Western Single Women Are The Happiest Yahoo! Personals Dating Survey Finds

If you're a single woman, go West says a Yahoo! Personals survey. Midwestern singles say they are the least happy about their unmarried status and more than 75 percent of them -- more than in any other U.S. region -- say they are seriously looking for a partner.

The survey, conducted on the Yahoo! Personals web site had 8,500 respondents.

Singles on the West Coast have a sunnier disposition about their single status and say they are "living it up." Throughout the U.S., 75 percent of survey respondents said they were "single, but seriously looking," however 39 percent said they rarely dated. More West Coast single women (61 percent) say they are to be single women while only 49 percent of their East Coast counterparts say they are happy about their single status.

Slightly more women (51 percent) than men said they were happy about being single, but most (75 percent) these same women say they are seriously looking for a partner. What are the most pleasing aspects of being single? It was unanimous among members of both sexes. They like being in control of their own destinies, making their own schedules and being able to focus on their own hobbies and interests.

Employment Status Piques West Coast Daters

Forget about looks and get a good job if you want to make a hit in the West Coast dating scene. Among daters on the West Coast, a good job is the most important trait when deciding whether or not to go out with someone.

Nationwide, 63 percent of all survey participants identified personality as the most important aspect in picking a person to date. Men were more likely than women, 22 percent compared with 14 percent respectively, to consider physical appearance when picking a date.

Among survey respondents, men set fewer boundaries than women when it comes to picking their dates. More men (58 percent) than women (51 percent) would date someone they work with. Men were also more likely (33 percent) to date a friend's ex, than were women (20 percent). In fact, 80 percent of women said they would never date friend's ex.

About two-thirds of men and women said it would be acceptable to date within their circle of friends.

East Coast Daters Spend More Nights Out

East Coast daters say they go out at least three nights a week, more frequently than their counterparts throughout the rest of the country.

Singles on the East Coast say they're more likely to kiss on their first date however, nationwide, 53 percent of singles surveyed say a first-date kiss would be unusual. Also, on first dates, the majority (65 percent) of survey participants say it's more fun to plan the first date together. Two-thirds of the singles responding said Fridays and Saturdays were the best nights for a first date.

More women (38 percent) than men (29 percent) prefer to go Dutch treat on the first date and more men than women (66 percent vs. 57 percent) think the person asking should pay for the date. Nearly one-third of singles on the West Coast prefer to take it casual and have coffee on the first date, while more than half of singles in the south (57 percent) prefer to go to dinner to get to know each other.

West Coast Daters Are Big Spenders

Though casual may rule for first dates in the West, it turns fancy later on when West Coast daters say they are most likely to spend $100 or more on a date. In comparison, the average amount spent in other regions of the country is $25 to $50.

Women spend more time with pre-date prep -- 80 percent spend an hour or more. Half of the men say they spend an hour or more getting ready. To deal with pre-date jitters a quarter of the women in the survey and 14 percent of the men, say they are likely to call a best friend or family member to calm their nerves.

After the date, though they may have met on the Internet, three-quarters of the people in the survey say a phone call is the best way to thank someone for a date. Only 10 percent said a thank-you note by email is acceptable and more likely to be used on the West Coast.