As terms like “dogsitting,” “dog daycare,” and “furbaby” become part of our vocabulary, it is clear that dogs are the “new kids.” The young generation of millennials and Gen-Z have fewer kids and are adopting dogs more. In fact, cities across the United States are experiencing a notable rise in the preference for dogs instead of kids.
Some American cities are seeing spikes in dog parenthood and decreases in people choosing to have kids
In recent years, there has been a noticeable decline in childbirths among young people compared to previous generations. As a matter of fact, 2020 marked the lowest birth rate since 1976, as The Wildest reports. Concurrently, the population of dog parents has been steadily increasing, with over half of American households now including a furry companion.
This shift is particularly pronounced in certain regions, where households are more likely to include dogs than human children.
The Economist conducted an investigation to uncover concrete data regarding which cities in the U.S. exhibit this trend. They did a comparative analysis using census data from 15 of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of households with children under the age of 18 against those with canine companions.
Consequently, they identified six cities where dog ownership surpasses the number of households with children. Let’s take a look:
- Riverside, California
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Dallas, Texas
- Detroit, Michigan
- Seattle, WA
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
It is widely believed that San Francisco boasts more dog parents than kid parents. However, this study did not corroborate this claim. San Fran ranked tenth on the list, as a higher percentage of households there have children (30%) compared to those with dogs (25%).
Similarly, New York City exhibits an even lower prevalence of canine companions, with only 22% of households having pups. Interestingly, cities with a greater proportion of single-family homes tend to have a higher percentage of dog parents.
The Economist’s data analysis was limited to metropolitan areas. So, cities and towns with more expansive space and fewer inhabitants may present different trends. It’s important to consider that these top six cities identified may face competition from areas that have greater land availability and lower population density.
