The Cities Where Americans Will Spend the Holidays Alone

It’s the most wonderful time of year . . . or at least it is for some people. For others, the holiday season means time alone. From introverts choosing to enjoy solitude at home to dedicated workers clocking extra hours, there are many reasons why Americans find themselves spending the holidays alone.

At Solitaire Bliss, we understand that many people spend the holidays alone, whether by choice or not, and we know they often play our card games. So we set out to learn which cities’ residents are most likely to choose to be alone this year and where people don’t have a choice.

We surveyed residents of the largest cities across the country and asked about their plans. Using those responses, we found where Americans are most likely to be alone this holiday season and why. Read on to learn more.

Key Takeaways

• Tucson, AZ, Wichita, KS, and Portland, OR, residents are the most likely to spend the holidays alone this year.
• Tulsa, OK, Jacksonville, FL, and Boston, MA, residents are the most likely to choose to spend the holidays alone this year.
• 1 in 4 Americans say if their family or friends wouldn't guilt them, they would choose to spend the holidays mostly alone.
• Nearly a third of Americans who spend the holidays alone say they regret it.

The U.S. Cities Where Residents Will Be Solo This Holiday Season

While many people view the holidays as a time to gather with loved ones, not everyone gets to—or wants to. Among those are Tucson, AZ, residents as the city ranks first for the most likely to spend the holidays alone this year. Although being alone typically is thought to be something negative, some people prefer to be around fewer people. In fact, 68% of Tucson residents say they would enjoy the holidays more if the gatherings were smaller.

In second place is Wichita, KS, where more than a third of residents say they will spend this holiday season alone. Similar to Tucson residents, 55% of people in Wichita would prefer holiday gatherings if they were held for shorter periods of time. Whether you have a short social battery or just want to avoid a lengthy conversation with that one uncle, many Americans can relate to watching the clock, counting the minutes until you can return home and unwind.

Portland, OR, is next on the list, coming in third for the most likely city to spend the holidays alone. In fourth place, we have a tie as 1 in 3 residents in Seattle, WA, and Columbus, OH, both reporting the plan to spend the holiday season solo.

While these cities are the most likely to have residents home alone for the holidays, they are certainly not alone in this situation as 1 in 4 Americans say they plan to do the same.

The Cities Where Americans Are Choosing to Be Alone and Where They Have No Choice

There are many reasons for someone to be alone this holiday season, and while some do not have a choice, others do. To gain a better understanding of what makes Americans stay home for the holidays, we sorted respondents’ answers into two categories: those who are choosing to be alone and those who have no choice. We then ranked states according to these responses. Since survey takers had the ability to choose more than one reason, some cities rank highly for both categories.

Starting off with those who have no choice, Tucson, AZ, residents lead the way. Residents noted the most common reason for alone time as family or friends living too far away, preventing them from visiting. In second place is Portland, OR, where residents say their top reasons for spending the holidays alone are that family or friends live too far away and they can’t afford to travel and visit.

On the other end of the spectrum, Tulsa, OK, residents are the most likely to choose to spend the holidays alone by choice. The most popular reasons residents skip out on holiday festivities are to avoid seeing certain family members and to enjoy time to themselves. Jacksonville, FL, is next up, followed by Boston, MA, where both cities’ residents say their main reason for being alone is that they enjoy having time to themselves.

Why Americans Will Spend the Holiday Season Alone

After discovering the cities where Americans are most likely to be alone, we wanted to gain insight into the reasons all across the country. The top reason, given by nearly 3 in 5 people, is because they enjoy time to themselves. Oftentimes, the holiday season is a time to be away from work and, for some, relaxing at home is the best way to celebrate.

Distance is also a factor, as 2 in 5 Americans say their family or friends live too far away to visit this year. For 1 in 3 people, avoiding certain family members is their main reason for staying solo for the holidays. Even in cases where family or friends don’t live too far away, sometimes it’s the cost associated with travel that prevents Americans (27%) from visiting during the holidays.

Because the holidays are often known for being a time when hot-button topics get brought up, these awkward conversations, from politics to lifestyle choices, are enough to keep 1 in 4 Americans from visiting their loved ones this year.

How People Plan to Spend the Holiday Season Alone

After discovering that so many Americans are celebrating the holidays alone this year, we wanted to uncover their plans. The most popular plan is indulging in entertainment. From watching Christmas movies to playing games like Spider Solitaire, there are many activities filling free time for nearly 3 in 5 Americans.

Up next, 46% of people who will be alone are setting their focus on mental activities like reading and journaling. Curling up with a new book under a soft, warm blanket certainly sounds like a great way to celebrate the holidays.

For more than two-fifths of Americans, alone time this holiday season will offer a chance to catch up on tasks like cleaning. Decluttering can be a great way to prepare your home and enter the new year with a clean slate, literally.

Coming in fourth, 1 in 3 people plan to focus on their fitness and spend their solo time on physical activities like yoga and working out. Perhaps, getting a head start on those New Year’s resolutions is the best way to ensure they stick.

Find Your Bliss This Holiday Season

The holidays are a great time to gather around with friends and family, but they can also be the perfect time to unwind and relax. For many people, the holidays and being relaxed do not exist together. While all of those who will spend the holiday season alone are not necessarily choosing to do so, indulging in that me time can be a refreshing experience.

At Solitaire Bliss, we know alone time can be important. So if you find yourself looking for ways to enjoy your downtime this holiday season, whether alone or surrounded by loved ones, try your hand at some online games. From TriPeaks Solitaire and Spider Solitaire to Canfield Solitaire and FreeCell, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Methodology

In this study, we set out to learn where the most Americans are planning to spend this holiday season alone and if it is by choice or by circumstance. To do this, we surveyed residents of the 50 largest cities by population and asked if they plan to spend the holidays with family and friends or mostly alone and if they plan to be alone, why. We also asked how those who will be alone plan to spend their time, how much time others plan to spend with family and friends, whether have they ever been guilted for not visiting family or friends, and more. We collected sufficient data for 44 cities and ranked them from the highest to lowest percentage of people who plan to be alone.

We then analyzed those respondents' answers to why they will be alone to learn which cities are most likely to spend the holidays alone by choice and where they are doing so due to their circumstances. The question we used for this data was a select all that apply, so some respondents selected both answers that included choosing to be alone and answers that included having no choice in the situation. Because of this, some cities ranked high for both choosing and not having a choice in spending the holidays alone.