Most Pet-Friendly Cities (2025)

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterAug 5, 2025

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
Aug 5, 2025

To many of us, pets are family — even if they’re covered in fur, feathers or scales. Animal companionship is a great stress reliever, and over 94 million households in the U.S. that own pets want to live in places where their beloved companions can enjoy long, healthy lives without breaking the bank. In 2025, pet ownership will cost Americans an estimated $157 billion, according to the American Pet Products Association.

Years ago, pet owners had access to only a handful of businesses offering animal services and supplies. Petco and PetSmart were among the biggest names. Now, the market for pet businesses is growing to fill increasing consumer demand, and new ways to buy goods for your animal have appeared, such as monthly subscription boxes.

Adding an animal to the family roster can be hard on the wallet. For popular choices like dogs and cats, a long list of expenses that include licenses, grooming and medical care can cost $1,000 - $3,000+ annually. Health insurance alone can exceed $500 per year for a dog, and it may not even be worth it. And if you rent an apartment with an animal, you can expect to pay hundreds, if not thousands, more for a pet deposit, fee and rent.

With animal parents in mind, WalletHub compared the pet-friendliness of the 100 largest U.S. cities across 23 key metrics. Our data set ranges from minimum pet-care provider rate per visit to the number of pet businesses per capita to walkability.

Top 5 Most Pet-Friendly Cities

Scottsdale, AZ
Tampa, FL
Cincinnati, OH
Las Vegas, NV
Portland, OR

“The most pet-friendly cities aren’t just those where it’s cheapest to own an animal and take care of its health, although cost is definitely a major consideration. Many factors contribute to a good environment for pets, from the availability of vets and pet-friendly stores to the prevalence of parks and how walkable each city is.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Most Pet-Friendly Cities

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	Pet Budget Rank	Pet Health & Wellness Rank	Outdoor Pet-Friendliness Rank
1	Scottsdale, AZ	66.19	84	1	5
2	Tampa, FL	61.04	40	5	19
3	Cincinnati, OH	59.97	39	9	21
4	Las Vegas, NV	59.16	4	58	13
5	Portland, OR	58.98	62	17	2
6	St. Louis, MO	57.66	12	28	50
7	Orlando, FL	57.39	34	13	52
8	Birmingham, AL	57.38	9	37	73
9	Lexington-Fayette, KY	56.90	21	7	86
10	Austin, TX	56.68	35	8	65
11	St. Petersburg, FL	56.57	55	10	32
12	Atlanta, GA	56.22	67	2	39
13	North Las Vegas, NV	56.16	1	81	36
14	Indianapolis, IN	55.95	27	14	82
15	Tulsa, OK	55.52	2	49	64
16	Minneapolis, MN	55.30	31	45	29
17	Raleigh, NC	55.10	38	25	56
18	Phoenix, AZ	55.04	71	6	28
19	Henderson, NV	54.95	3	84	25
20	El Paso, TX	54.74	5	80	40
21	Lincoln, NE	54.71	18	41	67
22	Colorado Springs, CO	54.67	58	30	18
23	Virginia Beach, VA	54.37	20	34	75
24	Arlington, TX	54.16	19	66	41
25	Chesapeake, VA	54.04	30	64	27
26	Plano, TX	53.94	78	4	35
27	San Diego, CA	53.55	90	16	3
28	Albuquerque, NM	53.42	36	85	8
29	Seattle, WA	53.38	83	12	15
30	Cleveland, OH	53.03	26	35	81
31	Boise, ID	53.01	60	48	14
32	Kansas City, MO	52.73	7	76	62
33	Columbus, OH	52.48	13	72	59
34	Baton Rouge, LA	52.45	24	23	99
35	Omaha, NE	52.37	8	68	78
36	Miami, FL	52.18	61	26	48
37	Pittsburgh, PA	51.98	53	44	34
38	Denver, CO	51.85	74	19	33
39	San Francisco, CA	51.52	96	40	1
40	St. Paul, MN	51.32	51	67	23
41	Louisville, KY	51.07	28	38	91
42	San Antonio, TX	50.89	32	74	46
43	Norfolk, VA	50.78	42	53	55
44	Lubbock, TX	50.74	15	57	88
45	Oakland, CA	50.66	82	36	6
46	Hialeah, FL	50.34	52	59	38
47	Jacksonville, FL	50.32	29	65	72
48	Fort Wayne, IN	50.31	11	50	98
49	Irvine, CA	50.15	99	11	9
50	Fort Worth, TX	50.07	37	46	80
51	Nashville, TN	50.06	43	33	85
52	Garland, TX	50.00	47	77	31
53	Greensboro, NC	49.71	14	62	70
54	Oklahoma City, OK	49.63	25	75	77
55	Madison, WI	49.56	54	61	45
56	Houston, TX	49.53	49	54	58
57	Fremont, CA	49.47	81	51	4
58	Sacramento, CA	49.29	73	55	17
59	Washington, DC	49.19	88	39	11
60	Memphis, TN	48.80	17	71	93
61	Tucson, AZ	48.78	98	24	30
62	Long Beach, CA	48.70	95	31	16
63	Reno, NV	48.58	41	69	71
64	Irving, TX	48.50	57	63	54
65	Gilbert, AZ	48.49	84	3	92
66	Corpus Christi, TX	48.34	10	83	96
67	Jersey City, NJ	48.28	87	22	49
68	Glendale, AZ	48.19	75	18	79
69	Riverside, CA	48.18	77	42	42
70	New Orleans, LA	48.01	48	73	61
71	Winston-Salem, NC	47.92	22	82	87
72	Chandler, AZ	47.86	80	15	76
73	Toledo, OH	47.68	6	98	68
74	Anaheim, CA	47.66	79	47	26
75	Wichita, KS	47.50	16	70	100
76	Aurora, CO	47.27	72	20	90
77	San Jose, CA	47.08	65	78	24
78	Los Angeles, CA	46.49	100	32	7
79	Baltimore, MD	46.05	46	88	63
80	Anchorage, AK	46.00	59	94	37
81	Newark, NJ	45.47	68	29	97
82	Bakersfield, CA	45.09	69	79	47
83	San Bernardino, CA	45.09	66	91	20
84	Laredo, TX	44.85	23	97	66
85	Dallas, TX	44.71	76	59	60
86	Santa Ana, CA	44.71	91	27	69
87	Philadelphia, PA	44.69	70	86	43
88	Mesa, AZ	44.64	84	21	89
89	Buffalo, NY	44.58	33	89	94
90	Charlotte, NC	44.53	64	56	84
91	Chicago, IL	43.94	94	43	53
92	Detroit, MI	43.76	50	93	74
93	Chula Vista, CA	43.56	89	52	51
94	Durham, NC	43.52	44	87	95
95	New York, NY	43.50	93	90	10
96	Fresno, CA	43.36	63	95	44
97	Milwaukee, WI	42.69	45	96	83
98	Stockton, CA	39.24	56	99	57
99	Boston, MA	39.17	97	92	22
100	Honolulu, HI	37.33	92	100	12

