Chicago’s reign as the rodent king has come to an end—Los Angeles has officially outranked the Windy City to become the number one rattiest city in America for 2025.
Chicago held the number 1 spot on Orkin’s Top 50 Rattiest Cities List for a record-breaking 10 years from 2014 to 2024, according to the pest control company.
Here’s how the City of Angels stole the title of rodent king.
Chicago now America’s second-rattiest city
While our city no longer tops the list, Chicago is still a rodent hotspot. The Windy City earned the number two spot on the 2025 roundup.
Other cities in the top 10 include Philadelphia, Denver, and Washington D.C.
As for how L.A. claimed the number one spot in 2025, Orkin attributes the city’s win to its mix of year-round warm weather, dense housing, and booming food scene.
Rats thrive in warm environments with reliable food sources, so preventing rodent infestations means blocking off external entryways and cleaning up garbage.
Rat t-shirt giveaway
In celebration of the city’s new claim to fame, Orkin is giving away “Rattiest City: Los Angeles T-shirts” to 250 lucky winners.
Enter for a chance to win here.