Want to stay married? Try New York

Counterintuitive, given stereotypes of Bible Belt family values and libertine liberals:

 

“Ten percent of Arkansans have been married three or more times, double the national average. That’s according to new data from the Pew Center. Arkansas also has one of the lowest median ages for first marriage: 26. If you’re looking for marital stability, look no further than New York State, where the “serial marriage” share is among the lowest in the country, at 2 percent (tied for last place with New Jersey and Massachusetts).” http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/marry-young-marry-often/#comments

 

Interesting maps here

http://pewsocialtrends.org/assets/flash/marriage/  

 

New Yorkers also have a lower rate of being married, and tend to marry later.