Mature Dating Online makes dating in Devon simpler for single men and women aged 45 and over, from Exeter and Torbay to Newton Abbot, Totnes and Barnstaple. At the 2021 Census, about 171,000 people aged 50 and over across Devon outside Plymouth were never married, divorced or widowed. Joining is free.
Single over 50 in Devon: what the Census shows
Devon’s eight districts and Torbay had 452,203 people aged 50 and over at the 2021 Census. Of those, 171,294 (37.9%) were never married, divorced or widowed, close to the 39.2% average for England and Wales. Plymouth isn’t included here; it will have its own guide.
Exeter and Torbay stand out. In Exeter 43.3% of over-50s were never married, divorced or widowed, and in Torbay 42.6%. Both have high divorce rates, at 17.0% and 17.3% against 14.4% nationally. Across the rest of the county the share is around 35 to 38%, and East Devon has the largest number, at 27,697. As in Cornwall, single over-50s here lean older than the national picture: 97,665 are over 65 and 73,629 are aged 50 to 64.
| Local authority | Aged 50+ | Never married, divorced or widowed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter | 43,233 | 18,702 | 43.3% |
| Torbay | 68,036 | 28,992 | 42.6% |
| Teignbridge | 66,880 | 25,343 | 37.9% |
| North Devon | 47,319 | 17,585 | 37.2% |
| Torridge | 35,347 | 12,823 | 36.3% |
| East Devon | 77,258 | 27,697 | 35.9% |
| Mid Devon | 38,089 | 13,453 | 35.3% |
| South Hams | 46,124 | 16,221 | 35.2% |
| West Devon | 29,917 | 10,478 | 35.0% |
Online dating in Devon: getting around the moor
Devon is a big county with Dartmoor in the middle, so how easy a first date is depends a lot on where you both live. Exeter is the hub: the M5, A30 and A38 all meet there, and trains run out to the coast and down to Torbay. If you’re in Torbay and they’re in East Devon, Exeter is the obvious place to meet. North Devon is further from the rest of the county, so if you live around Barnstaple or Bideford it’s worth deciding how far you’d travel before you start messaging.
Every profile shows the member’s nearest town, so you can see at a glance whether someone is across the estuary or on the far side of the moor. When it comes to talking points, Dartmoor and the coast path are favourites, and plenty of profiles mention sea swimming, gardens or the Exeter Chiefs. In summer the English Riviera fills with visitors, so a quieter weekday or an out-of-season walk often suits a first meeting better.
First date ideas in Devon
- RAMM, Exeter. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum is free to visit and has a café. It’s closed on Mondays.
- Exeter Quay. A walk along the river and canal, with cafés by the water when you want to sit down.
- Cockington, Torquay. A thatched village and country park a short walk from the seafront, with Cockington Court at its centre and places to eat.
- Dartington Hall gardens, near Totnes. Historic gardens around a medieval hall, with lawns, terraces and woodland paths to wander.
- Barnstaple Pannier Market. The Victorian market hall in the middle of town, with stalls to browse and cafés nearby.
- RHS Garden Rosemoor, near Great Torrington. A good choice if you both like gardens, and an easy meeting point for anyone in North Devon.
- Haytor, Dartmoor. A short walk up to the rocks gives you wide views over the moor and towards the coast. Wrap up, as the weather can turn quickly.
Venues checked November 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.
Meeting people offline in Devon
- u3a. The u3a South West region includes dozens of u3as in Devon, among them Exeter, Torbay, Sidmouth, Barnstaple and Totnes.
- Ramblers. The Ramblers’ Devon Area runs led walks through local groups including Exeter & District, East Devon, North Devon, South Devon, Totnes and the Moorland group.
Dating safely in Devon
People in Devon and Cornwall lost £3.1 million to romance fraud in 2025, according to Report Fraud. Scammers build trust over weeks or months, avoid video calls and meetings, and then ask for help with money, often for a sudden emergency abroad. Report Fraud says any request for money from someone you’ve only met online should ring an alarm bell. If something doesn’t feel right, our online dating safety advice sets out what to do next.
More from Mature Dating Online
Over the Tamar, our guide to mature dating in Cornwall covers the rest of the far south west. See all our area guides for mature singles, or read about dating over 60 and mature women dating. Our guide to mature dating in the UK explains how the site works.