A relationship age gap bigger than 10 years often comes with its own set of issues. Instead, be realistic about what you want in someone, not what you want from their age. Think of 10 years as a general guideline, but be open to other ages as well—and dont limit yourself to dating only someone older.

Are age gaps in relationships common?

U.S. Census Bureau data from 1999 reports 8.5 percent of married couples are in age-gap relationships, with the older party identifying as a man in 7.2 percent of cases, and the older party identifying as a woman in 1.3 percent.