.6 |
Table 2. Median Age at First Marriage, 2023: Females’ Top and Bottom Five States
| Rank | State | Age | MOE |
| 1 | District of Columbia | 31.7 | ±1.2 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 30.5 | ±0.3 |
| 2 | New York | 30.5 | ±0.3 |
| 4 | New Jersey |
30.3 | ±0.3 |
| 4 | Vermont | 30.3 | ±0.9 |
| U.S. | 28.7 | ±0.2 | |
| 46 | Idaho | 26.2 | ±0.6 |
| 46 | Kansas | 26.2 | ±0.4 |
| 46 | Montana | 26.2 | ±0.5 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | 26.2 | ±0.3 |
| 50 | Arkansas | 26.0 | ±0.4 |
| 51 | Utah | 25.2 | ±0.4 |
Source: NCFMR analyses U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year est., Table B12007, 2023
Note: Universe is males and females between the ages of 15 and 54
State Rankings and Geographic Variation in the Median Age at First Marriage by Sex, 2023
The state rankings are divided into quartiles with error bars representing the margins of error (MOE). The MOEs for published ACS estimates are provided at a 90% confidence level.
- Among both males and females, the states in the top quartile were significantly above the national median. The top quartile consisted of ages 31.2 years and older for males and 29.4 years and older for females.
- The states in the bottom quartile had median ages at first marriage of 29.0 years or younger for males and 27.1 years or younger among females. The median age at marriage for the states in the bottom quartile was also significantly below the national average.
- Among males and females, most states in the Northeast region had high ages at first marriage.
- For males and females, most Midwestern and Southern states exhibited ages at first marriage in the bottom two quartiles.
- Western states had ages spread evenly throughout all but the top quartile for females. Regarding the distribution of the age at first marriage among males, Western states were most often in the third quartile.
Figure 2. State-Level Median Age at First Marriage by Quartile, Males 2023
Figure 3. State-Level Median Age at First Marriage by Quartile, Females 2023
Source: NCFMR analyses U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year est., Table B12007, 2023
Note: Universe is males and females between the ages of 15 and 54
References:
Westrick-Payne, K. K. (2024). Median age at first marriage: Geographic variation, 2022. Family Profiles, FP-24-08. Bowling Green, OH: National Center for Family & Marriage Research. https://doi.org/10.25035/ncfmr/fp-24-08
Suggested Citation:
Bankey, N. (2025). Median age at first marriage: Geographic variation, 2023. Family Profiles, FP-25-09. Bowling Green, OH: National Center for Family & Marriage Research. https://doi.org/10.25035/ncfmr/fp-25-09
This project is supported with assistance from Bowling Green State University. From 2007 to 2013, support was also provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s) and should not be construed as representing the opinions or policy of any agency of the state or federal government.
Updated: 04/16/2025 09:44AM