Rattiest States and Cities

USA’s 'Rattiest' States and Cities Revealed: Where the Rodents Reign!

When moving to a new area, you probably think about schools, crime rates, housing costs, and job opportunities. But have you ever thought about the local rat and mouse population?

That’s why Pink Storage, a self-storage company, analysed over 300 different keywords related to rat and rodent infestations across 150 of the most populated U.S. cities, plus state-level search data to reveal the USA’s 'Rattiest' States and Cities.

The analysis included keywords like "24-hour rat exterminator," "best rat exterminator near me," "get rid of rats in walls," and many others to capture the full scope of rodent concerns across the country.

Data was collected from November 2023 to October 2024 and then adjusted per 100,000 residents in each location to create a ranking.

Main Findings

The Most Rat-Infested Cities in America (Rat Control searches per 100,000 population)

1. Richmond, Virginia (2072)
2. Chattanooga, Tennessee (1786)
3. Knoxville, Tennessee (1574)
4. Orlando, Florida (1478)
5. Toledo, Ohio (1425)
6. Salt Lake City, Utah (1393)
7. Fort Lauderdale, Florida (1341)
8. Miami, Florida (1296)
9. Birmingham, Alabama (1266)
10. Port St. Lucie, Florida (1261)

USA's Rattiest States

The Most Rat-Infested States in America (Rat Control searches per 100,000 population)

1. Delaware (411)
2. Utah (381)
3. Florida (353)
4. Arizona (347)
5. Vermont (342)
6. Rhode Island (334)
7. Georgia (328)
8. Maine (311)
9. Virginia (303)
10. Tennessee (303)

The Least Rat-Infested States in America (Rat Control searches per 100,000 population)

1. Montana (167)
2. Minnesota (178)
3. Alaska (181)
4. Indiana (186)
5. New York (188)
6. Kentucky (189)
7. South Dakota (189)
8. North Dakota (189)
9. New Mexico (196)
10. Ohio (198)

Rat Control Tips

When the weather is colder, rodents come inside to find food and a warm place to nest. While some rodents may look small and cuddly, they can damage your home and bring other pests like ticks and lice in too.

Rats also like to chew through your home which can cause electrical fires. Contact with Rats can also cause severe health problems such as kidney damage and respiratory diseases, in short, you will want to keep rats and other rodents out of your home.

Ben Jones a local pest control expert spoke to Pink Storage on how to keep rats out of your home and what you can do if you find an infestation.

Ben says "To keep the rats out you first need to make it difficult for them to get inside. You can do this by sealing up and gaps, cracks or small openings around the outside of your home. Rats can squeeze through small spaces, and they can make them bigger by chewing on any opening they can find. You should use sturdy materials like steel wool to block entryways."

"Rats come inside for food and shelter, if you block off the shelter they will still look to find food. You should store any leftover food in airtight containers and not leave any pet food out overnight. Your bins should also be secure both inside and out as rats have a good sense of smell."

"Lastly, keep the clutter to a minimum. Rats love clutter as they can hide among it to breed. A clean and organised space makes it more difficult for rats to settle. If you don't have room in your home, consider renting a storage unit to keep the clutter away."

On discovering an infestation Ben says it's best to act quickly by getting in touch with a pest control professional who can assess the extent of the issue and remove the pests from your home.

"DIY solutions can make the problem worse, rats are clever and will avoid certain baits and traps. In the meantime, they can also reproduce in your home. If you find rats or other rodents, seek professional help," warns Ben.

Methodology

Population data for each city and state was collected from Census.gov, focusing on the top 150 most populated U.S. cities. Using Google Keyword Planner, we analysed search volumes for 300 keywords related to rat and rodent infestations in these areas. Given Google’s 88% market share in the U.S., this data offers insight into how people search online when dealing with rat infestations.

Next, we calculated the total search volume for each city and state across these keywords, then adjusted this to reflect searches per 100,000 residents. This data allowed us to rank each location by search volume. Data was gathered from November 2023 to October 2024.

Fair Use Policy

If you want to use this data, please link back to this website crediting Pink Storage.

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