This analysis compares the same ACS one-year measure in 2021 and 2024. National median estimates increased by 0.2 years for both source sex categories; the uncertainty in these small changes matters.
Median age at first marriage
United StatesAge in years; ACS 1-year estimates
View data table and reporting notes
| Year | Median age at first marriage (male) | Median age at first marriage (female) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30.6 ± 0.20 | 28.6 ± 0.20 | — |
| 2022 | 30.5 ± 0.20 | 28.6 ± 0.10 | — |
| 2023 | 30.6 ± 0.20 | 28.7 ± 0.20 | — |
| 2024 | 30.8 ± 0.10 | 28.8 ± 0.20 | — |
Change by state and source sex category
Change = 2024 − 2021. Approximate 90% MOE = square root of the sum of the two squared MOEs. Intervals containing zero do not establish a directional change at this confidence level. These comparisons are not adjusted for multiple testing.
| Place | Male change | Female change |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 0.2 ± 0.22 | 0.2 ± 0.28 |
| Alabama | 0.0 ± 0.92 | -0.2 ± 0.78 |
| Alaska | -1.2 ± 3.53 | -1.0 ± 1.70 |
| Arizona | 0.4 ± 0.78 | 0.8 ± 0.92 |
| Arkansas | -0.3 ± 1.22 | -0.1 ± 0.57 |
| California | 0.3 ± 0.36 | 0.4 ± 0.28 |
| Colorado | 0.1 ± 0.71 | 0.2 ± 0.71 |
| Connecticut | 1.4 ± 0.86 | 0.2 ± 0.57 |
| Delaware | 0.3 ± 1.30 | 0.3 ± 1.08 |
| District of Columbia | -0.9 ± 1.64 | 1.5 ± 1.72 |
| Florida | -0.5 ± 0.50 | 0.0 ± 0.42 |
| Georgia | 0.4 ± 0.57 | 0.8 ± 0.78 |
| Hawaii | 0.0 ± 1.42 | 1.0 ± 1.20 |
| Idaho | 0.5 ± 1.35 | -0.5 ± 0.71 |
| Illinois | 0.4 ± 0.45 | 0.1 ± 0.42 |
| Indiana | 0.6 ± 0.72 | 1.0 ± 0.50 |
| Iowa | -0.2 ± 0.78 | -0.4 ± 0.78 |
| Kansas | -0.2 ± 0.78 | -0.5 ± 0.64 |
| Kentucky | 0.2 ± 0.92 | 0.0 ± 0.64 |
| Louisiana | -0.4 ± 1.06 | -1.4 ± 1.20 |
| Maine | 0.3 ± 1.49 | 0.6 ± 1.56 |
| Maryland | 0.9 ± 0.81 | -0.1 ± 0.42 |
| Massachusetts | 0.6 ± 0.58 | 0.1 ± 0.42 |
| Michigan | 0.5 ± 0.42 | 0.3 ± 0.57 |
| Minnesota | -0.1 ± 0.57 | -0.1 ± 0.64 |
| Mississippi | -2.6 ± 1.28 | -1.4 ± 0.94 |
| Missouri | 0.1 ± 0.64 | -0.4 ± 0.64 |
| Montana | -0.1 ± 1.36 | 0.7 ± 1.77 |
| Nebraska | 0.5 ± 0.92 | 0.1 ± 0.86 |
| Nevada | 0.0 ± 1.20 | 0.8 ± 0.78 |
| New Hampshire | 1.1 ± 1.42 | 1.1 ± 1.00 |
| New Jersey | 0.4 ± 0.50 | 0.2 ± 0.36 |
| New Mexico | 0.1 ± 2.33 | 2.4 ± 1.92 |
| New York | 0.0 ± 0.42 | -0.1 ± 0.28 |
| North Carolina | -0.2 ± 0.57 | -0.2 ± 0.64 |
| North Dakota | -1.5 ± 1.79 | -2.1 ± 1.58 |
| Ohio | -0.2 ± 0.42 | -0.9 ± 0.58 |
| Oklahoma | -0.3 ± 1.13 | 0.0 ± 0.42 |
| Oregon | -0.3 ± 0.71 | 0.4 ± 0.92 |
| Pennsylvania | 0.0 ± 0.42 | 0.2 ± 0.42 |
| Rhode Island | 0.7 ± 2.51 | 0.4 ± 1.22 |
| South Carolina | -0.2 ± 0.64 | -0.5 ± 0.92 |
| South Dakota | -2.4 ± 1.43 | -1.2 ± 1.25 |
| Tennessee | 0.0 ± 0.78 | 0.0 ± 0.57 |
| Texas | 0.8 ± 0.28 | 0.6 ± 0.42 |
| Utah | 0.1 ± 0.85 | 0.7 ± 0.50 |
| Vermont | -0.1 ± 1.06 | -0.5 ± 1.13 |
| Virginia | 0.3 ± 0.64 | 0.2 ± 0.64 |
| Washington | 0.8 ± 0.64 | 1.4 ± 0.64 |
| West Virginia | -2.4 ± 1.39 | -1.5 ± 1.13 |
| Wisconsin | -0.3 ± 0.50 | 0.0 ± 0.72 |
| Wyoming | 0.2 ± 2.08 | 0.1 ± 2.28 |
Male source estimates and MOEs · Female source estimates and MOEs · Methods.
What this does not establish
These are changes in a population estimate, not changes tracked within the same people. They do not establish why marriage timing changed, nor the eventual marriage age of an individual. Differences can reflect population composition as well as behavior.
Reproduce the analysis
Download the two source datasets, retain 2021 and 2024 for the same place, subtract the estimates and apply the MOE formula above. The release preserves all inputs. Download the calculation inputs and results (JSON).