Which US City is the Most Open-Minded When It Comes
to Non-Conventional Dating Styles?
In a world where dating norms and relationship expectations quickly evolve, some Americans are more open to exploring non conventional dating than others. Ysos, a dating app focused on open-minded couples and singles, commissioned a comprehensive survey of 1,503 Americans to identify the cities and states where people are most open to alternative relationship dynamics and kinks.
The goal of the survey was to pinpoint where people exhibit the greatest openness to alternative relationship dynamics, including various kinks, polyamory, and non-monogamous arrangements.
Here’s what we discovered!
The Swing States
A Closer Look at America’s Attitudes Toward Non-Conventional Sex & Dating
Our survey provides a fascinating insight into American attitudes toward relationships, different sexual experiences, and non-conventional dating. The results give a snapshot of changing attitudes, age and regional differences, and gender preferences. What was once taboo is now increasingly mainstream, with more American adults willing to talk about their preferences.
It turns out that huge numbers of adult Americans are open to different experiences, with nearly 1 in 10 of the people surveyed saying they would consider swinging or polyamory. Perhaps contrary to expectations, the leading states for sexual and relationship openness were Utah and Arkansas.
The study discovered that 9.51% of Americans are open to swinging, rising to 10.39% among Gen Z. Meanwhile, 9.45% of respondents, including 11.91% of Millennials, would consider polyamory.
Among couples, 9.3% expressed a willingness to explore swinging. Meanwhile, the most popular kink in America is role play, with 44.71% of respondents expressing an interest, followed by dominance and submission at 30.61%, and praise at 20.69% Geographically, Utah (36.36%) and Arkansas (33.33%) emerged as the most open- minded states for swinging, with Salt Lake City at 26% and Memphis at 255 ranking as the most swinger-friendly cities. Louisiana has the highest percentage of polyamorous individuals at 30% and 25%, respectively, while in Alabama and Kansas, 40% of respondents expressed an interest in BDSM and kink relationships
Most Open-Minded Cities by Kink
Our survey delivered some revealing findings about non-conventional dating, particularly when it comes to differences between cities. Each city has its unique preferences regarding kinks but with some notable trends across different regions.
San Diego, California residents are the most open-minded regarding role play, with 63% of respondents expressing an interest.
Denver, Colorado, is all about dominance and submission, with 50% of respondents being open to trying it. A third of Denver residents also said they were willing to try BDSM. Denver also led the way in exhibitionism and voyeurism, with 29% of people surveyed stating they’d consider it.
Survey respondents from Los Angeles, California, dominate when it comes to rope and bondage, as well as temperature play, with 47% and 20% expressing an interest.
35% of New Orleans, Louisiana’s respondents are open to edge play.
Kansas City, Missouri, is the top city for praise kinks, with 27% of respondents expressing an interest. Meanwhile,
19% of respondents in Portland, Oregon, are open to impact play, and 13% of people
surveyed in Pittsburgh would give humiliation kinks a try.
Our results show that while some cities have broad interests and preferences, others are
more specific about particular kinks.
Gender & Non-Conventional Dating
Our survey discovered that gender plays a significant role in determining sexual preference. Among women, role-play was the most popular kink, with 40.33% expressing an interest, followed by dominance and submission at 30.39% and praise at 21%. When it comes to role-play, 52.28% of men surveyed said they were open to it, whereas 30% of men expressed an interest in submission and dominance. The third most popular kink among male respondents was edge play at 24.21%.
Dominance and submission alongside rope and bondage were equally popular among the surveyed non-binary individuals, sharing results of 60%, closely followed by BDSM at 55%.
As dating culture evolves, more people across the country question traditional relationship norms and seek fulfilling, consensual experiences that align with their desires. Whether individuals are seeking new experiences, deeper emotional connections, or simply a way to embrace their true selves, this survey illuminates the territories where open-mindedness in dating thrives!
Ysos provides a practical, discreet, and safe way for open-minded couples and singles to meet real people, without taboos, but with secrecy and security.
Methodology
Ysos, a dating app focused on swing couples, surveyed over 1,500 respondents to find out which US city is the most open-minded regarding non-conventional dating styles. The gender breakdown included 905 females, 570 males, 20 non-binary individuals, and eight who preferred not to disclose their gender.
The survey aimed to understand shifting attitudes toward non-conventional relationships and sexual preferences across various demographics and locations. The survey took place in March 2025.