Albuquerque and Nashville make double-digit jumps as cities across the country shift in Orkin's annual ranking
ATLANTA, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Last year, Los Angeles ended Chicago's decade-long reign atop Orkin's annual ranking. This year, the spotlight remains on the West Coast, as persistent residential rodent activity keeps L.A. ahead of some of the nation's biggest cities.
Los Angeles' year-round mild weather, dense neighborhoods and abundant access to food, water and shelter create conditions where rats and mice can thrive. From residential neighborhoods to bustling commercial corridors, the same features that make the city attractive to millions of people can also provide rodents with plenty of opportunities to find the resources they need to survive.
Key Findings
- Los Angeles remains No. 1 on Orkin's 2026 Rattiest Cities List
- Chicago and New York City hold the No. 2 and No. 3 positions
- Albuquerque, N.M., made the largest jump in the rankings, climbing 12 spots to No. 31
- Nashville, Tenn., and Albany, N.Y., each climbed 10 spots year over year
- Rankings are based on new residential rodent treatment data collected between Aug. 9, 2025, and Aug. 9, 2026
What the 2026 Rattiest Cities Rankings Reveal
While Los Angeles remains at No. 1, this year's rankings show significant movement across the country. Albuquerque, N.M., made the biggest jump, climbing 12 spots to No. 31, while Nashville, Tenn., rose 10 spots to No. 30 and Albany, N.Y., climbed 10 spots to No. 39. Hartford, Conn., saw the steepest decline, falling 12 spots to No. 17, followed by Greenville, S.C., which dropped 10 spots to No. 40.
Orkin determined this year's Rattiest Cities by tracking all new residential rodent treatments from Aug. 9, 2025, to Aug. 9, 2026, offering a snapshot of the cities with the highest levels of rat and mouse treatment activity.
While cities farther down the list saw major shifts, the top four remain unchanged from last year. Chicago remains at No. 2, followed by New York City at No. 3 and San Francisco at No. 4. Washington, D.C., rounds out the top five after moving up one spot from last year.
California is once again the most represented state, with four cities in the Top 50: Los Angeles (No. 1), San Francisco (No. 4), Sacramento (No. 21) and San Diego (No. 33). But rodent pressure stretches from coast to coast, with Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas each placing three cities on this year's list.
Orkin's Top 50 Rattiest Cities:
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- New York
- San Francisco
- Washington, D.C. (+1)
- Detroit (+1)
- Cleveland (+4)
- Denver (+2)
- Philadelphia (-1)
- Baltimore (+2)
- Minneapolis (-2)
- Dallas (+3)
- Boston
- Houston (+9)
- Columbus, Ohio (+6)
- Seattle (+1)
- Hartford, Conn. (-12)
- Milwaukee (-2)
- Indianapolis (-5)
- Pittsburgh
- Sacramento (-2)
- Tampa
- Atlanta (-5)
- St. Louis (+4)
- Cincinnati (+2)
- Miami
- Kansas City (+9)
- Grand Rapids, Mich. (-3)
- Springfield, Ill. (+8)
- Nashville (+10)
- Albuquerque, N.M. (+12)
- Orlando (+1)
- San Diego (-9)
- Portland, Ore. (-3)
- Norfolk, Va. (-6)
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa (New to top 50)
- New Orleans (+2)
- South Bend, Ind. (+4)
- Albany, N.Y. (+10)
- Greenville, S.C. (-10)
- Raleigh, N.C. (-9)
- Reno, Nev. (+3)
- Charlotte, N.C. (+8)
- Richmond, Va. (+3)
- Knoxville, Tenn. (New to top 50)
- Phoenix (-8)
- Charleston, W. Va. (New to top 50)
- Flint, Mich. (-7)
- San Antonio (New to top 50)
- Harrisburg, Pa. (New to top 50)
Why Rats and Mice Thrive in Cities: Cities offer rodents plenty of opportunities to find the resources they need to thrive, from food and water to protected places to nest. Rats and mice can make their homes in and around buildings, beneath vegetation and clutter and anywhere they can find protection from predators and the elements.
