A fresh nationwide survey reveals Maryland singles would reject a potential partner with a credit score under 509, placing the state amid a growing trend where financial stability ranks high in modern dating decisions ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Financial media company MarketBeat polled 1,500 singles across the U.S. on financial red flags in dating, including the minimum credit score threshold for walking away. Nationally, the cutoff sits at 504 and below as an automatic “no.” State-by-state variations show stark differences: North Dakota and South Dakota lead with the highest expectations at 600 and 591, respectively, while West Virginia sets the lowest bar at 472.
Maryland’s 509 threshold aligns with the state’s economic profile—high incomes paired with elevated living costs in areas like the Washington suburbs and Southern Maryland counties of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s. Singles here appear to prioritize partners who demonstrate financial responsibility amid expenses for housing, commuting, and family needs.
The survey underscores how economic pressures, including inflation and stretched budgets, elevate money matters in romance. “Money doesn’t replace romance, but it absolutely shapes it,” MarketBeat Founder Matt Paulson said. “What this study shows is that singles aren’t necessarily looking for wealth – they want stability. In an unpredictable economy, financial responsibility is becoming as attractive as good conversation, shared values, or chemistry.”
Top financial turn-offs include constantly borrowing from friends or family (27%), large hidden debts (21%), living paycheck-to-paycheck without budgeting plans (19%), and chasing get-rich-quick schemes (15%). Excessive day-trading or risky investments deter 10%, while frequent crypto-gambling impacts 8%.
On hidden debt discovery, reactions vary: 11% call it an immediate deal-breaker, 63% want context before deciding, 11% view it as a major concern but not fatal, and 15% say it wouldn’t matter.
Positive traits boost appeal: maintaining an emergency fund (30%), regular monthly savings (28%), paying credit cards in full each month (26%), and having a clear retirement plan (17%).
When relationships deepen, 41% demand full transparency on income, savings, and debts; 31% focus on spending habits only; 16% on debts alone; 3% want minimal openness; and 9% have no expectations.
Worst habits in a partner: maxing out credit cards (25%), impulsive high-risk investments (25%), no retirement savings (18%), frequent borrowing from others (10%), and no budgeting (22%).
Financial mismatches spark tension most often when one saves and the other spends (45%), or one plans long-term while the other lives day-to-day (29%). Heavy investing versus risk-aversion divides 19%, and large income gaps affect 6%.
For long-term outlook, 44% flag no retirement plan in a partner’s 30s or 40s as a major red flag, 24% see it as mild concern, and 32% dismiss it.
Overall, 67% agree financial incompatibility justifies ending a relationship, versus 33% who disagree.
The findings reflect broader shifts in dating, where practical compatibility—especially around money—gains weight in high-cost regions like Maryland. Southern Maryland singles, balancing military ties, commuting to D.C., and local economies, may echo the state’s pragmatic stance, viewing solid credit as a marker of shared reliability in partnerships.