Lexington Named a Top 10 Most Pet-Friendly City in 2025

There are several factors to consider when choosing where to live - things like schools, jobs, or the cost of living. But what about your pets? Where do they fit into the equation? The fact is, some cities are more pet-friendly than others, and now we know where to find the best places.

ALSO READ: These Are the Safest Cities in Kentucky for 2025

In a new 2025 report, WalletHub compared the pet-friendliness of the 100 largest U.S. cities to create a ranking of the most (and least) pet-friendly places in America.

Lexington Ranks #9 Among 100 U.S. Cities

Once all of the numbers were crunched, Lexington, KY, ended up with an overall ranking as the 9th most pet-friendly city in the United States! Here’s how the city ranked in the report's three main categories.

Breaking Down Lexington’s Pet-Friendly Scores

Pet Budget Rank – 21^st: includes veterinary care costs and dog insurance premiums.
Pet Health & Wellness Rank – 6^th: includes the number of veterinarians, pet caretakers, animal trainers, and pet businesses.
Outdoor Pet-Friendliness Rank – 84^th: includes factors like the weather, the number of dog parks, and dog-friendly trails per capita.

What Makes a City Great for Pets?

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. ~ WalletHub Analyst

Check out the FULL REPORT to take a deep dive into the rest of the 100 most pet-friendly cities in America. You can also scroll over the map below to see those results.

Source: WalletHub

LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany