Chicago holds rattiest city for 9th straight year as LA takes #2 spot from New York, Orkin says
New York City may have the highest U.S. population of people but not rats.
Chicago has once again been declared the rattiest city in the U.S. according to Orkin's annual ranking.
Los Angeles surpassed New York on this year's list now holding the #2 spot and bringing the Big Apple down to #3, Orkin shared.
Other notable shifts included Houston, which moved 10 spots up to #20, and Charlotte, North Carolina that rose 16 spots to #21.
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The Rattiest Cities List ranks cities on the number of new rodent services as it indicates the demand and also people's efforts to treat rodent issues, according to Orkin. This ranking considered residential and commercial rodent treatments between Sept.1, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2023.
While most Chicagoans won't be pleased to maintain their rat status, those who are have the chance to celebrate with a limited-edition t-shirt reading "Top Rattiest City 2023 Chicago" that Orkin is giving out while supplies last.
What cities have the most rats?
Here are the cities with the highest rat populations (and how their ranking compares to the 2022 list).
- Chicago
- Los Angeles (+1)
- New York (-1)
- Washington, D.C.
- San Francisco
- Philadelphia
- Baltimore
- Denver
- Detroit
- Cleveland and Akron, Ohio
- Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Seattle
- Boston
- Atlanta
- Indianapolis
- Pittsburgh
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Columbus, Ohio (+3)
- Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Houston (+10)
- Charlotte, North Carolina (+16)
- Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas (+2)
- Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina (+8)
- Milwaukee (-6)
- Grand Rapids, Michigan (-2)
- Portland, Oregon (-4)
- Norfolk and Portsmouths, Virginia (+1)
- San Diego (-9)
- Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia (+3)
- New Orleans (+8)
For the full list of top rattiest cities, see Orkin's top 50.
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How many rodent home infestations are reported every fall?
An estimated 21 million homes in the U.S. face rat and mice invasion. October to February marks the time of the year with the most infestations as the rodents seek food, water and shelter from the cold.
“Rodents multiply swiftly and when an infestation is left unattended, they can cause extensive damage to homes and yards,” Orkin entomologist Ben Hottel said in a news release.