Here's a distinction no city's chamber of commerce wants: the Bedbug Capital of America.
Even so, the pest control company Terminix has released its annual ranking of the "most bedbug-infested U.S. cities," and we have a winner: Philadelphia.
Terminix compiles the list based on "service data from more than 300 branches nationwide," the company says in a press release.
It so happens that the City of Brotherly Love and Red Bumps is a returning champ, having topped Terminix's list last year as well. We hope you're now imagining a bedbug pumping two tiny fists in the air in the style of Philly's own Rocky Balboa.
But unlike referring to a sub sandwich as a hoagie, bedbugs are not an only-in-Philadelphia phenomenon. In fact, Terminix records suggest a "notable surge in bed bug activity" across several states in recent years, particularly Ohio, Texas, Florida, California, and, yes, Pennsylvania.
The company's experts suspect "regional trends in infestations are likely tied to climate, housing trends, and travel hubs."
Bedbugs favor places that are warm and humid, and many places have been getting warmer and more humid lately.
Given the roles that urban density and high numbers of travelers can also play in the proliferation of bedbugs, it should come as no surprise that New York City is the USA's second-most infested town. It ranked one place higher than its third-place finish last year.
The Cleveland-Akron area, now in third, also moved up one space from the previous year, a dismaying performance by a relatively small metro area.
Fourth-place finisher Los Angeles jumped forward (or scurried, as the case may be) an alarming 17 spots year over year.
The 10 Most Bedbug-Infested Cities in the U.S., According to Terminix
- Philadelphia
- New York City
- Cleveland-Akron
- Los Angeles
- Dallas-Ft. Worth
- Atlanta
- Houston
- Washington, D.C.
- San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
- Indianapolis
Tips for Avoiding Bedbugs When You Travel—and Not Bringing Them Home
There are some precautions you can take while traveling to minimize your chances of bringing home a creepy-crawly souvenir.
When you arrive at your hotel room or vacation rental, do not put your baggage on the bed or floor. Instead, put your stuff on a luggage rack or in the bathroom while you conduct a bedbug search.
Advises Terminix: "Inspect mattress seams, headboards, and nearby furniture for small, rust-colored stains, shed skins, or live bed bugs."
If you find something, contact hotel management. Don't let them put you in a new room that's directly adjacent, above, or below the buggy one because, as Frommer's has warned, "bedbugs can easily hitch a ride to neighboring spaces via housekeeping carts, wall sockets, and luggage."
When you get back home from your travels (whether or not you encountered evidence of bedbugs in your hotel room), Terminix recommends that you unpack on a hard surface—such as in the garage, if you have one—some distance away from bedrooms.
To be extra safe, place all clothing in the dryer for 30 minutes on high heat to "spot and eliminate" any live bedbugs.
You might want to be especially vigilant when traveling to or from the bedbuggiest places.
To see the full list of 2025's top 50 bedbug-infested cities in the U.S., go to Terminix.com.
Are we the only ones suddenly feeling itchy?