Rats are a pestilence that affects cities all over America. No matter how much people try to get rid of them they just keep coming back, damaging property and creating health concerns for citizens.
But where are rats the worst? According to Terminix’s annual Top 50 Most Rodent-Infested Cities report, California and Texas appear to have a significant rat problem.
Those aren’t the only places with rat issues, however. Terminix ranked the 50 cities with the most rats and mice in the U.S., based on where homeowners needed rodent services most often, and the list sparked headlines all over the country.
Stories sounding an alarm were written in New York, Houston, Indianapolis, and Detroit. With good reason, too.
According to data from more than 300 Terminix branches nationwide in 2025, the cities with the highest rodent activity were New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Houston. The top four on the list are all repeats of the year before.
The rest of the top 10 were Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, Dallas, and Detroit. Detroit was a new entrant into the top 10 this year, moving up from 11th.
Terminix says that the cities with the highest rat and mouse populations frequently share three characteristics: a large population, an abundance of food, and an abundance of hiding spots for rodents. When combined, these factors provide rats and mice with the resources they require for survival and procreation.
Chicago, in particular, has a very special problem these days when it comes to rats. For some reason, a billionaire “hired individuals to place nuts, seeds and other foods around” his home, leading to a rat infestation in his neighborhood.
California and Texas cities account for 20% of the list
In addition to Los Angeles and San Francisco, California is also home to three other cities in the top 50 most rat-infested cities in America: Sacramento, Palm Springs, Fresno, and San Diego. In Texas, Austin and San Antonio also make the list, giving the two states 10 of the top 50 most rat-infested cities in America.
“Cities with the most rats and mice can also face greater risks from rodent activity,” Terminix explained. “Rats and mice can chew through electrical wires, contaminate food and surfaces, and transmit diseases. Their droppings can also contain harmful bacteria and parasites, making rodent infestations more than just a nuisance for homes and businesses.”
Other cities to make the top 20 were Hartford, Atlanta, Baltimore, Tampa, Orlando, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and Seattle. The list also included Denver, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Memphis, Nashville, Little Rock, Miami, Columbus, and Providence. Check out the full report here to see how all of the cities ranked and where else made the list.