Top 100 Best Cities for Dogs
The highest overall Paw Score™ cities in America, balancing affordability, vet access, and outdoor friendliness.
These rankings are directional comparison lists built from the Paw Score model. Start with the leader, but verify the full city page and methodology before treating any top result as a universal recommendation.
Start with Lexington-Fayette, KY, then compare it against its state page or the full city report.
| Rank | City | Paw Grade | Monthly Cost | Vet Access | Climate (Days) | Safety Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | A+ | $183 | 9.05 / 10k | 238 | Elevated |
| #2 | Alabaster, AL | A+ | $192 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #3 | Boone, NC | A+ | $182 | 7.01 / 10k | 256 | Elevated |
| #4 | Helena, AL | A+ | $194 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #5 | Easton, MD | A+ | $185 | 5.96 / 10k | 268 | Elevated |
| #6 | Paris, KY | A+ | $169 | 7.69 / 10k | 238 | Elevated |
| #7 | Chelsea, AL | A+ | $195 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #8 | Celina, OH | A+ | $169 | 7.77 / 10k | 225 | Elevated |
| #9 | Pelham, AL | A+ | $199 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #10 | Calera, AL | A+ | $197 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #11 | Colonial Heights, VA | A+ | $185 | 8.08 / 10k | 251 | Low |
| #12 | Stephenville, TX | A+ | $183 | 9.76 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #13 | Southern Pines, NC | A+ | $187 | 6.48 / 10k | 267 | Elevated |
| #14 | Traverse City, MI | A+ | $175 | 5.69 / 10k | 201 | Elevated |
| #15 | Versailles, KY | A+ | $181 | 7.44 / 10k | 243 | Elevated |
| #16 | Wilmington, NC | A+ | $190 | 6.19 / 10k | 267 | Elevated |
| #17 | Alpena, MI | A+ | $162 | 3.92 / 10k | 206 | Elevated |
| #18 | Durham, NC | A+ | $193 | 6.19 / 10k | 248 | Elevated |
| #19 | Tullahoma, TN | A+ | $174 | 6.47 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #20 | Sault Ste. Marie, MI | A+ | $169 | 3.94 / 10k | 194 | Elevated |
| #21 | Manchester, TN | A+ | $175 | 6.47 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #22 | Atchison, KS | A+ | $167 | 6 / 10k | 211 | Low |
| #23 | Lebanon, IN | A+ | $173 | 6.49 / 10k | 227 | Elevated |
| #24 | Austin, MN | A+ | $171 | 5.71 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #25 | Eatontown, NJ | A+ | $224 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #26 | Lansing, MI | A+ | $175 | 4.77 / 10k | 203 | Elevated |
| #27 | Brockton, MA | A+ | $222 | 10 / 10k | 263 | Elevated |
| #28 | Burlington, VT | A+ | $224 | 8.3 / 10k | 201 | Elevated |
| #29 | Long Branch, NJ | A+ | $229 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #30 | Lexington, NE | A+ | $173 | 7.03 / 10k | 206 | Elevated |
| #31 | Pinehurst, NC | A+ | $207 | 6.48 / 10k | 267 | Elevated |
| #32 | Asbury Park, NJ | A+ | $227 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #33 | Cambridge, MD | A+ | $178 | 4.44 / 10k | 254 | Elevated |
| #34 | Essex Junction, VT | A+ | $218 | 8.3 / 10k | 201 | Elevated |
| #35 | Valdosta, GA | A+ | $179 | 5.24 / 10k | 274 | Elevated |
| #36 | Marshall, MN | A+ | $167 | 4.91 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #37 | Severna Park, MD | A+ | $201 | 5.58 / 10k | 268 | Elevated |
| #38 | Danville, KY | A+ | $171 | 5.73 / 10k | 238 | Elevated |
| #39 | Brooklyn Park, MD | A+ | $195 | 5.58 / 10k | 263 | Elevated |
| #40 | Myrtle Grove, NC | A+ | $197 | 6.19 / 10k | 267 | Elevated |
| #41 | Lewisburg, TN | A+ | $174 | 5.34 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #42 | Freehold, NJ | A+ | $232 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #43 | Columbia, MO | A+ | $178 | 5.47 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #44 | Forest Lake, MN | A+ | $189 | 6.74 / 10k | 198 | Elevated |
| #45 | South Burlington, VT | A+ | $229 | 8.3 / 10k | 201 | Elevated |
