
Carrboro at Sunset
Are you single?
Move to Carrboro. Â Evidently it is the best city for singles in the United States.
Livability ranked Carrboro at the top of their list of “10 Best Cities for Singles.”  The website “explores what makes small-to-medium sized cities great places to live.”
Carrboro is the best city for singles because it, “holds a high concentration or single adults who are generally more active and social than the average American.”  Livability also cited the city’s layout, college-town vibe, and assortment of entertainment options.
Of course, these lists should always be taken with an enormous grain of salt.  Another website, Only In Your State, listed Carrboro at No. 3 on their list of Best Cities For Singles…in North Carolina.  That list put Raleigh and Charlotte ahead of Carrboro.  Only In Your State did not mention any actual criteria.
Cities and towns located near major colleges were prominently featured on the top 10 list. Â Oxford, Mississippi, home of the University of Mississippi, landed at No. 4 on the list. Â The home of Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, is listed at No. 7. Â Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia, landed at No. 9.
Overall, the criteria for the Livability ranking included percentage of population who are unmarried, percentage of population between 20-34, use of online dating websites, went dancing in the last 12 months, watched romantic movie in last 6 months, visited a nightclub/bar in last 12 months, and went to an art gallery in the last 12 months.
Popular nightlife spots in Carrboro are highlighted. Â The Station, Orange County Social Club, and The Speakeasy at Tyler’s all get mentions.
But, Carrboro did not become the best city for singles just for its nightlife. Â The Carrboro ArtsCenter and the Parks and Recreation Department also get credit for their programs that promote an active lifestyle.
The people at Livability previously ranked Carrboro at No. 55 on their list of “Top 100 Best Small Towns.”
Related Stories
‹

CommunityWorx Ending Thrift Shop Operations, Transitioning Carrboro Space to Different NonprofitThe thrift shop run by CommunityWorx is ending its 72-year run of operations this week and is transitioning the space to a different group.

Top Stories of 2025: In Orange County, An Anticlimactic ElectionThe municipal election was always going to be one of the top stories of 2025 in Chapel Hill - though this year's race was unusually quiet.

Local Scholar Amanda Bennett Named Town of Carrboro's 9th Poet LaureateThe Town of Carrboro has selected Amanda Bennett to be its ninth poet laureate. Described as “a poet, cultural critic, and public humanities practitioner,” in a release, Bennett will be the first Black woman to serve as the town’s poet laureate. Bennett is a scholar of Black feminism and is the author of “Working the […]

Orange County Communities to Interrupt Services for December Holidays (2025)Communities around Orange County will interrupt their normal service schedules during the upcoming winter holidays. Here’s what customers can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Town of Chapel Hill government offices will be closed from Wednesday, Dec. 24 through Friday, Dec. 26. Residential trash collection will not be affected. Yard trimmings will not be collected on […]

Top Stories of 2025: Flash Flooding From Tropical Storm Chantal Damages Region, Changes LivesPerhaps no singular event influenced the Orange County community's experience in 2025 more than Tropical Storm Chantal's floods in July.

'So Much Fun': Community's First 'Cardboard War' Brings Out Creativity and WhimsyThe Carrboro Town Commons was the site of a "cardboard war" on Saturday, which was created to spur whimsy and creativity among the community.
![]()
Arts in Uncertain Times - Dec. 12, 2025The Hill's Andrew Stuckey speaks with North Carolina Poet Laureate Jakie Shelton Green, Carrboro Town Council Member Fred Joiner, and Executive Director of Orange County Arts Katie Murray on Friday, December 12. They discuss the challenges facing the arts community both generally and locally. They also discuss the role of arts in times of political division. They discuss the economic, social, and personal impact of having art in non-traditional spaces. They look ahead to 2026, and more.
![]()
Checking the Area Housing Inventory - Dec. 11, 2025The Hill's Andrew Stuckey speaks with Vice President of Advocacy for the Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro Ian Scott, Policy Director for Carolina Forward and Chapel Hill Town Council Member Theodore Nollert, and President of the Orange and Chatham County Association of Realters Randy Voller. They discussed the current housing inventory in the Chapel Hill area, including how much and what type of housing is still missing, and what tools the community has to encourage more housing. They also discussed what they hope to see different in the area's housing market in 2026, and more.
![]()
Carrboro: Council Meeting, Holiday Events, Braxton Foushee Day of ServiceCarrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Friday, December 5, discussing town news and events. She outlined the most recent Carrboro Town Council meeting in which the council chose a new Mayor Pro Tem, had a resolution recognizing outgoing council member Randi Haven-O'Donnell, and swore in newly elected members. She also talked about the Carrboro tree lighting this weekend, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade, and more.

'Who Are We Targeting?': Unpacking and Examining Impacts of ICE's N.C. OperationsThe Orange County community felt the impact of federal immigration officers’ presence. Weeks later, people are still unpacking their emotions.
›