The pandemic has prompted more people to take on a furry friend, as pet ownership has surged over the past year. About 68 million households now own a pet, according to data cited by Rent.com.
Are some cities better for owning pets than others? A new ranking released by Rent.com analyzes data to identify cities with the most pet-friendly apartments, pet-related businesses (such as veterinary hospitals and doggie daycare centers), and pet-friendly amenities, such as off-leash parks and hiking spots.
The following cities topped Rent.com’s list as the best cities for pets in the U.S.:
1. Greeley, Colo.
- Pet-friendly apartments: 100%
- Pet businesses per capita (10k people): 10.2
2. Charleston, S.C.
- Pet-friendly apartments: 92.9%
- Pet businesses per capita: 14.1
3. Ann Arbor, Mich.
- Pet-friendly apartments: 97.3%
- Pet businesses per capita: 12.2
4. Boulder, Colo.
- Pet-friendly apartments: 90%
- Pet businesses per capita: 13.1
5. Tyler, Texas
- Pet-friendly apartments: 85.2%
- Pet businesses per capita: 15.1
6. Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Pet-friendly apartments: 87.8%
- Pet businesses per capita: 15.4
7. Arvada, Colo.
- Pet-friendly apartments: 88.2%
- Pet businesses per capita: 9.6
8. Naperville, Ill.
- Pet-friendly apartments: 100%
- Pet businesses per capita: 6.8
9. Vacaville, Calif.
- Pet-friendly apartments: 93.3%
- Pet businesses per capita: 7.9
10. Davie, Fla.
- Pet-friendly apartments: 90.9%
- Pet businesses per capita: 11.5
View the full data for the top 50 best cities for pets at Rent.com.
Source: “The Best Cities for Pets,” Rent.com (Dec. 29, 2020)