As temperatures begin to drop, the search for those resources can increasingly lead rodents indoors. Homes offer warmth, food and protected spaces to nest, making fall an important time for homeowners to look for signs of activity and address potential entry points.
"There's no single type of city or climate that's immune to rodent pressure," said Dr. Shannon Sked, National Technical Director at Orkin. "Rats and mice are highly adaptable and can thrive in communities across the country wherever they can find food, water and shelter. That's why prevention and early detection are important for homeowners, regardless of where they live. This is especially important with some of the changes in how we manage rats today. Prevention, including robust monitoring, sound facilities exclusion and sanitation, is relied on as the key element in sound rodent management programs"
Risks Associated with Rat and Mouse Infestations: Rodents are more than an unwelcome houseguest. Left unchecked, they can pose several risks for property owners:
- Structural damage: Rats gnaw to keep their continuously growing teeth in check and can damage walls, wiring, pipes and other materials. A rat's teeth rank 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, making them strong enough to chew through steel garbage cans.
- Health concerns: Rats can spread diseases to people, including leptospirosis, salmonellosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM), plague and typhus.
- Fast reproduction: Rat and mice populations can multiply rapidly, allowing a small rodent problem to grow if activity is left unaddressed.
Preventing Rodent Infestations: Think GNAW
The best defense against mice and rats starts before they find their way inside. Orkin experts recommend remembering GNAW, four simple ways homeowners can help make their property less inviting to rats and mice:
- Guard entry points by sealing cracks, holes and gaps.
- Never leave food unattended outside for pets or wildlife.
- Avoid clutter that could create nesting spots.
- Watch for signs like droppings, gnaw marks or rub marks, burrows, or scampering noises.
Additional Prevention Tips to Keep Rodents Out
Suspected rodent activity should be addressed quickly to help prevent the issue from escalating. These steps can help reduce the risk of infestation:
- Watch for small openings: Rats only need an opening the size of a quarter to access a building, and mice need even less space. Regularly inspect your home's exterior for even the tiniest cracks or gaps, especially around vents, pipes and the foundation, and seal them as soon as possible.
- Fix leaks: Eliminate potential water sources by repairing leaky faucets and pipes and removing standing water.
- Maintain your trash containers: Check for holes or damage in your outdoor bins, especially along the bottom, lid or sides. If bins are broken or chewed through, contact your local sanitation provider to request a replacement.
- Call the Pros: Addressing rodent activity early can help keep an infestation from growing. Orkin Pros are trained to provide a tailored solution to help with all rodent and pest needs.
- Consider long-term protection: Homeowners in rodent-prone cities may consider proactive measures like the installation of OrkinShield®, a service that helps identify and seal off potential rodent entry points around the structure of buildings before infestations occur.
For more information about rodent prevention, visit Orkin.com/pests/rodents.
About Orkin, LLC
Founded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin has been shaping the pest control industry for 125 years, providing protection against termite damage, rodents and insects through its commitment to scientific knowledge and unmatched training. From its earliest days to today, Orkin's innovative spirit continues to define the future of pest management.
Orkin is dedicated to protecting the places where we live, work and play by helping prevent and control pests and educating consumers about the potential health risks they pose. Guided by a service-first mission to deliver peace of mind, Orkin Pros are trusted professionals who embody the company's values of safety, integrity, professionalism, empathy and innovation. Since 2020, Orkin has partnered with the American Red Cross® to raise awareness about mosquito-borne health threats while supporting the nation's blood supply through monetary contributions and blood donations.
Orkin has more than 400 owned and operated branch offices and nearly 50 franchises in the U.S. The company also has international franchises and subsidiaries in Canada, Europe, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, the Mediterranean, Africa and Mexico. Learn more about careers at Orkin here. Visit Orkin.com for additional information. Orkin is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rollins Inc. (NYSE: ROL). Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
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