2 VA Cities, DC Among 'Rattiest' In The USA, Topping Orkin's Creepy List

WASHINGTON, DC — In a bit of good news for Washington, D.C., it is no longer in the Top 5 for rattiest cities in the U.S.

Orkin, the pest control company, released its yearly list of cities with rodent problems and DC ranked No. 6 this year, down one spots from the previous year. Two Virginia cities were also named to the list.

Norfolk fell five slots to No. 28 on this year's rattiest cities list, and Richmond was ranked No. 47, a drop of nine spots from last year.

For the first time in the 10-year istory of the Top 50 Rattiest Cities list, Chicago has been knocked out of the No. 1 spot. According to Orkin, Los Angeles now holds the dubious honor. The pest control company determined this year's list by tracking new rodent services in owner-occupied residences from Aug. 20, 2024, to Aug. 21, 2025. Chicago sits at No. 2.

"The shake-up in rankings signals a shift in rodent activity, likely influenced by weather patterns, urban infrastructure and human behavior," Orkin said regarding Tuesday's release of the list. "While Chicago has held the top spot since the list's inception, this year's data shows other major cities are seeing increased pressure, particularly as more moderate climates improve rodent survival rates and urban sprawl opens new pathways for infestations."

Nearby Baltimore was again named to the list, ranked No. 12, down three spots from one year ago.

According to Orkin, the top 10 rattiest cities for 2025 are:

1. Los Angeles, California
2. Chicago, Illinois
3. New York, New York
4. San Francisco, California
5. Hartford, Connecticut
6. Washington, D.C.
7. Detroit, Michigan
8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
9. Minneapolis, Minnesota
10. Denver, Colorado

Orkin said rodents are highly adaptive, drawn to the same needs as humans, including shelter, food and water. The Atlanta-based company added that as the weather cools, rodents seek warm shelter and food sources, causing serious concern for millions of homeowners who deal with infestations each fall.

“Rats and mice are more than a nuisance — they’re opportunists,” said Ian Williams, Orkin entomologist. “If there’s food, warmth and a way in, they’ll find it. And once inside, their constant chewing and rapid reproduction can quickly turn a small issue into a large, expensive one.”

Left unchecked, rats and other rodents can cause structural damage to homes. They enter around piping and even chew through walls, posing a fire risk because they tend to chew through electrical wiring as well, Orkin said in a news release.

Rodents eat the equivalent of a slice of bread every day, and even when they’re not eating, they are constantly chewing. A rat’s teeth have a rating of 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, which means they are powerful enough to chew through steel garbage cans, according to Orkin.

Rodents also reproduce quickly and infestations can become a problem. Look for droppings, gnaw marks and evidence of burrowing around the foundation. Rodents often can be heard before they’re seen, so listen for scratching or scurrying sounds, especially at night.

To prevent them, seal entry points (rats only need an opening the size of a quarter to get in and mice need even less) around windows, doors and pipes.

Eliminate food sources, including by storing food in sealed containers, cleaning up food messes immediately, and making sure the garbage and pet food aren’t accessible. Also, make sure debris outside can’t be used as nesting areas, set traps and, if rodents still get in, call an exterminator, Orkin said.