After finishing college in Worcester, Max Power wanted to find a job and make a life for himself in central Massachusetts. He just didn’t know where to go to do it. He didn’t want to live in a big city, like Boston, but found rural towns didn’t have many social opportunities for young singles like himself.
“It seems like everything around here is either very rural or depressed,” he wrote in a City-Data discussion forum. “Is Worcester my best bet?”
A grand total of six people replied to Max’s online query, and most of them agreed that Worcester is a decent place for singles who are just starting out. The Woo, as it’s known by locals, has a thriving social scene, growing tech industry, and fairly diverse population, so it’s ideal for individuals looking to start a career and get in a relationship. If you need inspiration in the search for romance, we can help you land a hot date using local resources in Worcester.
Worcester Dating Sites
Online dating may have once been stigmatized as a last-resort dating option, but now it’s the first resort for many singles seeking a date. In fact, an academic study on modern American relationships found that nearly 40% of straight couples and over 60% of same-sex couples met their partners online. If you’re in the market for a date, you can’t afford to miss out on the romantic opportunities available online.
Best Singles Site
Match is an oldie but a goodie in the online dating scene. The dating site has been around since 1995, and, in that time, the company has built a stellar reputation for itself. The match algorithm focuses on long-term compatibility factors (age, hobbies, religion, etc.) when introducing singles to one another, and it also has advanced search filters to streamline the search for “The One.”
- Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
- Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
- Our Experts Say: Match has facilitated the most dates and relationships of any dating site, and its large audience and high success rate make it our top review. Our Review »
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Over 50 & Senior Sites
In the last couple years, OurTime has become a go-to dating resource for singles over 50. This senior-friendly dating site offers a simple signup process, date recommendations, and live chat tools to help singles find an age-appropriate date with ease. You don’t have to learn all the ins and outs of the internet to use this site. Just follow the instructions, and have fun.
- Relationships: Dates and Relationships
- Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
- Our Experts Say: OurTime is well-known in the over-50 dating crowd, particularly because it has a ton of helpful search features and an easy layout. Our Review »
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For Black Men & Women Only
Only 11.7% of Worcester residents identify as black, which can mean slim odds for singles interested in dating someone of color. However, BlackPeopleMeet allows locals to diversify their date prospects and reach out to black and biracial singles across the U.S. This popular black dating site has thousands of members who share common backgrounds and values.
- Relationships: Deep Relationships or Just Casual Dates
- Match System: Search by location, age, more
- Our Experts Say: BlackPeopleMeet.com is the one of the largest and most popular dating sites for black and biracial singles, and the site is used by more than 5 million people a month. Our Review »
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Hookup & Sex Site
A happily-ever-after ending isn’t in the cards for every relationship, and some casual daters embrace that and seek short-term pleasure over long-term love. Adult Friend Finder is the hookup site of choice for singles more interested in falling into bed than falling for someone. You don’t have to use your real name as you browse for a date in this sexy community, and that anonymity helps daters be honest about what they want.
- Relationships: Hookups Only
- Match System: Search by location, interest, more
- Our Experts Say: Make no mistake: this site isn't about making friends, it's about finding hookups and casual encounters. No adult site has a larger or more active user base of those seeking discreet fun. Our Review »
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Popular Dating Apps
Dating apps offer easy access to a vast singles network through a mobile device. Now active daters can stay connected wherever they go. Dating apps offer similar features as do dating sites — just from a more convenient platform. You can download a popular app, swipe on profiles, and start a conversation within minutes of being online. We recommend using the following top-rated dating apps next time you’re feeling flirty.
Match.com
- Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
- Match System: Browse by location, age, interest, and more
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About the App:
Available via the App Store and Google Play, Match is a fantastic app for dates and relationships. With a user base of 30 million singles, Match is where you’ll have a high chance of success. It’s free to download, create a profile, search for date prospects, and receive compatible matches based on personalized preferences. Free members can also chat with select members and send unlimited likes.
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eharmony
- Relationships: Long-Term Relationships, Marriages
- Match System: Get daily match suggestions
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About the App:
Responsible for 4% of marriages in the U.S., eharmony is among our top picks for relationship-minded heterosexual singles. To become a member, add the app to your phone (iOS or Android) and then take its 29 Dimensions® of Compatibility Matching Quiz. It’s absolutely free to do both these things — as well as receive matches and communicate during other special events.
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OurTime.com
- Relationships: Dating and Relationships
- Match System: Search by age as well as zip, gender, more
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About the App:
Made just for single seniors, OurTime is one of the most well-known niche dating apps. It’s a fun and straightforward app with simple swiping features. Once two people swipe right on each other, they can communicate. For more match options, visit the ConnectMe and I’m Interested pages.
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Worcester Singles Bars
Even though meeting people online is the most popular way to make a date these days, it’s not the only way. Plenty of singles prefer meeting folks in person and stick to old-school dating strategies — like going to a bar on Saturday night. Worcester’s bar scene serves singles with a lot of variety. You can wet your whistle at a low-key dive, an upscale cocktail lounge, a sports bar, or a brewery, depending on your mood, and enjoy the bar’s casual social atmosphere.
Armsby Abbey
Armsby Abbey tops our list of favorite bars in Worcester because of its extensive beer selection, handcrafted cocktails, delicious grub, and cool vibes. The award-winning gastropub serves ethically sourced farmhouse fare, including cheese platters, flatbreads, and sandwiches. Plus, there's a hot chocolate bar in winter. Since opening its doors in 2008, Armsby Abbey has endeavored to become Worcester's very own beer lovers' paradise with 22 rotating drafts and dozens of seasonal cocktails on the chalkboard menu.
