Iowans waiting longer to marry
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People are saying "I do" later in life — and now, more say they'll never tie the knot.
Driving the news: Here in Iowa, though we're saying our wedding vows later in life, the median age we get married is still younger than the rest of the country — 27 versus 30 in 2023.
By the numbers: The median age of those getting married for the first time was up two years from 28 in 2010, according to census data.
- Compare that with 1950, when the median age was around 22, per the census.
Between the lines: There's a striking similarity between political ideology and the likelihood of marriage.
- Conservative parents are more likely to believe that marriage improves partnerships and well-being, while Democratic parents are less likely to agree, per findings by Gallup.
- Rural areas and small towns, like many of those found in Iowa, were also more likely to encourage marriage.
The big picture: Recent data shows D.C., New York and California residents are the oldest for their first marriage, at an average of around 31, while Utah, Idaho and West Virginia residents are the youngest, at around 27.