Notes: *No. 1 = Most Pet-Friendly
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Veterinary Care Costs

Lowest

Lowest
1. Corpus Christi, TX
2. Columbus, OH
T-3. Las Vegas, NV
T-3. Henderson, NV
T-3. North Las Vegas, NV

Highest

Highest
89. New York, NY
T-90. Los Angeles, CA
T-90. Long Beach, CA
92. Honolulu, HI
93. Washington, DC

Dog Insurance Premium

Lowest

Lowest
1. Fort Wayne, IN
2. Indianapolis, IN
3. Birmingham, AL
T-4. Oklahoma City, OK
T-4. Tulsa, OK

Highest

Highest
T-94. Chandler, AZ
T-94. Gilbert, AZ
T-94. Scottsdale, AZ
98. Chicago, IL
T-99. Los Angeles, CA
T-99. Irvine, CA

Veterinarians per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. Las Vegas, NV
T-1. Tampa, FL
T-1. Orlando, FL
T-1. Cincinnati, OH

Fewest

Fewest
96. North Las Vegas, NV
97. Detroit, MI
98. Jersey City, NJ
99. Laredo, TX
100. Newark, NJ

Pet Businesses per Capita

Most

Most
1. Scottsdale, AZ
2. Boise, ID
3. Birmingham, AL
4. St. Petersburg, FL
5. Reno, NV

Fewest

Fewest
96. Irving, TX
97. Los Angeles, CA
98. New York, NY
99. Laredo, TX
100. Newark, NJ

Dog-Friendly Restaurants per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. San Diego, CA
T-1. Orlando, FL
T-1. Portland, OR
T-1. Austin, TX
5. Seattle, WA

Fewest

Fewest
96. Newark, NJ
97. San Bernardino, CA
98. Detroit, MI
99. Laredo, TX
100. North Las Vegas, NV

Dog Parks per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. New York, NY
T-1. San Francisco, CA
T-1. Portland, OR
T-1. Boise, ID
T-1. Henderson, NV

Fewest

Fewest
94. Cleveland, OH
95. Garland, TX
96. Newark, NJ
T-97. Santa Ana, CA
T-97. Hialeah, FL

Animal Shelters per Capita

Most

Most
1. Phoenix, AZ
2. Los Angeles, CA
3. Atlanta, GA
4. San Diego, CA
5. Scottsdale, AZ

Fewest

Fewest
96. Laredo, TX
97. Lubbock, TX
98. Chula Vista, CA
99. Chandler, AZ
100. Santa Ana, CA

In-Depth Look at the Most Pet-Friendly Cities

Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale is the most pet-friendly city in America, boasting an extremely high number of pet businesses and dog-friendly shops per capita. You can even find plenty of spots to take your companion out to eat, since the city has the tenth-most dog-friendly restaurants per capita.

