The important rates are a comparison of people in the age group most likely to become married - twenties - and the rate of marriages; and the rate of divorces an average of 5 to ten years later. Overall, only about half of those reaching marriage age in this country are getting married and four out of five marriages are ending in divorce,
Vermont is the highest rate in New England for marriages due to its early adoption of gay marriage, resulting in gay couples going to Vermont where a marriage industry has developed - much like Nevada as a quickie marriage state for Californians.