Chicago Dethroned as America’s Rat King! You Won’t Believe Who Took the Title…

Hold onto your deep-dish, Chicago! 

After a solid, decade-long run as the undisputed champion of all things scurrying and unwelcome, our time on the top of the rodent leaderboard has officially ended.

Yes, you read that right. Chicago is no longer the rattiest city in the country.

Who dared to steal our dubious throne?

In a truly shocking twist of fate, the city of glitz, glamour, and year-round sunshine—Los Angeles—has knocked the Windy City down to the silver medal.

According to Orkin’s annual “Top 50 Rattiest Cities List” for 2025, those West Coast newcomers have taken the #1 spot, ending Chicago’s incredible, record-breaking TEN YEAR REIGN as the nation’s rodent capital.

How Did LA Pull Off This Heist?

While we’ve always prided ourselves on our hardy, winter-resistant rat population, it turns out the perfect storm for rodents is actually… sunshine and good food.

Orkin points out that LA’s success comes down to a few key (and deeply gross) factors:

☀️ Year-Round Warmth: No freezing temps means better survival rates and more baby rats, all the time.

🍽️ Booming Food Scene: More restaurants, more outdoor dining, more garbage access.

🏘️ Dense Neighborhoods: Easy travel and ample hiding spots.

Basically, Hollywood’s signature blend of “glam and grit” is apparently just a five-star hotel for vermin.

But Don’t Get Too Comfortable, Chicago…

Just because we dropped one spot doesn’t mean we’re clean!

We are now officially America’s SECOND Rattiest City.

While we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief that we no longer wear the #1 crown, our beloved dense urban landscape, the vast L-system, and our legendary garbage alleys mean we are still very much fighting the good fight against our little whiskered neighbors.

Here’s a quick look at the top contenders we’re still battling:

• #1: Los Angeles, CA 🥇
• #2: Chicago, IL 🥈
• #3: New York, NY
• #4: San Francisco, CA
• #5: Hartford
• #6: Washington, D.C.
• #7: Detroit, Mich.
• #8: Philadelphia, Pa
• #9: Minneapolis, Minn.
• #10: Denver, Colo.

🐀 The BIG Takeaway for Your Home

Rats and mice are not just gross; they are dangerous. They chew through wiring (hello, fire hazard!) and can spread serious illnesses.

Since they love to move indoors when the weather turns cool (which is happening right now!), Orkin says prevention is essential.

Remember the four steps: G-N-A-W

1. Guard entry points (seal cracks the size of a quarter!)
2. Never leave pet food or wildlife food unattended.
3. Avoid clutter (less nesting spots).
4. Watch for signs (droppings, gnaw marks, those awful scampering noises).

So, what do you think, Chicago?

Are you happy to be done with the “Rattiest City” title, or are you secretly proud of our decade-long run?

Let us know in the comments! 👇