Here's the Average Age of Marriage in the US, According to Data

The average age of marriage in the US is a hot topic within both single and married communities. Speculatively, there are a few reasons for the interest in the average marital age conversation, including the varying numbers regionally, as well as evolving lifestyle choices between generations. (Gen Z is entering marrying age with the oldest members of this group turning 26 in 2023.)

To even reach an average, an astounding tens of thousands of respondents shared with us when they opted to get married. While this doesn't entirely mean the numbers reflect every single person in America, nor that it's an accurate representation of the entire US population, an average is just that: a statistic. In order to source the average age of marriage in the US, however, our research team surveyed nearly 10,000 couples across the United States who married in 2023 as part of The Knot's annual Real Weddings Study. Discover the learnings below.

In this article:

• The 2023 Average Age of Marriage in the US
• The Average Age to Get Married By Region
• The Average Age to Get Married By State
• Common Questions About Age & Marriages

The 2023 Average Age of Marriage in the US

In 2023, the average age of marriage for couples was 32, a slight increase from the average age of marriage in 2022, which was 31.

The majority of participants reported it was their first marriage and the marrying age is influenced by a variety of factors. Overall societal behavioral patterns, including an evolving workforce and a stronger sense of self-sufficiency for this demographic, play a role in influencing the average age of marriage in the US. In 2018, for example, The Knot Real Weddings Study found that the average age of marriage was 30.

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There is a new factor that is starting to come into play—that is the slightly larger Gen Z cohort (born between 1997 and 2004) entering the marriage market. It's too early to say whether this cohort will significantly alter the average age of getting married in the US—on average, couples are continuing to marry in their early thirties according to our study.

"We're realizing that the brain doesn't fully develop until people are around 25 years of age, which is very different from how people used to think about adulthood, which was 18 or college age," says New York-based clinical psychologist Dr. Lara Friedrich. "People are taking longer to find themselves, which is a good thing. By the time people are getting married, they have a better sense of who they really are, meaning they're more secure in their career and their sense of self the older they get. And that helps them make good decisions with their life partner."

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"Life is not so traditional anymore," adds Kathleen Entwistle, Private Wealth Advisor and Managing Director of Sports and Entertainment at Morgan Stanley. "Many couples are both working, therefore they are getting married for the first time later."

So how exactly does the average age of marriage impact weddings? Year over year, the Real Weddings Study finds that more couples are contributing to the total cost of the wedding, as opposed to solely relying on parents on either side to financially support the nuptials. "The finances of each family can also be a factor," Entwistle speculates. "When the average age of marriage increases, couples tend to take more ownership in both the details of the wedding, as well as the sharing of the expenses."

The Average Age to Get Married By Region

Not-so-surprising is that the average age of couples varies according to region. Among 2023 couples, the average age of marriage was highest in the Northeast (32), Mid-Atlantic (32) and Midwest (32) and lowest in the South/Southeast at 30. Regionality certainly has its impact on a variety of factors related to wedding planning, including the average cost of a wedding, the average number of guests and, of course, the average age of marriage.

"Even micro-regional influence counts," says Dr. Friedrich, who also attributes education level and socioeconomics as top factors that play into the overall formula of marriage age. "And if you work with clients who are religious, there might be the possibility of lower averages in the age of marriage." See how it breaks down per region below.

• Northeast/New England: 32
• Mid-Atlantic: 32
• Midwest: 32
• South/Southeast: 30
• Southwest: 31
• West: 31

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The Average Age to Get Married By State

According to our 2023 Real Weddings Study data, couples based in certain states across the U.S. will skew based on locale, depending on towns and proximity to close friend groups. "There's research on this that people are very influenced by their peers," says Dr. Friedrich. "There's a very real peer effect where people see their friends and inner circle getting married and that can cause more pressure. People's influence on each other and their social circles can be very strong."

State-by-state average age of getting married in 2023 breakdown:

Alabama, 32
Arizona, 33
Arkansas, 30
California, 33
Colorado, 32
Connecticut, 33
Delaware (grouped with Maryland), 33
Florida, 33
Georgia, 31
Hawaii, 36*
Idaho (grouped with Montana), 30
Illinois, 33
Indiana, 31
Iowa, 29
Kentucky, 31
Kansas, 29
Louisiana, 32
Maine (grouped with Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire), 33
Maryland, 33
Massachusetts, 34
Michigan, 32
Minnesota, 30**
Mississippi (grouped with Louisiana), 32
Missouri, 31
Montana, 30
Nebraska, 30
Nevada, 35
New Hampshire (grouped with Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine), 30
New Jersey, 32
New Mexico 31
New York, 33
North Carolina, 32
North Dakota & South Dakota, 30
Ohio, 32
Oklahoma, 29
Oregon, 32
Pennsylvania, 31
Rhode Island (grouped with Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine), 33
South Carolina, 32
Tennessee, 30
Texas, 32
Utah, 27
Vermont (grouped with Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine), 33
West Virginia/Virginia, 31
Washington, 32
Wisconsin, 31
Wyoming, 30**

*Based on 2019 data
**Based on 2022 data

Common Questions About Age & Marriages

Now that you know the average age of a marrying couple in the US, other questions may arise around the topic. Here, we address some of the most frequent inquiries regarding marriage and the age of it all.

What is the most common age to get married in the US?

The US Census Bureau found that the median age for marriage in 2022 was 28.6 years old for women and 30.5 years old for men. LGBTQ+ couples were not accounted for in this survey.

What are the odds of getting married after 30?

According to data, about 80% of Americans will still marry by age 40, leaving the odds overwhelmingly in favor of those who marry. However, the number of marriages is diminishing, according to experts. Instead, couples are opting to live together leaving the stats at around 90%.

Are marriage and divorce rates declining for Millennials?

Millennial marital success and divorce rates are still being reviewed by researchers, but there is one strong habit to properly form from the onset of marriage (and the relationship itself). "Communication is key," says Dr. Friedrich. "Communicating with each other that allows you to listen, avoiding defensiveness, criticism, stonewalling and contempt are four things that lead couples down the road to divorce, according to the Gottman Institute [a research-based theory that focuses on marital stability]. Taking time to speak and communicate in a way that is meaningful can be useful."