Are my dating standards too high?

See which of your filters makes the largest difference to the estimated dating pool.

By Nora Hale
Published Jul 21, 2026Updated Sep 2, 2026

Start with your current settings. Then change one filter and compare the results.

Sources: 2024 Census records and separate CDC health surveys.

MEN1 IN 87WOMEN1 IN 1,593 or rarerView result ↓

Your population estimate2024 Census + CDC

U.S.United States

Example: 6′ + $100,000 or more

Estimated men and women ages 25–35 in the United States who meet your filters.

Men

About 293,619 estimated people1.14% of age group

Women

At most 15,803 estimated peopleat most 0.0628% of age group

ComparisonThe data do not support an exact comparison

Why the comparison says “or rarer”

There are too few height measurements for this group to give an exact women’s rate. We show “1 in X or rarer” because the data are limited.

AGE25–35HEIGHT6′0″ or tallerINCOME$100,000 or moreEDUCATIONAnySTATUSNot currently marriedHEALTH ESTIMATESNo current cigarette use

Which filter has the largest effect?

MEN / FILTER THAT CHANGES IT MOSTPersonal income

Removes 89% of people who meet every other active filter.

WOMEN / FILTER DETAILS LIMITEDExact impact unavailable

This group has a height range instead of an exact estimate, so we do not compare its filter effects.

What if you multiply the percentages?

Viral posts often multiply separate statistics. This calculator counts marital status, education and income together in the same 2024 Census records, so it does not assume those traits are unrelated.

MEN / MULTIPLIED SEPARATELY1.65% of the age group, about 1 in 60

64.2% not married × 15.6% earn $100,000 or more × 18.4% 6′0″ or taller × 89.5% no current cigarette use

MEN / COUNTED TOGETHER1.14% of the age group, about 1 in 87

Multiplying makes these men look more common than the Census count shows.

WOMEN / NO COMPARISON

There are too few height records for an exact rate, so there is nothing to compare.

Each percentage is that filter’s share of men or women ages 25–35 in the United States, rounded for display. Height, BMI and cigarette rates come from separate health surveys, so both methods apply them as rates.

Calculation details

Each row applies one more filter. Census traits are counted together; health filters use separate national surveys.

0125–35 years oldCensus estimate / 2024 / COUNTED TOGETHERMENAbout 25,752,916WOMENAbout 25,177,373
02Not currently marriedCensus estimate / 2024 / COUNTED TOGETHERMENAbout 16,521,987WOMENAbout 14,319,838
03$100,000 or more personal incomeCensus estimate / 2024 / COUNTED TOGETHERMENAbout 1,781,241WOMENAbout 1,117,413
046′0″ or tallerEstimated from separate health data / August 2021-August 2023 NHANESMENAbout 328,066 estimated peopleWOMENAbout 0 to 17,658 estimated people
05No current cigarette useEstimated from separate health data / 2024 NHISMENAbout 293,619 estimated peopleWOMENAt most 15,803 estimated people

ESTIMATED RANGEHow much could the estimated result change?

Range from source dataUses the same separate-source calculationMENAbout 222,553 to 381,431 estimated people0.864%–1.48%WOMENAbout 0 to 15,945 estimated people0.0000%–0.0633%

Range if traits overlap differentlyDoes not assume the traits are unrelatedMENAbout 0 to 1,781,241 estimated people0.0000%–6.92%WOMENAbout 0 to 400,632 estimated people0.0000%–1.59%

These ranges do not include Census sampling error and are not confidence intervals for the final result. See the methodology for the calculations.

Model version: 2026.07-evidence-v3.

Why only an “or rarer” result is shown: There are too few height measurements for this group to give an exact rate. We show “1 in X or rarer” because the data are limited. Technical detail: at least one height estimate uses fewer than five effective records from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

ACS source Height source Cigarette source How we calculate Updates and corrections

Filter effectsCompare small changes

FILTERS WITH THE LARGEST CHANGE

Which filters change each estimate?

Remove one filter at a time. Keep every other filter the same. Every bar uses the same 0–100% scale.

Exact details are available for one group.

We show filter effects only for a group with an exact point estimate. The other group stays marked as limited until its result supports an exact estimate.

FILTERMEN REMOVED / 0–100%WOMEN REMOVED / 0–100%

Personal incomeCENSUS DATA / COUNTED TOGETHER89%Limited

HeightESTIMATED FROM SEPARATE HEALTH DATA82%Limited

Not currently marriedCENSUS DATA / COUNTED TOGETHER55%Limited

No current cigarette useESTIMATED FROM SEPARATE HEALTH DATA11%Limited

SMALL CHANGES TO TRY

Change one setting for both groups. Marital status stays unchanged.

ONE-STEP CHANGEMENWOMENACTION

Lower height to 5′11″ or tallerChanges only heightADDS56%ADDSLimited

Remove the cigarette-use filterChanges only no current cigarette useADDS12%ADDSLimited

Lower income to $95,000 or moreChanges only personal incomeADDS10%ADDSLimited

MEN1 IN 87WOMEN1 IN 1,593 or rarerSee result

Separate needs from preferences

Decide which traits are essential to you and which are flexible. Test the flexible filters first.

Check the starting group

Choose an age range and state that fit where you meet people. Your social circle may differ from the wider population.

Common questions

Is there a percentage that means my standards are too high?

No. The percentage shows how common the selected traits are. You decide which preferences to keep.

Dating standards and pool size

Browse 3 more guides

About Nora Hale

Nora Hale writes about looking for love today, from choosing a dating app to wondering why dating feels so hard. She uses research to answer the questions people ask along the way.

Meet Nora and read more