To understand how the current economic climate is shaping modern relationships, we carried out a nationwide survey of more than 3,000 people in long-term relationships across all 50 states.
The goal was to uncover how many Americans feel financially unable to leave a marriage or partnership they no longer want to be in – and, crucially, why.
Rising rents, shared debt, shaky job security, and inflation-driven expenses mean that even couples who have mentally checked out often feel they cannot logistically or financially check out of the relationship itself.
It’s the kind of slow-burn pressure that rarely makes headlines, but it is changing how Americans navigate marriage behind closed doors.
Here are the full rankings.
Key Findings
- Mississippi’s huge 47% figure stands out, and not just because it’s so far ahead of everyone else. States with lower median wages and more limited housing stock tend to struggle most when it comes to affording a split, and Mississippi sits right at that intersection. When incomes are already stretched tight, the idea of doubling living costs becomes almost impossible, which likely explains why nearly half of married Mississippians say they would leave if they could afford it.
- West Virginia’s second-place ranking (36%) tells a slightly different story. Many households depend on single incomes or shift-based work, meaning benefits and health coverage often hinge on staying married. It creates a kind of economic gravity – even if a relationship has run its course, leaving can feel like stepping off a financial cliff.
- Nevada and Arkansas show how rising costs can corner couples who were once comfortable. Both states have seen rapidly climbing rents and living costs, and Nevada, especially, has been hammered by price spikes in cities like Las Vegas. Even with decent jobs, separating into two homes in these markets simply isn’t doable for many.
- Tennessee rounds out the top five (27%), likely influenced by booming population growth. As cities like Nashville continue to surge, rent prices follow. It creates a scenario where couples who could once afford a split now find themselves priced out of having two roofs over their heads.
- Debt appears to be a quiet equalizer across all states. With 12% of respondents saying shared debt is the key reason they can’t leave, the issue isn’t limited to any one region. It shows up everywhere: credit cards, car loans, lingering student debt, buy-now-pay-later balances – all of it ties couples together long after the emotional bond has faded.
- Financial worry is driving more relationship friction than many couples admit in the open. A large majority say money arguments happen at least sometimes, and over a third say they happen very often. When combined with the fact that 40% report rising financial stress over the last two years, it paints a picture of households under a kind of slow-burning pressure.
Final Thoughts
The overall picture isn’t one of failing marriages – it’s one of missing financial freedom. When millions say they would leave if they could afford it, the issue isn’t romantic breakdown; it’s economic limitation.
Divorce has become another cost-of-living casualty, sitting alongside rising rents and rising debt as something people feel priced out of.
At a time when financial stress is rising faster than wages, it’s no surprise that couples are delaying major decisions – not because the relationship is improving, but because the spreadsheet simply says “not now.”
