The best cities for people and pets

If you're looking for a locale that has it all, you might just want to consider settling in Portland, Ore. Why? This West Coast haven ranked No. 17 on the Men's Journal list of the 50 best places to live and third on the list of the top 10 U.S. cities for healthy pets, according to The Purina Pet Institute.

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Every year, Men's Journal rates the 50 best places to live based on more than 50 variables, including stress levels and number of bars per capita; new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau; and an emphasis on active living. And The Purina Pet Institute identified cities that offer superior pet care and veterinary services, all while promoting legislation that protects pets' health and well-being.

Denver, which rated No. 1 for healthy pets, finds a respectable spot at No. 28 in the Men's Journal ranking. And sunny San Francisco ranked 40th on the magazine's "best places to live" list and fifth for healthy pets. (The city by the bay also ranked No. 4 on the list of cities with the most-happening nightlife.)

The top 10 places to live

Finally, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., won the 44th spot for the best place to live as well as the smartest city. This is no news to the folks at The Purina Pet Institute, who listed the city at No. 7 among the best cities for healthy pets. Minneapolis boasts some of the highest average SAT scores, and 41 percent of its residents have two-year college degrees or higher. (Coincidentally, Washington, D.C. was rated the second-smartest city, and claimed the sixth spot for healthiest pets.)

More interested in your career prospects than in your clients' smarts? According to The Purina Pet Institute's second-ever listing of the Pet Healthiest Cities in the United States, Columbus, Ohio, leads the country with the most doctors per pet—one veterinarian for every 745 pets. And Providence, R.I., boasts the highest number of shelters per capita with 37 shelters, edging out Hartford, Conn., which offers 34.7 shelters. Each of these cities will offer good company, as well as stiff competition.

The top 10 cities for healthy pets