Tidbit food carts on SE Division

Scout Beer Garden. Tidbit Food Farm and Garden is a food cart pod nestled on a corner at SE Division and 28th Place. Stephanie Yao Long/Staff

(Stephanie Yao Long)

Maybe it's the food carts. Or the rain that keeps everyone inside. Perhaps too many first dates involve a bag of trail mix and a hike.

Either way, Portland is apparently the cheapest city to go on a first date, relationship company Match reported in its 2015 Singles in America study. The sixth annual study, released Monday, surveyed the behaviors, lifestyles and attitudes of about 5,500 singles in the United States between the ages of 18 to 70 and older.

The average cost spent on a Portland first date is a whopping $43.53, the study found. For comparison's sake, Austin, Texas was the most expensive at an average of about $81.40 spent.

The Match report was conducted by Research Now with anthropologist Helen Fisher, Match's chief scientific adviser, and evolutionary biologist Justin R. Garcia.

The study took a close look at the more than one-third of the U.S. population that isn't tied down. In particular, this year's study took a special look at the second date step, Fisher said in a statement.

"With this cogent 2015 survey of single Americans, we are uncovering more and more of the shrouded attitudes and behaviors of this massive population," Fisher said in a statement. "And the coming year is special: it's political, and today's singles have vivid opinions about what they will not tolerate in a leader."

The study doubles as an interesting collection of facts and a how-to guide to dating.

In analyzing the "first date playbook," the study found that about 53 percent of single people will go on a second date with someone that they don't yet feel chemistry with, probably because half of singles feel that a person can "grow" on them, according to a news release from Match.

And at the end of a first date, about 44 percent of men and women feel a kiss is inappropriate no matter what. If you're shooting for a second date, Match says that an adventurous sushi dinner and cocktails are your best bet.

In Portland, people are 91 percent more likely to go on a happy hour date, and 97 percent more likely to go for coffee, the study found. Nationwide, most people preferred an evening date.

Portlanders also were notably less likely to be seeking out a committed relationship, but more likely to lie about being divorced, Match said.

Other first date highlights:

A quarter of single people said that "not being registered to vote" is an instant game-over move.

Talking about politics boosts the odds of getting a second date by 91 percent.

Less than 20 percent of men care if a date is up on sports

Speaking of politics (it is an election year), the study also delved into the differences between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to dating and sex.

About 19 percent of singles identify as Republican, 40 percent as Democrat, 15 percent as Independent and 2 percent at Libertarian, Match found. About a quarter do not have a registered political affiliation.

Apparently, supporters of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton are more likely to look for commitment. Fans of Republican candidate Donald Trump are more likely to have at least five exes.

You can explore what Match found out about the sexual habits of Republicans and Democrats on your own, if you'd like.

The study also looked at what single people think about past relationships and what to share when:

Only about 14 percent of people will bring up an ex on a first date.

More than 50 percent say you have to date a person for at least three months in order to count them as an ex.

--Laura Frazier

lfrazier@oregonian.com

503-294-4035

@frazier_laura