Market value of men explained

At Marriage Hunter, one of the most frequently asked questions we receive concerns the "market value" of men across different life stages. In this article, we provide a nuanced analysis based on a composite model, integrating both empirical data and practical offline observations. While many men fear a rapid decline in value after a certain age, recent research suggests that this descent is neither immediate nor uniform.

For example, a 2018 study published in Science Advances by Bruch and Newman (“Aspirational pursuit of mates in online dating markets”) revealed that male desirability on dating platforms actually peaks later than commonly believed—often well into the 40s, particularly for high-status individuals (Bruch & Newman, 2018). This supports what some social psychologists call the "plateau hypothesis": that for men, especially those who continue to increase their income, stability, and social status, desirability may remain high or even increase between the ages of 40–50.

However, the graph we propose here includes variables that are not captured in online data—factors like offline charisma, paternal readiness, health, emotional intelligence, and long-term relational positioning. These additions slightly steepen the decline after the peak, especially when men do not actively maintain their physical, psychological, and social capital.

It's essential to understand that the male sexual and relational market value is multidimensional. Scholars such as David Buss (1994; 2016) have demonstrated that women’s mate preferences consistently include status, resources, intelligence, and confidence—traits that often consolidate later in life for men. This aligns with Rollo Tomassi’s conceptual framework (The Rational Male series), which blends evolutionary psychology with socio-cultural commentary to describe the male sexual marketplace as inherently age-stratified.

The model we present synthesizes this spectrum—from hard empirical studies to refined psychological commentary—into a practical and visual explanation. Each phase of the proposed graph is detailed in the sections that follow.

“Useless” Young Men

While the term may seem provocative, describing men under the age of 25 as "useless" within the relational or sexual marketplace is not without justification—especially when viewed through the lens of intersexual dynamics and evolutionary psychology.

At this early life stage—particularly under 20 and in the early twenties—most men have relatively low "marketplace value." This is not due to any intrinsic deficiency, but rather due to several developmental and socio-biological factors. From an evolutionary perspective, women in this age range (late teens to early twenties) tend to prefer men who are approximately 4 to 6 years older (Buss, 1989; Kenrick & Keefe, 1992). This preference corresponds to the perception that slightly older men exhibit greater maturity, resource stability, and dominance within their social hierarchy—traits that signal higher mate value in both ancestral and modern environments.

This age discrepancy creates a built-in asymmetry in mate desirability: women in early adulthood are sought after by both younger and older men, whereas young men face intense competition and limited interest from their peers. While modern society has changed many external conditions, this deep-seated evolutionary mechanism still influences dating behavior today.

Moreover, if we assess male market value through the five-factor model frequently discussed at Marriage Hunter—height, age, attractiveness, wealth and earning ability, and desire to commit (with the latter acting as a multiplier rather than a core trait)—it becomes clear that most young men before 25 possess only one or two of these traits. Even if they display a strong willingness to commit, this singular attribute is often interpreted by women in their age group as a form of “beta over-investment”—a low-risk but low-reward proposition.

In contrast, women in this demographic often seek men who score high on three or more of the core traits, especially if they also signal exclusivity and willingness to commit. This explains the phenomenon of "upward hypergamy" wherein young women compete for older men who exhibit superior developmental markers—status, earnings, and social proof.

Compounding the issue is the infrastructural limitation faced by young men: they typically lack the competencies and social capital to provide tangible value to older men, which could otherwise accelerate their climb up the socio-economic ladder. Without mentorship networks, early business acumen, or specialized skill sets, they often struggle to acquire the wealth or confidence necessary to compete effectively in the dating marketplace.

In sum, the market disadvantage of young men is not permanent, but it is real. It reflects the early developmental stage where biological potential has yet to convert into social capital—and where male sexual value is still largely latent rather than actualized.

Approaching 30 as the Magic Turning Point

The market value of men begins a steady and often exponential rise as they approach their 30s, marking a distinct turning point in their desirability within the intersexual landscape. Across evolutionary psychology, sociological research, and real-world dating markets, there is widespread agreement that a man’s 30s represent a period of maturation, actualization, and—ultimately—strategic advantage in the relational domain (Bruch & Newman, 2018; Buss, 2003).

There are several reasons behind this transformation:

First, men who in their youth may have scored high in traits associated with high impulsivity or risk-taking—traits which correlate with incarceration risk during early adulthood (Eysenck, 1996; Moffitt, 1993)—often learn to channel that energy constructively. Many develop what could be termed legal dominance behaviors, mastering competitive environments in business, finance, or entrepreneurship. The ability to “hustle legally” becomes a strategic asset.

Second, those who invested in formal education begin to reap the returns on their cognitive capital. Degrees translate into job opportunities, and accumulated expertise opens pathways for growth and influence. This is especially relevant in economies where cognitive work increasingly outpaces manual labor in income potential.

Third, the 30s are when potential must convert into performance. It is the time when abstract plans become concrete realities—home ownership, business ventures, and serious wealth accumulation. According to longitudinal data, male income typically peaks between 35 and 55 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019), and this economic trajectory significantly impacts perceived mate value (Hopcroft, 2021).

Those with entrepreneurial drive also learn by this stage to temper their earlier recklessness. While their 20s may have been marked by high-risk ventures that frequently collapsed, their 30s bring about better judgment, stronger networks, and more sustainable decision-making—qualities which contribute to financial stability and emotional maturity.

In evolutionary terms, these attributes align closely with what women—particularly those seeking long-term partners—are attuned to. Women consistently rank traits such as status, ambition, provisioning ability, and emotional reliability as critical when choosing a mate (Buss & Schmitt, 1993). This convergence of alpha qualities (dominance, competence, charisma) with beta capacities (provisioning, protection, commitment) is what creates the ideal mate profile in many women’s eyes.

By the late 30s, this model predicts the emergence of the “complete bachelor”: around 38–39 years old, tall (ideally 6 feet or more),...