Most Affordable Cities for Pet Parents
Cities with the lowest combination of median rent, pet surcharges, and local veterinary pricing.
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 East St. Louis, IL, 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 | East St. Louis, IL | B+ | $162 | 2.16 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #2 | Kennett, MO | A- | $162 | 2.1 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #3 | Alpena, MI | A+ | $162 | 3.92 / 10k | 206 | Elevated |
| #4 | Roma, TX | C+ | $163 | 1.9 / 10k | 221 | Elevated |
| #5 | Escanaba, MI | A | $164 | 1.87 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #6 | Crowley, LA | C | $164 | 1.85 / 10k | 268 | Elevated |
| #7 | Effingham, IL | A+ | $165 | 4.95 / 10k | 227 | Elevated |
| #8 | Smithfield, NC | A | $165 | 3.36 / 10k | 263 | Elevated |
| #9 | Wabash, IN | A- | $165 | 2.65 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #10 | Kendallville, IN | A- | $165 | 3.09 / 10k | 213 | Elevated |
| #11 | Youngstown, OH | B- | $166 | 1.53 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #12 | Galesburg, IL | A- | $166 | 2.37 / 10k | 206 | Elevated |
| #13 | Jacksonville, IL | B | $166 | 1.55 / 10k | 218 | Elevated |
| #14 | Corinth, MS | B | $166 | 1.98 / 10k | 247 | Elevated |
| #15 | Greenville, OH | B+ | $166 | 2.36 / 10k | 222 | Elevated |
| #16 | Vermillion, SD | A | $166 | 2.5 / 10k | 180 | Elevated |
| #17 | Mexico, MO | A- | $166 | 2.1 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #18 | Coshocton, OH | B | $166 | 1.46 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #19 | Magnolia, AR | B | $166 | 1.6 / 10k | 247 | Elevated |
| #20 | Raceland, LA | C | $166 | 2.29 / 10k | 270 | Elevated |
| #21 | Fairmont, MN | A | $166 | 3.23 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #22 | Carroll, IA | A- | $166 | 3.97 / 10k | 212 | Elevated |
| #23 | Bay City, MI | A | $167 | 2.78 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #24 | Clinton, IA | B+ | $167 | 3.2 / 10k | 204 | Elevated |
| #25 | Carbondale, IL | A- | $167 | 2.76 / 10k | 232 | Elevated |
| #26 | Alamo, TX | C- | $167 | 1.01 / 10k | 221 | Elevated |
| #27 | Lenoir, NC | A- | $167 | 0.94 / 10k | 256 | Elevated |
| #28 | Jasper, IN | B+ | $167 | 2.6 / 10k | 231 | Elevated |
| #29 | Hibbing, MN | B+ | $167 | 3.03 / 10k | 157 | Elevated |
| #30 | Jamestown, ND | A- | $167 | 3.7 / 10k | 172 | Elevated |
| #31 | Mitchell, SD | A | $167 | 2.5 / 10k | 184 | Elevated |
| #32 | Macomb, IL | A | $167 | 3.57 / 10k | 216 | Elevated |
| #33 | Fort Payne, AL | B- | $167 | 1.77 / 10k | 250 | Elevated |
| #34 | Great Bend, KS | A+ | $167 | 5.93 / 10k | 211 | Elevated |
| #35 | Marshall, MN | A+ | $167 | 4.91 / 10k | 208 | Elevated |
| #36 | Moberly, MO | A | $167 | 2.1 / 10k | 240 | Elevated |
| #37 | Neosho, MO | B+ | $167 | 2.22 / 10k | 231 | Elevated |
| #38 | Eufaula, AL | B | $167 | 1.16 / 10k | 251 | Elevated |
| #39 | Beatrice, NE | B | $167 | 1.33 / 10k | 201 | Elevated |
| #40 | Bucyrus, OH | A- | $167 | 2.97 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #41 | Campbellsville, KY | A | $167 | 3.16 / 10k | 252 | Elevated |
| #42 | Two Rivers, WI | A- | $167 | 3.53 / 10k | 232 | Elevated |
| #43 | Taylorville, IL | A+ | $167 | 4.85 / 10k | 218 | Elevated |
| #44 | Boaz, AL | B+ | $167 | 2.97 / 10k | 261 | Elevated |
| #45 | Atchison, KS | A+ | $167 | 6 / 10k | 211 | Low |
| #46 | Van Wert, OH | B+ | $167 | 2.1 / 10k | 225 | Elevated |
| #47 | Galion, OH | A- | $167 | 2.97 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #48 | Cambridge, OH | B+ | $167 | 2.1 / 10k | 223 | Elevated |
| #49 | Mansfield, OH | B | $168 | 1.97 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #50 | Jefferson City, MO | A | $168 | 3.06 / 10k | 222 | Elevated |
