Detroit has broken into the top 10 of a pest-control company’s yearly list of America’s most rat-troubled cities, with New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia still on top.
Story Highlights
- Terminix posted its 2026 list of top rodent cities on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.
- New York ranks No. 1, followed by Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Houston.
- Detroit comes in at No. 10, up from No. 11, its first time in the top 10, according to reports.
- The list is based on where Terminix customers most often called for rodent control in 2025.
Detroit Enters The Top 10
Terminix, the Memphis-based pest-control company, built the ranking from rodent service data at more than 300 of its branches nationwide during 2025. The point is to show where residents most often needed help with rats and mice. Detroit landed at No. 10, right behind Dallas, after placing No. 11 the year before. Hartford, Atlanta, Baltimore, Tampa and Sacramento round out spots 11 through 15.
A major Midwest city has officially cracked the top 10 list of America's most rodent-infested cities for the first time on record.
Terminix reports that Detroit climbed one spot to earn the ranking after a surge in rodent control service requests throughout 2025.
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The full top 10 runs: New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston, Dallas and Detroit. Terminix said the top of the list “remains largely unchanged from previous years,” and noted that Houston is a new addition to the top five. Detroit is one of only two Midwest cities in the top 10, along with Chicago.
What The Ranking Measures
The list counts where Terminix’s own customers asked for rodent service, not a headcount of rats in each city. Cities are grouped by Nielsen’s Designated Market Areas, the regions used to define local TV markets, so a single entry can cover a whole metro area and its suburbs. The company does not run branches in every state, so some cities are not measured.
That makes the list a picture of where people are calling for help with rodents in their homes. Every city on it shares three traits, according to Terminix: large populations, plenty of food and lots of places for rodents to hide. “Together, these conditions give rats and mice the resources they need to survive and reproduce,” the company said. It added, “Large populations generate significant amounts of food waste.”
Why Detroit Has A Rat Problem
Detroit’s leaders have heard about it from residents. In a 2023 memo, Mary Sheffield, who was Detroit City Council president at the time and is the city’s mayor, wrote, “In a recent community meeting that I held, rodent infestations were a main complaint among our residents.” She said residents told her many properties slated for demolition become homes for rats. Her office did not respond to a request for comment on the ranking.
Empty and torn-down buildings give rodents the shelter Terminix describes, while trash and food waste give them the meals. Alleys, dumpsters, parks and older buildings offer the same cover in every big city on the list. Rats also do damage beyond the shock of seeing one, from droppings to chewed wires in walls.
How To Keep Rodents Out Of Your Home
Terminix said a few steps “can significantly help lower the risk of a rodent infestation.” Seal cracks and gaps around doors, windows and foundations. Store food in airtight containers. Clean up crumbs and food residue quickly, and keep garbage in bins with tight lids. Clearing clutter from storage areas removes likely nesting spots.
Watch for early signs such as droppings, chewed wires and scratching sounds inside walls, and call a professional when they show up. Whether your city made the top 10 or not, a home that offers no food and no way in is the one rodents pass by.
Sources:
foxnews.com, markets.ft.com, terminix.com