Bro’s Pest Control · 2026 research report
The Most Pest-Infested Cities of 2026
Three pests. Three different leaders. See where America’s rodent, bed bug, and termite treatment rankings overlap.
Which American city has the biggest pest problem? The answer changes depending on what’s crawling, nesting, or chewing.
To look beyond a single pest, we compared the top 10 entries in three Orkin reports released in 2026. Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., appear in all three. Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland appear in two. The comparison below shows exactly where the lists overlap—and how to use that information at home.
The quick read
Different pests have different capitals.
Category leaders from the three reports: Orkin: rodents · Orkin: bed bugs · Orkin: termites.
The useful story is the overlap. A city can feature prominently for one pest without reaching the top 10 for another. Miami leads the termite list but is outside the rodent and bed bug top 10. Chicago has a different pattern, appearing near the top for rodents and bed bugs.
Original cross-category comparison
Five cities appear on multiple top 10 lists.
Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., have the broadest overlap in this comparison. That does not establish that they have the highest overall infestation rates.
| City | Rodents | Bed bugs | Termites | Top 10 lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 of 3 |
| Washington, D.C. | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 of 3 |
| Chicago | 2 | 1 | Outside top 10 | 2 of 3 |
| Detroit | 6 | 3 | Outside top 10 | 2 of 3 |
| Cleveland | 7 | 4 | Outside top 10 | 2 of 3 |
Source: Bro’s Pest Control analysis of the linked Orkin reports. “Outside top 10” does not mean a pest is absent. Cities with the same appearance count are not assigned an overall rank.
Where the lists intersect
Number of appearances across three pest-specific top 10 lists
Analysis: Bro’s Pest Control · Underlying rankings: Orkin, 2026
Overlap is not a measurement of household infestation risk.
Explore the categories
The top 10 cities for each pest
Keep the columns separate: the reports count different treatments over different observation periods.
| Position | Rodents | Bed bugs | Termites |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | Chicago | Miami |
| 2 | Chicago | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| 3 | New York | Detroit | Tampa |
| 4 | San Francisco | Cleveland | Washington, D.C. |
| 5 | Washington, D.C. | Indianapolis | Orlando |
| 6 | Detroit | Springfield, IL | Houston |
| 7 | Cleveland | Washington, D.C. | West Palm Beach |
| 8 | Denver | Columbus, OH | Dallas |
| 9 | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | New York |
| 10 | Baltimore | Grand Rapids, MI | Atlanta |
Full rankings and source methods: Orkin: rodents · Orkin: bed bugs · Orkin: termites. The source publishers use city or market labels; these are not necessarily standardized city boundaries.
Why two companies can name different “worst” cities
Orkin · 2026 release
Chicago leads for bed bugs.
Its report uses residential and commercial treatment activity between May 12, 2025, and May 12, 2026.
Terminix · Updated May 2026
Philadelphia leads for bed bugs.
Its page uses 2025 service visits for active customers at Rentokil-owned Terminix branches, which do not operate in every state.
A company’s treatment totals reflect its customers and geographic coverage as well as pest activity. Read these lists as “highest treatment activity in this dataset” rather than “the highest chance your home is infested.”
From rankings to action
What should you actually check?
Your building’s condition and direct evidence matter more than its city’s position. Use the report to guide questions, then identify the pest before choosing treatment.
Rodents
Check food storage, waste containers, leaks, and possible entry points. Ask for a plan that addresses access and monitoring as well as active pests.
Ask your provider: “How will you identify entry points and check whether the problem has been resolved?”
Bed bugs
Get the insect identified before treating. Record where evidence appears. In apartments, report confirmed activity to management so nearby spaces can be assessed.
Ask your provider: “What inspection, preparation, treatment, and follow-up does your proposal include?”
Termites
Reduce moisture, maintain drainage, and store wood away from the house. Arrange an inspection if you suspect activity; use a licensed, trained professional for pesticide applications.
Ask your provider: “What evidence did you find, which termite type is involved, and what does the agreement cover?”
Pest photos are illustrative and come from the site’s existing media library. They do not document infestations in the listed cities.
How we did the comparison
A method you can check.
We extracted the top 10 entries from three Orkin reports released in 2026, matched clearly equivalent city labels, and counted appearances across the three categories. We did not merge neighboring cities, average ranks, or create a weighted infestation score.
| Category | Observation period | Treatment population |
|---|---|---|
| Rodents | Aug. 9, 2025–Aug. 9, 2026 | New residential rodent treatments |
| Bed bugs | May 12, 2025–May 12, 2026 | Residential and commercial bed bug treatments |
| Termites | Jan. 15, 2025–Jan. 16, 2026 | Residential termite treatments in owner-occupied residences |
Observation periods and treatment definitions: Orkin: rodents · Orkin: bed bugs · Orkin: termites.
What the data cannot tell us
- Infestation rates: The comparison is not adjusted for population, household counts, or company market share.
- Conditions at your address: A regional treatment rank cannot diagnose a property.
- Every type of pest: Cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants, ticks, and other pests are outside this comparison.
- The full 2026 calendar year: Report years and observation periods are different.
- Whether an unlisted city is pest-free: Absence from a top 10 list does not establish low risk.
Common questions
Understanding the rankings
What is the most pest-infested city in America in 2026?
There is no single nationwide infestation measurement in these sources. Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., have the broadest top 10 overlap across the three treatment rankings compared here. That is not an overall infestation-rate ranking.
Does a high city ranking mean my home needs treatment?
No. Base treatment decisions on identification, inspection findings, and a plan appropriate to the actual problem. A regional rank alone is not a reason to purchase treatment.
Why isn’t there one overall numbered list?
Combining different pests, treatment populations, and observation periods would require subjective weighting. Keeping the categories visible makes the comparison easier to verify.
Why aren’t cockroaches or mosquitoes included?
This analysis is limited to the three cited treatment lists. It should not be interpreted as a comprehensive index covering every household or outdoor pest.
Can journalists cite this comparison?
Yes. Attribute the top 10 overlap analysis to Bro’s Pest Control and the underlying treatment rankings to Orkin. Link to this report’s methodology and consult the original sources before describing the findings as infestation risk.
References & attribution
Go straight to the sources.
- Orkin: 2026 Rattiest Cities — published October 13, 2026.
- Orkin: 2026 Bed Bug Cities, distributed through PR Newswire — published July 7, 2026.
- Orkin: 2026 Top 50 Termite Cities — published February 17, 2026.
- Terminix: Bed bug city rankings — page marked updated May 27, 2026; uses 2025 service data.
- EPA: Integrated Pest Management Principles.
- EPA: Do-it-yourself Bed Bug Control.
- EPA: Termites—How to Identify and Control Them.
Suggested citation: Bro’s Pest Control. “The Most Pest-Infested Cities of 2026.” Cross-category comparison of Orkin’s 2026 rodent, bed bug, and termite treatment rankings. Sources checked October 22, 2026.
Help for your actual pest problem
Start with the evidence at home.
Tell us what you’re seeing and where you need service. Bro’s Pest Control helps connect customers with independent local providers who may be able to inspect the property and explain treatment options.
Request pest control helpCall 1-888-497-9069
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