| #51 | Warren, OH | B+ | $168 | 3.36 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #52 | Austintown, OH | B- | $168 | 1.53 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #53 | Aberdeen, SD | A | $168 | 3.83 / 10k | 168 | Elevated |
| #54 | Marion, IN | B+ | $168 | 2.14 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #55 | Granite City, IL | A | $168 | 4.13 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #56 | Fort Dodge, IA | B | $168 | 1.62 / 10k | 212 | Elevated |
| #57 | Freeport, IL | A- | $168 | 3.55 / 10k | 205 | Elevated |
| #58 | Steubenville, OH | B- | $168 | 0.99 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #59 | Portsmouth, OH | A- | $168 | 3.38 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #60 | Logansport, IN | B+ | $168 | 2.47 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #61 | Mercedes, TX | C | $168 | 1.01 / 10k | 243 | Elevated |
| #62 | Mattoon, IL | A- | $168 | 3.02 / 10k | 227 | Elevated |
| #63 | Poplar Bluff, MO | A- | $168 | 2.89 / 10k | 238 | Elevated |
| #64 | Palmview, TX | C- | $168 | 1.01 / 10k | 221 | Elevated |
| #65 | Greeneville, TN | A- | $168 | 2.81 / 10k | 239 | Elevated |
| #66 | Yankton, SD | B+ | $168 | 2 / 10k | 180 | Elevated |
| #67 | Alexander City, AL | B+ | $168 | 2.1 / 10k | 258 | Elevated |
| #68 | Sterling, IL | B | $168 | 1.56 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #69 | Washington Court House, OH | B+ | $168 | 2.1 / 10k | 231 | Elevated |
| #70 | Marshall, MO | A- | $168 | 2.78 / 10k | 213 | Elevated |
| #71 | East Cleveland, OH | B | $168 | 2.44 / 10k | 248 | Elevated |
| #72 | Connersville, IN | B+ | $168 | 2 / 10k | 226 | Elevated |
| #73 | Fostoria, OH | B | $168 | 1.94 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #74 | Conneaut, OH | B | $168 | 1.84 / 10k | 226 | Elevated |
| #75 | West Plains, MO | A | $168 | 4.62 / 10k | 234 | Elevated |
| #76 | Kewanee, IL | A | $168 | 4.7 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #77 | Streator, IL | A- | $168 | 3.33 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #78 | Centralia, IL | B- | $168 | 1.12 / 10k | 219 | Elevated |
| #79 | Arkansas City, KS | A- | $168 | 3.65 / 10k | 218 | Elevated |
| #80 | Salem, OH | A- | $168 | 3.17 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #81 | Winfield, KS | A- | $168 | 3.65 / 10k | 218 | Elevated |
| #82 | Marinette, WI | B | $168 | 2.18 / 10k | 232 | Elevated |
| #83 | Peru, IN | B+ | $168 | 1.92 / 10k | 235 | Elevated |
| #84 | Tarboro, NC | A | $168 | 2 / 10k | 267 | Elevated |
| #85 | Mount Airy, NC | A | $168 | 2.77 / 10k | 258 | Elevated |
| #86 | Ironton, OH | B | $168 | 2.34 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #87 | Maryville, MO | A | $168 | 4.52 / 10k | 198 | Elevated |
| #88 | Highland, IL | A- | $168 | 4.13 / 10k | 226 | Elevated |
| #89 | Decatur, IL | A- | $169 | 2.58 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #90 | Springfield, OH | A- | $169 | 2.89 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #91 | Manitowoc, WI | A- | $169 | 3.53 / 10k | 232 | Elevated |
| #92 | Pekin, IL | A | $169 | 4.5 / 10k | 214 | Elevated |
| #93 | Danville, IL | B | $169 | 1.8 / 10k | 202 | Elevated |
| #94 | Barberton, OH | A | $169 | 5.06 / 10k | 244 | Elevated |
| #95 | Zanesville, OH | B- | $169 | 1.83 / 10k | 223 | Elevated |
| #96 | Emporia, KS | B+ | $169 | 2.62 / 10k | 213 | Elevated |
| #97 | Alliance, OH | B | $169 | 2.89 / 10k | 220 | Elevated |
| #98 | Rolla, MO | A- | $169 | 1.88 / 10k | 228 | Elevated |
| #99 | Cumberland, MD | A | $169 | 2.02 / 10k | 232 | Elevated |
| #100 | Marshfield, WI | B- | $169 | 2.25 / 10k | 192 | Elevated |