Love might be timeless, but the age at which Minnesotans are tying the knot these days is changing. Are these lovebirds ahead of the curve or taking their sweet time compared to the rest of the nation?
While just over half of all residents of the Land of 10,000 Lakes are currently married, what is the average age at which people here in the Gopher State first take the plunge? We now know the answer and how it compares to the rest of the country.
According to World Population Review, just over half-- 51.7 percent-- of Minnesotans reported being married in 2024. That's a very slight (.02%) decrease from 2023, but still well above the national average of 47 percent.
It also puts the North Star State on the list of top ten states with the highest marriage rate. Minnesota ranked 7th on the World Population Review list, with Utah topping the list, followed by Idaho and Wyoming.
U.S. STATES WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF MARRIED PEOPLE
But just WHEN do Minnesotans walk down the aisle and say "I do!" for the first time? According to a new story from Axios, the median age of those getting married for the first time was nearly 30 in 2023, up two years from 2010, according to census data.
Axios noted that that's quite a bit later in life compared to 1950, when the median age was around 22, per the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.
Marriage rates vary by geographic region, and by specific states, as well. For instance, Axios notes that out east, in cities like Washington D.C., and New York City, residents are the oldest at their first marriage, at around 31. Meanwhile, Utah, Idaho, and West Virginia residents are the youngest at around 27, Axios said.
But specifically, here in the Bold North, what is the average age at which Minnesotans are getting married for the first time? Axios says the average age at which residents of the Gopher State get married for the first time is now 29.3-- nearly 6 months younger than the 29.7, which was reported in 2023.
Minnesota's average age is also slightly younger than Wisconsin's average first-married age of 29.5 and is nearly a year and a half older than the average age at which Iowans first get married, which is 27.9. It's also older than newlyweds in both North and South Dakota, which were 28.3 and 27.1, respectively.
If you're curious, you can check the average first-married age in each of the 50 states HERE. And keep scrolling to check out some unique names that were popular the year you were born!