The divorce rate across the United States has been dropping in recent years, and Colorado appears to be following suit, with the state divorce rate at a 10-year low. One possible reason for this could be the rebounding economy and the fact that many couples are now waiting until later in life to get married.
The average age of marriage in the United States is currently 27 for women and 29 for men. By their late 20s, people may be more established financially — reducing money stress — and may have a better idea of what they want and need in a life partner.
Studies also show that the level of education a person has may have a bearing on how likely the person is to go through a divorce. Those with bachelors’, or even masters’ degrees, are often older, are more established in their careers and may be more prepared to settle down into family life. This correlation between higher education and a lower divorce rate could be one reason Colorado divorces are fewer. The state has one of the highest number of bachelors’ degrees per person in the country.
This doesn’t mean that waiting to get married or going to college are 100 percent insurance against getting a divorce. In 2013, there were still 21,483 divorces in Colorado alone, and waiting to get married has its own set of challenges. When both partners are well educated and have established careers, there may be more stress surrounding decisions over which parent — if any — will leave the work world behind when kids come into the picture. These couples may also have more difficulty adjusting to the lifestyle and financial changes common after children enter the family.
Source: Colorado Public Radio, “The divorce rate in Colorado is at its lowest level in a decade,” Ben Markus, accessed March. 26, 2015
