Tampa, Orlando, and St. Petersburg ranked among the top six cities in the United States for pet ownership in 2026, according to a new analysis that assessed everything from veterinary care costs to the availability of parks and pet-friendly housing.
The study published by WalletHub compared the 100 most populated cities in the country using 23 indicators divided into three main categories: budget required to maintain a pet, animal health and welfare, and facilities to enjoy outdoor spaces with them.
WalletHub developed the ranking using data collected up to July 7, 2026, and among the indicators examined are veterinary costs, dog insurance premiums, the number of veterinarians, caregivers, trainers, and specialized stores, the availability of rental housing that accepts pets, animal shelters, dog parks, green spaces, trails, and walkability.
Florida managed to place three cities among the top six positions. Tampa secured the national second spot, Orlando ranked fourth, and St. Petersburg came in sixth.
The complete ranking begins with Scottsdale, Arizona, as the most pet-friendly city. It is followed by Tampa; Las Vegas, Nevada; Orlando; Cincinnati, Ohio; and St. Petersburg.
Tampa scored 63.51 points and particularly stood out for the availability of services related to animal health. The city ranked eighth in the pet health and wellness category, as well as 25th in budget and 15th in outdoor conditions.
WalletHub indicates that Tampa has a high presence of veterinarians and animal shelters.
Additionally, almost 89% of the rental listings analyzed allow pets and there is a high availability of dog daycare and boarding facilities.
The city also ranks among those with the most dog parks and pet-friendly restaurants, while veterinary costs and care providers are among the 15 lowest in the studied cities.
Orlando achieved fourth place nationally with 58.66 points. His best performance was in animal health and welfare, a category in which he ranked seventh in the country.
The city is also tied for first place nationwide for the number of dog-friendly restaurants per capita and ranks among the cities with the highest availability of veterinarians per resident.
On its part, St. Petersburg scored 57.84 points and finished sixth. The city ranked 12th in health and wellness and particularly excelled in the availability of pet-related businesses: it placed fourth nationally in establishments of this kind per capita.
Other major cities in Florida appear much further down. Miami ranked 43rd, with 51.53 points; Jacksonville took the 54th spot, with 50.56; and Hialeah finished in 69th, with 48.94.
Miami, however, achieved one of the best results in the country for veterinarian availability per capita, a measure in which it is tied for first place alongside Tampa, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Cincinnati.
In the case of Hialeah, the study shows a less favorable situation for those seeking activities with their dogs: the city ranked among the lowest in the country for pet-friendly restaurants and dog parks per capita.
The analysis is significant in a country where around 95 million households have pets. The American Pet Products Association estimates that Americans will spend about 165 billion dollars on their animals in 2026.
The strong positioning of several Florida cities adds to other WalletHub rankings in which locations from the state have excelled in different categories.
By the end of 2025, Orlando and Miami ranked second and third, respectively, among the most entertaining cities in the United States, in a ranking that analyzed over 180 cities based on indicators related to entertainment, nightlife, and costs.
The state has also stood out when it comes to purchasing a first home.
In 2024, five cities in Florida took the top five spots among the best places in the country for first-time homebuyers: Palm Bay, Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie, Tampa, and Orlando.
That same year, another study ranked several cities in Florida among the best for entrepreneurship. Orlando topped the list of best large cities to start a business, with Tampa in second place, Jacksonville in fourth, and Miami in fifth.
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