Chicago Tops Orkin's Rattiest Cities List for Eighth Straight Year

Orkin ranked metro regions by the number of new rodent treatments performed from Sept. 1, 2021, to Aug. 31, 2022. Once again, "The Windy City" was also the "Rattiest City."

Orkin rattiest cities list
Rodents can cause structural damage as they gnaw on electrical wires, gas lines and support beams.
Orkin

Posted by Posted by Brad Harbison

Published October 18, 2022
ATLANTA - Chicago may soon need to change its name from "The Windy City" to the "Rattiest City," after topping Orkin's Top 50 Rattiest Cities List, yet again. Orkin released the list today, and for the eighth consecutive year, the Midwest city takes the top spot. New York beat out Los Angeles for the #2 ranking and entering the top 20 this year is Hartford, CT, taking the #19 spot, and Miami, rising three spots to secure the #20 spot.
 
Orkin ranked metro regions by the number of new rodent treatments performed from Sept. 1, 2021, to Aug. 31, 2022. This ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.
 
1.   Chicago
2.   New York (+1)
3.   Los Angeles (-1)
4.   Washington, D.C.
5.   San Francisco
6.   Philadelphia (+1)
7.   Baltimore (-1)
8.   Cleveland, Oh. (+2)
9.   Detroit (-1)
10.  Denver (-1)
11.  Seattle
12.  Minneapolis
13.  Boston
14.  Atlanta (+1)
15.  Indianapolis (-1)
16.  Pittsburgh
17.  Cincinnati (+2)
18.  San Diego (-1)
19.  Hartford (+2)
20.  Miami
21.  Milwaukee (+1)
22.  Houston (-4)
23.  Dallas (-3)
24.  Portland, OR
25.  Columbus, OH (+1)
26.  Richmond (+2)
27.  Kansas City (-2)
28.  Norfolk (-1)
29.  Nashville (+7)
30.  St. Louis
31.  Grand Rapids (+1)
32.  Raleigh (+3)
33.  Champaign (+4)
34.  Albany (-3)
35.  Louisville (+5)
36.  Sacramento (-7)
37.  New Orleans (-4)
38.  Charlotte (+4)
39.  Buffalo (+2)
40.  Flint (-6)
41.  Greenville (+3)
42.  Syracuse (+4)
43.  Tampa (+7)
44.  South Bend (+21)
45.  Portland (-7)
46.  Phoenix (-3)
47.  Charleston
48.  Ft. Wayne (+12)
49.  Orlando (+3)
50.  Burlington (-11)
 
"Rodent infestations are among the top pest issues of the fall and winter seasons," said Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist. "Not only are mice and rats a nuisance, but they are known to spread a variety of dangerous diseases, including salmonella and hantavirus."

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