Nick's Bar & Restaurant
Nick's Bar & Restaurant knows how to show locals a good time. The bar hosts live entertainment every night, and it also has a classic oldies jukebox to keep singles dancing during the day. The kitchen is known for its pressed paninis and warm pretzels, and it stays open until 11 p.m. The bar doesn't close until 2 a.m., even on weeknights, so you can linger here for a good long while. Check out the calendar to find out when the next band, comic, or poetry reading is going on at Nick's.
The Dive Bar
The name says it all, doesn't it? The Dive Bar is a local dive bar where what you see is what you get. You can look on the chalkboard behind the bar to see the American craft beers on tap, or ask the bartenders for a recommendation. The friendly staff treats customers like part of a large extended family. Many regulars show up at the Dive Bar night after night to enjoy the strong drinks, chill vibes, and friendly conversation. Take a dive into this social scene anytime you need a break from the everyday.
Vincent's
Music lovers praise Vincent's for showcasing live bands and singers who create a party atmosphere. The bar books local talent throughout the week and turns its narrow bar into a music hall. Vincent's also serves authentic Italian food, including a legendary meatball sub made to order. This hangout may be a little old-fashioned, but that's part of the charm. Vincent's doesn't put on airs or try to reinvent the modern bar — it just delivers good food, good drinks, and good music seven nights a week.
Michael's Cigar Bar
Michael's Cigar Bar is one of the largest smoking lounges in New England. In 2009, the owners converted Worcester's original jailhouse into a classy downtown hangout. The swanky lounge and outdoor courtyard is open 365 days a year and welcomes cigar enthusiasts and whiskey connoisseurs. The bar uses a state-of-the-art purification system to clear the air, and it has a spacious, well-lit outdoor patio where patrons can go for a little privacy.
Bocado Tapas Bar
Bocado Tapas Bar is an upscale wine bar with a Spanish flair. The snazzy bar offers monthly flamenco and salsa nights as well as group tastings, dinner parties, and mini concerts. Bacado has over 40 tapas on its menu as well as red and white sangria. The bar has won awards for its signature paella dishes and extensive wine list, so it's definitely worth stopping by to sample its sophisticated pairings. Bocado is quieter than the typical bar, so it may be easier for shy singles to make conversation in this intimate setting.
Worcester Speed Dating
Speed dating is like the express lane of the dating scene. You can skip the small talk and quickly move from “Hi, it’s nice to meet you” to “I’m interested in dating you” after a few minutes of conversation. The flirtatious atmosphere at speed dating events can help singles come out of their shells and meet dozens of potential dates. Pre-Dating is among the largest speed dating companies in the U.S., and it’s currently building a following in Worcester. You can add your name to the subscription list to be the first to know when the company hosts an event near you.
Worcester Singles Events
If you want to meet singles, you have to go where the singles are in Worcester. That could mean mingling at a local bar, or you could go a more direct route and search for a singles event around town. Meetup always has something going on, and some groups cater specifically to single men and women in Worcester. Whether you’re bowling, hiking, or golfing, you can have a great time while making friends at a singles event.
Worcester Singles Clubs
The air at a nightclub is electric. Crowds of people are drinking, dancing, laughing, and singing, and the upbeat music keeps them going all night long. Anyone can join the fun, and anything can happen once the DJ cranks the music up or the band plays a favorite song. Local nightclubs are ideal dating grounds because singles don’t have to say a word to make a connection. You can let the flirtatious vibes sweep you onto the dance floor and into someone else’s arms.
Worcester Chat Rooms
Chat rooms have been around pretty much since the creation of the internet, and they’ve lasted because many people enjoy sharing stories, trading jokes, and maybe flirting a little with singles online. It’s a liberating and safe space where daters can be themselves and practice their pick-up lines. Local chat rooms appeal to Worcester singles who want to meet someone but maybe don’t want to brave the traffic on I-90 or Route 9.
Worcester Personals
Dating personals were once found only in the classifieds section of a newspaper, but now anyone can create a personal ad for free online. You can advance your search for a local date by joining a popular dating personals site and searching for a date by age, location, or gender. Personals sites differ from traditional dating sites because there are no matching features or subscriptions on personals sites. Singles have to do more legwork on dating personals websites, but at least it won’t cost them anything to chat.
Join an Adult Sports League
Sports have a wonderful way of uniting people in a common effort to win (and have fun), and teammates tend to form close bonds as they practice, play, and celebrate together. Active daters can stay fit, meet people, and enjoy themselves by taking up a sport as a hobby.
You can up your dating game by joining a local sports league.
Worcester has many adult recreational opportunities available through Worcester County Recreation and Parks. Singles can join a golf league, basketball team, volleyball division, soccer playoff, or other scrimmages to make the most of their free time and, hopefully, score a date.
My Social Sports also organizes co-ed sports leagues in Worcester all year round. These leagues include softball, dodgeball, and bowling. Anyone over 21 years old can join a team and mix things up.
Most adult sports leagues meet once a week, which gives singles the opportunity to get to know their crushes and build a rapport with that special someone.
Woo an Attractive Date by Exploring the Local Community
Max Power isn’t the only single out there wondering where to go to meet people. It’s a common issue among young adults who have established careers yet have few ties to the social scene. Meeting new people often becomes more challenging as people get older — that’s true wherever you go — but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You just have to work a little harder and go outside your comfort zone to make something happen.
The good news is that Worcester has a lot of supportive resources to help singles get their bearings and find their way. You can meet people online, at the bar, in a sports league, or during an event. It’s up to you to decide which way of meeting singles works best for your schedule, goals, and interests.
“Your best bet is to go out and do things you like to do,” said LeavingMA in reply to Max’s post. “There are some people out there who are looking to make friends, but in [Massachusetts] you usually have to be the one to go out of your way to do it.”