| #46 | Abington, MA | A+ | $222 | 10 / 10k | 263 | Elevated |
| #47 | Middleburg, FL | A+ | $182 | 5.92 / 10k | 275 | Elevated |
| #48 | East Lansing, MI | A+ | $180 | 4.77 / 10k | 203 | Elevated |
| #49 | Oakdale, MN | A+ | $192 | 6.74 / 10k | 198 | Elevated |
| #50 | Stillwater, MN | A+ | $190 | 6.74 / 10k | 198 | Elevated |
| #51 | Murraysville, NC | A+ | $202 | 6.19 / 10k | 267 | Elevated |
| #52 | Newcastle, OK | A+ | $180 | 7.71 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #53 | Fredericksburg, TX | A+ | $192 | 7.92 / 10k | 263 | Elevated |
| #54 | Raleigh, NC | A+ | $195 | 5.11 / 10k | 248 | Elevated |
| #55 | Winston-Salem, NC | A+ | $180 | 4.2 / 10k | 258 | Elevated |
| #56 | Tallahassee, FL | A+ | $187 | 5.79 / 10k | 259 | Elevated |
| #57 | Grand Rapids, MI | A+ | $183 | 3.99 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #58 | Frederick, MD | A+ | $203 | 5.34 / 10k | 247 | Elevated |
| #59 | Glen Burnie, MD | A+ | $200 | 5.58 / 10k | 234 | Elevated |
| #60 | Wilson, NC | A+ | $176 | 4.15 / 10k | 248 | Elevated |
| #61 | Hagerstown, MD | A+ | $180 | 4.27 / 10k | 236 | Elevated |
| #62 | Manassas, VA | A+ | $208 | 7.82 / 10k | 228 | Low |
| #63 | Annapolis, MD | A+ | $209 | 5.58 / 10k | 268 | Elevated |
| #64 | Haslett, MI | A+ | $179 | 4.77 / 10k | 203 | Elevated |
| #65 | Red Wing, MN | A+ | $174 | 4.61 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #66 | Red Bank, NJ | A+ | $237 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #67 | Effingham, IL | A+ | $165 | 4.95 / 10k | 227 | Elevated |
| #68 | Hickory, NC | A+ | $178 | 4.18 / 10k | 256 | Elevated |
| #69 | Lakeside, FL | A+ | $192 | 5.92 / 10k | 275 | Elevated |
| #70 | Great Bend, KS | A+ | $167 | 5.93 / 10k | 211 | Elevated |
| #71 | Jefferson, GA | A+ | $176 | 4.1 / 10k | 269 | Elevated |
| #72 | Yelm, WA | A+ | $211 | 10 / 10k | 337 | Elevated |
| #73 | Cairo, GA | A+ | $169 | 4.09 / 10k | 269 | Elevated |
| #74 | Greensboro, NC | A+ | $183 | 4.27 / 10k | 252 | Elevated |
| #75 | Wyoming, MI | A+ | $181 | 3.99 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #76 | Cottage Grove, MN | A+ | $199 | 6.74 / 10k | 198 | Elevated |
| #77 | Tinton Falls, NJ | A+ | $242 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #78 | Lake Shore, MD | A+ | $207 | 5.58 / 10k | 268 | Elevated |
| #79 | Waterloo, IL | A+ | $172 | 4.97 / 10k | 225 | Elevated |
| #80 | Bolivar, MO | A+ | $170 | 4.88 / 10k | 226 | Elevated |
| #81 | Rolesville, NC | A+ | $178 | 5.11 / 10k | 248 | Elevated |
| #82 | West Freehold, NJ | A+ | $242 | 10 / 10k | 260 | Elevated |
| #83 | North Mankato, MN | A+ | $173 | 4.46 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #84 | Gainesville, FL | A+ | $186 | 5.21 / 10k | 272 | Elevated |
| #85 | High Point, NC | A+ | $181 | 4.27 / 10k | 252 | Elevated |
| #86 | Woodbury, MN | A+ | $205 | 6.74 / 10k | 198 | Elevated |
| #87 | Sanford, NC | A+ | $178 | 3.53 / 10k | 267 | Elevated |
| #88 | Okemos, MI | A+ | $185 | 4.77 / 10k | 203 | Elevated |
| #89 | Marquette, MI | A+ | $175 | 3.62 / 10k | 204 | Elevated |
| #90 | Fayetteville, GA | A+ | $200 | 6.13 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #91 | Aberdeen, MD | A+ | $191 | 4.76 / 10k | 249 | Elevated |
| #92 | Havre de Grace, MD | A+ | $190 | 4.76 / 10k | 249 | Elevated |
| #93 | St. Peter, MN | A+ | $174 | 4.46 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #94 | Waynesville, NC | A+ | $183 | 4.97 / 10k | 239 | Elevated |
| #95 | Pontiac, MI | A+ | $176 | 4.13 / 10k | 210 | Elevated |
| #96 | Midland, MI | A+ | $176 | 3.54 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #97 | Zionsville, IN | A+ | $198 | 6.49 / 10k | 227 | Elevated |
| #98 | Holt, MI | A+ | $187 | 4.77 / 10k | 203 | Elevated |
| #99 | Edgewood, MD | A+ | $194 | 4.76 / 10k | 249 | Elevated |
| #100 | Hannibal, MO | A+ | $170 | 4.13 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |