Greenville Ranks Among 2026 Most Rat-Infested Cities in the U.S.

Greenville Ranks No. 40 on Orkin’s 2026 Rattiest Cities List

Greenville remains South Carolina’s rattiest city, according to a 2026 report released by pest control company Orkin. The Upstate city landed at number 40 on the national list of most rat-infested cities, dropping 10 spots from its ranking in 2025.

Orkin compiles its annual rankings by tracking the volume of new rodent service calls to owner-occupied residences over a 12-month period. For the 2026 index, the data was collected between August 9, 2025, and August 9, 2026.

According to Orkin National Technical Director Dr. Shannon Sked, no particular climate or urban environment escapes the threat of rodents, as mice and rats easily adjust to their surroundings and multiply nationwide anywhere access to shelter, water, and food exists.

Greenville stood out as the sole municipality in South Carolina to crack the top 50. Neighboring Tennessee saw two entries on the list, with Nashville claiming the No. 30 spot and Knoxville entering the top 50 for the first time at No. 45.

Greenville south carolina reedy river skyline downtown sc

National Rankings and Top Ten Cities

On a national scale, Los Angeles secured the top position as the nation’s rattiest city for the second year in a row. Having previously maintained the number-one position on Orkin’s rankings for ten consecutive years, Chicago was surpassed by the City of Angels in 2025.

Orkin’s top ten most rat-infested U.S. cities for 2026 include:

Los Angeles, California
Chicago, Illinois
New York City, New York
San Francisco, Cali.
Washington, D.C.
Detroit, Michigan
Cleveland, Ohio
Denver, Colorado
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Baltimore, Maryland

Pest management professionals advise property owners to guard entry points, remove outdoor food sources, and reduce clutter to prevent infestations as cooler weather sets in.