These Are the Best (and Worst) States For Renters With Pets in 2021

published Oct 9, 2021

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Woman sitting on living room floor with dog, working on laptop — Credit: eva_blanco/Shutterstock

When it comes to choosing somewhere to live, renters with pets will know the struggles that come with finding an apartment that’s suitable for their furry friends. Once you find a place that accepts pets into the building, there are other factors that are needed to be taken into consideration—like making sure there’s enough space, and any extra pet fees.

In a recent study, All About Cats has revealed the best (and worst) pet-friendly states in 2021, looking at the top populated cities in each state, and recording the percentage of rentals that allow tenants to bring along their fur babies.

With 59.87% of properties accepting pets, Illinois comes in at number one. If you’re a pet parent who’s looking to move to another part of the country, Chicago may be a good place to start your search.

Taking the silver medal is Mississippi, with over 50% of rentals accepting pets (52.28%). Third on the list and coming up closely behind is New York, which boasts 47.89% pet-friendly rentals. In New York City alone, there are plenty of pet-friendly cafes, including the iconic Boris and Horton, and not to mention all the green spaces for walkies.

Other states that are ideal for renters with furry friends include Georgia (47.00%), North Carolina (45.06%), Tennessee (41.51%), and Indiana (39.22%).

Credit: Federico Paul

The research also revealed the states that aren’t as pet-friendly as we’d hope. With 6.09% of landlords accept tenants with pets, a home in Hawaii with pets could be a pipe dream. Somewhat unsurprising, Alaska has the second-lowest rate of pet-friendly rentals, as just 9.30% of properties in the state are available to pet owners.

Other low-scoring states include West Virginia (9.47%), Montana (9.47%), and New Jersey (9.52%).

While these ratings are good to take into account if you’re looking to relocate with your pet, they aren’t meant to discourage pet lovers who are looking to, or already live, in these states. The search for a paw-fect pet-friendly apartment may just prove a little more difficult!

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Pets