ZIP-code data shows big gaps in veterinary access inside major US metro areas

Among the 55 metro areas with more than 1 million people, Austin had the most practices per capita at 13.9 per 100,000, and Fresno had the fewest at 5.5. The gap grows when those metros are broken down by ZIP code.

Dallas-Fort Worth averages 10.4 practices per 100,000. But its best-served tenth of ZIP codes have 24.3, and its least-served tenth have 4.4. Counting practices within a few miles of each location instead of by ZIP code made the gap smaller, but it didn't go away. For example, Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida, have similar household incomes but 19.1 versus 6.9 practices per 100,000.

Income made some difference, but less than the local swings. ZIP codes with median household incomes under $75,000 had 8.6 practices per 100,000, compared with 12.1 above $125,000.

Population density mattered more. ZIP codes with more than 10,000 people per square mile had 4.8 practices per 100,000, about half the national rate. Leech says high rent, limited space, and parking make building in those areas hard. He also says corporate development teams tend to open new practices where real estate is easy, often near clinics that already exist. In the data, the median practice has 10 others within 5 miles.

In underserved ZIP codes, practices don't add more doctors to make up the difference. The median practice has two veterinarians whether its area is thin or crowded. Practices in the thinnest areas did have more Google reviews per doctor, 123 versus 78. Leech treats reviews as a rough stand-in for client volume. Those practices also rated slightly lower, 4.38 stars versus 4.50.