Pest control company Orkin recently released its annual list of “rattiest cities” across the country and our very own Los Angeles has landed on the number two spot of the ranking. That puts us right behind Chicago (which, not-so-fun fact, has been at the top for the past 10 years, since the inception of the list!) and somehow just ahead of New York, that city that gave us pizza rat.
In terms of methodology, the company tracked new residential rodent treatments from September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2024.
“This data helps Orkin better understand how likely homeowners in each city are to have a rodent problem,” reads an official press release.
In addition to the list of rattiest towns in America, Orkin takes the time to mention signs of rodent infestations—from rodent droppings seen near food sources to scratching or scurrying sounds, gnaw marks on furniture and wires, rub marks along entry points and burrows—and tips to prevent the situation from getting worse, including sealing entry points, eliminating food sources, fixing leaks and, of course, setting traps.
Check out the full list below.
The 50 rattiest cities in the U.S.
1. Chicago, Illinois
2. Los Angeles, California
3. New York, New York
4. San Francisco, California
5. Washington, District of Columbia
6. Denver, Colorado
7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8. Detroit, Michigan
9. Baltimore, Maryland
10. Cleveland, Ohio
11. Minneapolis, Minnesota
12. Boston, Massachusetts
13. Hartford, Connecticut
14. Seattle, Washington
15. Indianapolis, Indiana
16. Atlanta, Georgia
17. Columbus, Ohio
18. San Diego, California
19. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
20. Sacramento, California
21. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
22. Dallas, Texas
23. Miami, Florida
24. Norfolk, Virginia
25. Houston, Texas
26. Charlotte, North Carolina
27. Grand Rapids, Michigan
28. Raleigh, North Carolina
29. Honolulu, Hawaii
30. Albuquerque, New Mexico
31. Albany, New York
32. Phoenix, Arizona
33. Greenville, South Carolina
34. Cincinnati, Ohio
35. Tampa, Florida
36. Nashville, Tennessee
37. Richmond, Virginia
38. Portland, Oregon
39. Orlando, Florida
40. New Orleans, Louisiana
41. Buffalo, New York
42. Flint, Michigan
43. Rochester, New York
44. Champaign, Illinois
45. Kansas City, Missouri
46. Burlington, Vermont
47. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
48. Syracuse, New York
49. Charleston, West Virginia
50. Greensboro, South Carolina