NYC beating bed bug problem, new infestation stats reveal — here are the worst US offenders

The Big Apple may be overrun with rats and roaches, but bed bugs are becoming less of an issue across the five boroughs, per a new report.

Pest control company Orkin has released its 2025 list of Worst US Cities for Bed Bugs, with New York falling 13 spots since last year.

In 2024, the city ranked as the second-worst metropolis for the creepy-crawlies, based on the number of infestations treated in homes and hotels.

Now, New York comes in at number 15 — an impressive feat, given that bed bugs are hard to get rid of.

“Bed bugs are some of the most resilient pests in the world, making them extremely difficult to control if brought into a home or hotel,” Ben Hottel, a top Orkin entomologist, stated.

For the fifth consecutive year, Chicago was named the most bed bug-infested city in the nation.

Rounding out the top five were Cleveland, Detroit, Los Angeles and Indianapolis.

In addition to New York, Philadelphia and Charlotte also experienced a significant year-over-year decrease in reported infestations. Philadelphia dropped from No. 3 in 2024 to No. 24 this year, and Charlotte dropped from No. 9 to No. 31.

Orkin stated that these improvements underscore the importance of inspecting beds and luggage for bed bugs both during and after travel.

Meanwhile, Hartford, Connecticut, made the biggest leap in the 2025 list, jumping 48 spots to No. 35 this year, showing a significant increase in infestations.

Here are the top 15 cities on Orkin’s 2025 bed bug list:

1. Chicago
2. Cleveland (+2)
3. Detroit (+3)
4. Los Angeles (+1)
5. Indianapolis (+3)
6. Washington, D.C. (+1)
7. Grand Rapids, Mich. (+7)
8. Columbus, Ohio (+3)
9. Champaign, Ill. (+1)
10. Milwaukee (+15)
11. Baltimore (+5)
12. Pittsburgh (+9)
13. Cincinnati (-1)
14. Denver (+1)
15. New York (-13)