Category: Marriage/Family

or years, America’s elites have argued that blue states—with their generous family policies and better-educated populations—are better equipped to foster strong families. But according to the 2026 Family Structure Index, a new interactive report from the Center for Christian Virtue and Institute for Family Studies, the demographic trends tell a different story: red states manage to attract more families and foster higher marriage and fertility rates.

Dismissing a potentially deep connection because of a moment of cringe isn’t just picky—it’s a symptom of a dating culture that prioritizes perfection over long-term compatibility.

An important new survey from the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) on the marital and fatherhood interests of young men in America tell us that only 6% of those age 18 through 23 are married and just 25% of those between 24 and 29-years of age have a wedding ring on their finger. And less than one-third of unmarried men are currently in a romantic relationship. For those young men who do marry, most of them marry after age 30 as the average age of first marriage for men is 30.2.

Young men still view work as a key indicator of their successful entrance into adulthood, per a new IFS report.