Los Angeles, CA, Nov. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Two in five American women looking for love online (40.4%) want a partner who owns a home, according to The State of Online Dating 2026, a new study released today by dating-review platform DatingScout.com. The study is based on responses from 53,902 people in 18 countries.
Among American men, the figure was less than half that, at 18.9%. Love may be blind, but it can apparently read a property deed.
That is a tall order in today's housing market. The National Association of Realtors puts the typical first-time buyer at a record age of 40, while the average American online dater in the study is just 39.5. In other words, the typical American buying a first home is older than the typical American on a dating site.
The US is not alone. Women in the UK set the highest bar of the 15 countries with data, with 45.3% wanting a homeowner against 19.1% of men. Spain and New Zealand followed at 43.7%. Swiss women cared least, at 13.6%.
The money gap runs deeper than property. Worldwide, 42.1% of women said being unemployed would rule someone out instantly, compared with 14.1% of men. Living with parents was a deal-breaker for 39.9% of women and 16.7% of men, and high debt for 52.2% of women and 31.6% of men.
Men, meanwhile, seem happy to keep picking up the bill. Worldwide, 43% of men said the man should pay on a first date, while only 24.5% of women agreed. Almost half of women (49%) would rather split it.
The full study, including the country-by-country breakdown, is available now: https://www.datingscout.com/online-dating-statistics
The State of Online Dating 2026 is based on Dating Scout's ongoing reader survey. Since January 2025, 53,902 people across 18 countries have answered the survey, and respondents could choose several qualities they want in a partner.
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Chris Pleines Datingscout.com press@datingscout.com https://www.datingscout.com/