Frederick, Maryland has been named the No. 1 city for dog lovers in the entire country, according to LawnStarter’s recently released 2025 rankings.
The study compared the 500 largest U.S. cities across 37 different factors tied to quality of life for dogs and their owners. Metrics ranged from yard size and dog friendly rentals to access to veterinarians, affordability, and overall community support for pets.
Frederick finished with an overall score of 49.92, topping every other city nationwide. It ranked 11th for pet care, an impressive 2nd overall for community factors, 20th for businesses, 197th for housing, and 59th for affordability. The strong community ranking played a major role in pushing Frederick to the top of the list.
LawnStarter said its rankings were designed to capture how welcoming cities truly are for dogs, not just on paper but in everyday life. That includes walkability, green space, pet friendly amenities, and the presence of businesses and services that cater to dog owners.
Frederick’s downtown parks, walkable streets, growing number of pet friendly restaurants and breweries, and easy access to trails and outdoor recreation have made it a favorite for dog owners for years. This ranking now puts national recognition behind what many locals already knew.
Other major cities trailing Frederick in the rankings included Raleigh, North Carolina; Scottsdale, Arizona; New York City; and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
