2 Tennessee cities rank among top 20 for pet owners

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — For the vast majority of pet parents, animals are more than just four-legged companions living rent-free in their homes. Based on a Pew Research Center survey, 97% of pet owners consider their furry friends as part of their family.

With pets living in 66% of U.S. households, pet ownership is at an all-time high, according to Forbes Advisor. As a result, interest in pet-friendly cities is growing, as well.

In addition, Forbes Advisor said recent data shows that 82% of those looking to buy a home consider their pets’ needs as important as, if not more important than, their own.

After all, some cities make it easier for furry friends to enjoy long and healthy lives thanks to more affordable veterinary care, better access to vet services, and a plethora of pet-friendly spaces.

Forbes Advisor compared the 81 most populated cities with available data across 13 key metrics spanning four categories — dog veterinary cost, cat veterinary cost, veterinary access, and pet-friendly spaces — to uncover the best cities for pet owners.

Two cities in the Volunteer State made the list:

Nashville (#2)
- Nashville dog owners have the fourth lowest prices for vet visits ($61.95 average cost), vaccinations ($204.18), and dental cleanings ($366.95 average cost), as well as the fifth lowest average amount for spay and neuter surgeries ($479.20).
- Nashville cat owners also pay the fourth lowest prices for vet visits ($61.95 average cost), vaccinations ($89.03), spay and neuter surgeries ($276.70 average cost), and dental cleanings ($366.95 average cost).
- Nashville not only ranks seventh best when it comes to pet-friendly spaces, but it has the sixth highest percentage (89.2%) of pet-friendly apartments among the cities analyzed.
Memphis (#20)
- Memphis dog owners pay the eighth lowest amount for vet visits ($64.95 average cost), vaccinations ($209.23) and professional dental cleanings ($380.95 average cost).
- Memphis cat owners also pay the eighth lowest amount for vet visits ($64.95 average cost), vaccinations ($91.22), spay and neuter surgeries ($283.70 average cost), and dental cleanings ($380.95 average cost).

| Check out more lists and rankings from across Tennessee →

The full list of the top 20 pet-friendly cities is included below:

Rank	City	Dog vet cost score	Cat vet cost score	Vet access score	Pet-friendly spaces score	Overall score
1	Kansas City, MO	98.75	98.75	75.63	64.49	100
2	Nashville, TN	96.24	96.24	61.88	84.04	98.91
3	Albuquerque, NM	91.22	91.22	61.25	95.22	98.53
4	Raleigh, NC	79.94	79.94	91.88	79.7	97.09
5	Wichita, KS	100	100	72.5	49.91	96.04
6	Louisville, KY	96.24	96.24	80	47.96	95.52
7	Tucson, AZ	91.22	91.22	63.75	77.25	94.51
8	Greensboro, NC	91.22	91.22	78.13	58.01	94.19
9	Cincinnati, OH	91.22	91.22	71.88	59.46	92.45
10	Tulsa, OK	91.22	91.22	77.5	51.16	91.91
11	Omaha, NE	98.75	98.75	66.25	44.69	91.64
12	Lexington, KY	79.94	79.94	100	45.95	90.71
13	Norfolk, VA	79.94	79.94	80	70.08	90.22
14	Austin, TX	79.94	79.94	73.13	73.48	88.8
15	Jacksonville, FL	79.94	79.94	74.38	59.59	85.67
16	Virginia Beach, VA	79.94	79.94	80	51.98	85.31
17	Chesapeake, VA	79.94	79.94	80	50.97	85.04
18	Oklahoma City, OK	96.24	96.24	73.13	13.89	83.93
19	Columbus, OH	71.16	71.16	90.63	51.1	82.94
20	Memphis, TN	91.22	91.22	51.88	38.21	79.87