The 10 Most Rodent-Infested Cities in America for 2026 are led by New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, according to the latest Terminix ranking released this week. San Francisco and Houston complete the Top 5, while Chicago has slipped to No. 6 after ranking fifth last year. Detroit is the biggest newcomer near the top of the list, entering the Top 10 at No. 10 as cooler fall weather begins pushing rats and mice toward homes, garages, basements and other protected spaces. The ranking does not mean these cities literally contain the highest number of rodents in America. It reflects Terminix service activity and should be read as a measure of where the company is seeing particularly strong rodent pressure rather than as a nationwide rat census.
The Top 10 Most Rodent-Infested Cities
According to the latest Terminix ranking reported by CBS Chicago, the 2026 Top 10 are:
1. New York
2. Los Angeles
3. Philadelphia
4. San Francisco
5. Houston
6. Chicago
7. Washington, D.C.
8. Boston
9. Dallas-Fort Worth
10. Detroit
The list puts three of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas in the Top 3, while California places two cities in the Top 4. Texas also has two markets in the Top 10, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth.
New York Takes the No. 1 Spot
New York sits at the top of the 2026 Terminix list, which may not surprise anyone who has followed the city’s long-running battle with rats. Dense housing, restaurants, underground infrastructure, construction and abundant food waste can all provide rodents with shelter and feeding opportunities. But New York being No. 1 on this particular ranking does not mean every neighborhood has the same problem. Rodent pressure can vary dramatically block by block depending on sanitation, building conditions and access to food.
Los Angeles Is No. 2
Los Angeles ranks second. Southern California’s mild climate allows rodents to remain active year-round, and dense urban development creates countless opportunities for rats and mice to find shelter. Roof rats are especially common in parts of California and are capable climbers that can use trees, utility lines and structures to reach attics and upper floors. PestMarket’s Rodent Control Guide covers common signs of rodent activity and ways homeowners can reduce food, shelter and entry points around a property.
Chicago Falls Out of the Top Five
Chicago is the biggest headline in this year’s ranking because the city dropped to No. 6 after sitting at No. 5 in the previous Terminix list. Houston moved ahead of Chicago into fifth place. Chicago still remains one of the country’s most persistent rodent hotspots, but the movement shows how these rankings can shift from year to year as weather, development, food availability and service demand change. CBS notes that a separate Orkin ranking had placed Chicago at No. 1 for 10 consecutive years before Los Angeles took over that company’s top spot in 2025, showing why rankings from different pest-control companies should not be treated as interchangeable.
Detroit Breaks Into the Top 10
Detroit’s appearance at No. 10 is one of the more notable changes. The city had been outside the Top 10 in the prior Terminix ranking but has now moved into the highest tier. Previous Terminix reporting has identified Detroit as one of several cities showing increasing residential rodent activity, alongside places such as Tampa, Memphis, Nashville, San Antonio and Austin. The company’s prior rodent report said urban growth, construction, population shifts and warmer weather can all contribute to changing rodent pressure. The Terminix rodent report also explained that its rankings are built from company service activity rather than direct population counts.
Why Rodent Problems Often Get Worse in Fall
Fall is when many homeowners suddenly notice rodents indoors. As temperatures decline and outdoor food becomes less predictable, rats and mice look for protected places with food, water and warmth. Houses provide all three. Small openings around foundations, garages, utility penetrations and rooflines can give mice and rats access to areas where they can remain hidden for long periods. The CDC recommends sealing holes and gaps, keeping food in rodent-resistant containers and addressing signs such as droppings, gnaw marks and nesting material before an infestation grows.
This Is a Service Ranking, Not a Rat Census
The wording “most rodent-infested” makes a strong headline, but the methodology matters. Pest-control rankings generally reflect customer service activity within a company’s operating footprint. They are useful for identifying places where rodent-control demand is high, but they cannot tell us exactly how many rats or mice live in New York compared with Los Angeles or Chicago. Population, market share, housing density and the number of customers using a particular company can all influence the results. The ranking is best treated as a snapshot of rodent pressure seen by Terminix, not a scientific count of every rodent in America.
The 2026 Ranking Shows Rodents Are a National Problem
The geographic spread of the Top 10 may be the most important takeaway. The list includes cities on both coasts, the Midwest, Texas and the Northeast. Rodents are not a problem limited to one climate or one style of city. What changes from place to place is how easily they can find food, water, shelter and access to buildings. For homeowners, the practical response is the same regardless of ranking: seal openings, reduce food sources, remove clutter and respond quickly when droppings, gnaw marks or scratching sounds appear.