Sorry, Space Coast: This isn't a good hook-up location for singles, study says

Wayne T. Price
Florida Today

Single and looking for love on the Space Coast? Heck, maybe even something less than love?

Brevard County probably isn't your best bet, according to a recently released study that analyzed more than 300 U.S. metro areas for the top locations to be single.

Brevard ranked No. 113, earning it a grade of "C-."

A study by a group called Zumper says Brevard earns a "C-" when it comes to the singles dating scene

The study — conducted by a group called Zumper — came up with its ranking by studying the number of singles within a population, percentage of singles with bachelor degrees or higher, the number of restaurants and bars per capita, and more.

It's probably not the most scientific study out there and it uses several data points to draw a conclusion. However, there probably are some single folks out there in Brevard who might agree with the Zumper analysis.

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Earning top marks were:

No. 1: Boulder, Colorado

No. 2: Boston, Massachusetts

No. 3: Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut

No. 4: Champaign-Urbana, Illinois

No. 5: Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Some people in Brevard weren't so affectionate toward the Zumper study.

"A new study will need to be commissioned," said Michael Ayers, president and chief executive officer of the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Ayers met his wife in Brevard so he's not buying the area's grade of C- when it comes to opportunities for singles.

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Michael Ayers, president and chief executive officer of the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce

Shane Burgman, founder and executive director of 321Millennials, an organization focused on issues involving young professionals on the Space Coast, agrees with Ayers.

Burgman met his wife, Rebecca Shireman, in Brevard.

"I'm not too certain about the number of single people out there," Burgman said. "However, one thing I know for sure about the Space Coast is the focus on quality, not quantity. Whether it's the space industry, government contracts, tech businesses, restaurants, or the people, Florida's Space Coast is great at attracting quality."

Here are the grades (and scores) for some other Florida communities in the Zumper study:

• Gainesville — B (37)

• Tallahassee — B (56)

• Miami —  C+ (80)

• Orlando — C  (91)

• Naples — C- (112)

• Tampa — D+ (127

• Fort Myers — D (159)

• Daytona — D- (171)

• Sarasota — D- (173)

• Port St. Lucie — F (202)

• Vero Beach — F (231)

Price is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Price at 321-242-3658

or wprice@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @Fla2dayBiz

Shane Burgman met his wife, Rebecca Shireman, in Brevard County.