The Top 10 Buggiest Cities in America To Avoid

By: Stephanie Bontorin | Published: Sep 09, 2024

A new study has revealed America’s buggiest cities. The findings show that most of the top 10 worst cities for bugs are also among the most sweat-inducing metros.

Six of the top spots are in Texas and Florida, showing a long-presumed idea that metro cities with sweaty, muggy summers also experience the worst bug conditions.

Tampa, Florida

The 10th buggiest city on the list is none other than Tampa, Florida. Known for its spectacular waterfront properties and exciting nightlife, it also saw its pest-related services increase by 15.6% in the last year.

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Earlier this year, Orkin ranked the city among the top 50 worst cities for bed bugs. The average cost for an exterminator for one visit is roughly $200 to $600.

Miami, Florida

Another stunning coastline city with sweltering summer temperatures and heinous levels of humidity is Miami, Florida.

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A super popular spot for vacations, Miami has also seen an increase in pest-related services by around 10% in the past year. The average cost for a pest control service has risen to around $527, which is almost $100 more than the national average.

West Palm Beach, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida, is well known for its stunning white sandy beach, which spans the entire city. Due to the warm weather and southern humidity, the metro area is known as one of the top sweatiest cities in America.

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Next to the mosquitos and bed bugs, West Palm Beach is also home to nasty paper wasps and mud daubers – critters that are especially attracted to spiders.

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte is the top-populated city in the natural state of North Carolina. However, its requesters for pest services have also increased by 21.9%.

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The skyline of Charlotte

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The city is known as one of the top locations for bed bugs, on top of their serious mosquito problem in the summer. Residents looking to fumigate bed bugs from their homes will be expected to spend between $2,000 and $8,000.

Austin, Texas

Austin is a unique city in Texas, known as being one of the fastest-growing cities in the last 10 years. Plenty of large tech companies have relocated to the city in recent years to enjoy the space and the tax benefits in Texas.

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Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests in Texas, with German, brown-banded, and American cockroaches being spotted all over the city. These critters can be costly and difficult to remove once they begin to lay eggs in your home.

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Houston, Texas

Houston is another city in Texas known for its humid and sweaty summers plagued by mosquitos, ants, bed bugs, and ticks.

Many people sitting on grass in front of the Houston skyline in the daytime.

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Pest service requests are up roughly 8.8% year over year due to the increase in muggy weather and flooding, which increase the incidents of bugs in the city.

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Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland, is a beautiful town with historic landmarks and unique architecture. However, it also saw a 26.4$ increase in pest-related services over the last year alone.

An aerial view of a large city filled with brick buildings and a large brick bell tower in the center

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The city has also been named the sixth sweatiest city, with older pre-war homes that allow bed bugs to thrive and little critters to find their way inside the walls.

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Dallas, Texas

Dallas’s weather is one of the main reasons for the state’s high bug populations. The long and tangled weeds surrounding the city offer the perfect conditions for mosquitos, ants, and ticks to thrive.

The skyline of Dallas

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The super hot and sweaty summers mean that many residents must battle multiple uncomfortable conditions at a time.

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Washington, DC

The nation’s capital is well-known as a bug-infested swamp during the muggy summer months.

A view of the pool next to the Washington Monument

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One of the most common bug infestations in the city is actually bed bugs. The metro area has been ranked tenth on the list of the least air-conditioned cities in the country, as well as being the third sweatiest city in the country.

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Atlanta, Georgia

The top, sweatiest, and bug-infested city on the list is Atlanta, Georgia. Home to peaches, bad traffic, and constant 100-degree weather in the summer, Atlanta is the highest-growing city for pest-control solutions.

A photograph of the skyline of Atlanta, Georgia, during sunset

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On top of being one of the biggest cities in America, Atlanta is also the sweatiest city with the least amount of air-conditioned homes and businesses, making it a difficult place to enjoy during the hottest months of the year.

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Stay Away From Buggy Cities

During the hottest summer months, you’ll want to stay far away from these sweaty and buggy cities.

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As well, there are plenty of ways to check for bed bugs while staying in a hotel in any of these infected cities. Be sure to keep yourself safe from these traveling critters.

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