In addition, Scottsdale makes owning a pet while renting easy. Nearly 98% of rental listings in the city allow pets, one of the highest percentages in the country. Homes in the city have a very high average square footage, at over 2,300 square feet, too, giving pets plenty of space to roam around.

If you have a pet that needs to spend time outside, Scottsdale is a good city for that. Nearly 27% of the city is parkland, the fourth-highest in the country, and the city has the third-best weather in America, though summers can get quite hot.

Tampa, FL

Tampa is the second-best city for pet owners, ranking among the top cities in the country when it comes to animal shelters per capita. That’s great news for anyone who wants to “adopt, not shop.” Tampa also offers great choices for animal health care, with a very high number of veterinarians per capita.

Nearly 89% of rental listings in Tampa allow pets, and dog-owners who need to have their pets taken care of during the day or while they are on vacation can benefit from a very high number of doggie daycares and boarding establishments per capita.

To top things off, Tampa has the 10th-most dog parks per capita, and a very large number of dog-friendly restaurants, so it’s easy to go on a fun outing with your canine companion. Tampa ranks in the 30 least-expensive cities for vet and pet care provider costs, too.

Cincinnati

Cincinnati is the third-most pet-friendly city, with a high number of veterinarians and animal trainers per capita. Pet care is also reasonably priced, with the average dog insurance premium at around $57 per month.

In addition, over 16% of Cincinnati is parkland, offering plenty of green space for pets to enjoy. Finally, Cincinnati ranks second in the nation for dog shows per capita and offers a wealth of dog-friendly hiking trails, ranking 18th nationwide making it a standout destination for pet lovers.

Ask the Experts

For the right reasons, pet ownership can be very fulfilling. But it also can bring about challenges, especially financial ones. For advice to aspiring pet owners, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their thoughts on the following key questions:

What tips do you have for individuals and families looking to own pets without breaking the bank?
In evaluating the best and worst cities for pet lovers, what are the top 5 indicators?
What are the main reasons why some pet owners skip veterinary care?
What are the pros and cons of purchasing pet insurance? Do you recommend it?
What measures can local authorities take in order to make their cities more pet friendly?

Ask the Experts

Dr. Laura Hobgood
Professor and Chair of Religion and Environmental Studies, Holder of the Elizabeth Root Paden Chair - Southwestern University
Read More

Eric V. Hull
Professor of Law, Nova Southeastern University | Shepard Broad College of Law
Read More

Diane M. Sullivan
Assistant Dean & Professor of Law – Massachusetts School of Law at Andover
Read More

Carrie P. Freeman
Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Communication – Georgia State University
Read More

Bruce Wagman
Lecturer in Animal Law, Stanford Law School; Adjunct Professor of Animal Law, University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and Adjunct Professor of Law – University of California, Berkeley - Berkeley Law, Animal Law
Read More

Penny C. Ellison
Adjunct Professor of Animal Law – University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and Founder of Animal Advocacy Academy
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine the most pet-friendly places in America, WalletHub compared the 100 most populated cities across three key dimensions: 1) Pet Budget, 2) Pet Health & Wellness and 3) Outdoor Pet-Friendliness.

We evaluated those dimensions using 23 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for pets and their owners. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only. For metrics marked with an asterisk (**), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

Pet Budget – Total Points: 25

Veterinary Care Costs: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Minimum Pet-Care Provider Rate per Visit: Half Weight (~5.00 Points)
Dog Insurance Premium: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)

Pet Health & Wellness – Total Points: 50

Veterinarians per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Pet Caretakers per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Animal Trainers per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Pet Businesses per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Dog-Friendly Restaurants per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Dog-Friendly Shops per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Pet Meetup Groups per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Doggie Daycare & Boarding Establishments per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Pet-Friendliness of Rental Market: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of pet-friendly rental units.
Average Home Square Footage: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Share of Single-Family Detached Homes: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Share of Homes with One or Fewer Occupants per Room: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Animal Shelters per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Strength of Animal Protection Laws: Full* Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s “Best & Worst States for Animal Protection Laws” ranking.

Outdoor Pet-Friendliness – Total Points: 25

Weather: Full Weight (~4.55 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking.
Dog Parks per Capita**: Full Weight (~4.55 Points)
Parkland as Share of City Area: Full Weight (~4.55 Points)
Walk Score: Full Weight (~4.55 Points)
Dog-Friendly Trails per Capita**: Full Weight (~4.55 Points)
Dog Shows per Capita**: Half* Weight (~2.27 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of July 8, 2025 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Yelp.com, WalkScore.com, RentPath, Pets Best Insurance Services, Council for Community and Economic Research, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Sittercity, BringFido, InfoDog, Trust for Public Land, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Meetup, Realtor and WalletHub research.

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