Best small towns in the NE for dog lovers
As so many people own dogs, many cities across the country are making dog parks a part of their overall master park plans. Having a wide variety of parks and trails to take your pooch to is important, but for most dog owners out there, a nearby dog park is also a must. Designated areas for dogs are typically off-leash and offer a safe place for dogs to play and socialize with other pooches. For those looking to travel or relocate, knowing that there are some places to take your four-legged family member to burn off some steam can make the difference. If you are living in the NE and want to know where the best small towns for dog lovers are, here is our top list.
This list is for small cities (less than 10,000 population) in the Northeast. There are two metrics we look at when evaluating a city’s dog-friendliness score. Firs,t of course, is the number of dog parks a city has. For small cities, if there is a dog park, there will typically be just one. To be considered for this list, a small city must have at least one dog park. We also look at the miles of trails inside a city. While city trails usually require dogs to be leashed, they offer a fun alternative to walking down the sidewalk. With all that in mind, here are three of the best.
East Stroudsburg, PA – Population 9,840. For the sheer number of dog parks within city limits, East Stroudsburg, PA tops our list with 3 separate dog parks. Amazing for a town this small.
Fairport, NY – Population 5,336. I would call Fairport, NY a co-number 1. Fairport has one dedicated dog park, which for a town of this size is plenty. But what makes Fairport stand out is the miles of trails. With 35 miles of trails within the city, no other city of this size in the Northeast even comes close.
Essex Village, CT – Population 6,683. Third on our list is Essex Village, CT. Also with 1 dog park, Essex Village also has 20 miles of hiking trails within the city, giving you and your pooch plenty of options for exercise.
Maybe you are thinking that none of these small cities sound just right. Or maybe the needs of family members with fewer than four legs should be considered when relocating. It can be hard to try to figure out where to live or visit in the US. Everyone has a different idea of what the best means. Someone in their 30’s with small kids might have different needs than a retiree. Someone who frequents parks wants something different than someone who likes to shop. That’s why we created the NextDiggs quiz so that you can decide what features are “the best” for you. We profiled every city in America with 5000 or more residents with 61 criteria. You can choose to answer all the questions, or only the ones pertaining to criteria that are important to you. So go ahead and take the quiz and find your own “top 3”.
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