Chicago Loses Its ‘Rattiest City’ Crown

It's almost disappointing to lose the top ranking in something, anything, even if it is the moniker "Rattiest City in America."

That honor has been bestowed upon Chicago for 10 consecutive years, but alas, it was taken away in 2025 and placed on another, more rat-infested burg, Los Angeles, according to Orkin.

I remember walking down the alley headed toward Wrigley Field and seeing a rat so big it looked like a small cat. I guess what I'm saying is, Chicago's reputation is well-earned.

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Los Angeles Takes the Top Spot in 2025

Never fear, rat fans. There is hope that the Windy City could reclaim its crown in the near future, because it's not like the vermin problem is completely cleared up, not quite. Chicago sits at the #2 spot on the list of rattiest cities in America.

The Top 10 Rattiest Cities in America

1. Los Angeles, CA
2. Chicago, IL
3. New York, NY
4. San Francisco, CA
5. Hartford, CT
6. Washington, DC
7. Detroit, MI
8. Philadelphia, PA
9. Minneapolis, MN
10. Denver, CO

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Illinois and Wisconsin Cities Still Battling Rodent Issues

Outside the top ten, there are a few interesting additions, such as Champaign, home of the University of Illinois, jumping six spots this year to #37 on the list. Yikes.

Also, three Wisconsin cities are among the top 50 rattiest, so it's not just Illinois with a Midwest rat problem.

All in all, it looks like Chicago’s still crawling its way toward the crown, one rat at a time.