Nearly 15 million American households see a rat or mouse every year. This page collects the key rodent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey, the CDC, the EPA, and the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), each with its original source. Updated July 2026.
Key rodent statistics
- 14.8 million U.S. households (~11.9%) reported seeing rodents in the past 12 months, out of roughly 124 million occupied homes (U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2019).
- Rodents invade an estimated 21 million U.S. homes each winter (NPMA/PestWorld).
- 24% of homeowners report mice infestations specifically in winter (NPMA/PestWorld).
- Rodents spread more than 35 diseases to humans, directly and indirectly (U.S. EPA).
- A mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime; a rat through one the size of a quarter (Penn State Extension).
Where the problem is worst
- Philadelphia has the highest metro rodent-sighting rate in America: 18.9% of households. Phoenix has the lowest at 3.1% (Census Bureau, AHS 2019).
- Homes with structural wall problems (sloping, leaning, buckling) are 5.6× more likely to report rodents (Census Bureau, AHS 2019).
- Los Angeles took #1 on Orkin’s 2025 “Rattiest Cities” list, ending Chicago’s decade-long run. Top 10: Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Hartford, Washington D.C., Detroit, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Denver (Orkin, 2025).
- New York City receives ~40,000 rat complaints a year through 311 (NYC Health Department).
Disease: the numbers
- 890 hantavirus cases have been reported in the U.S. since surveillance began in 1993 (through 2023) — with a 35% fatality rate, and 94% of cases west of the Mississippi (CDC).
- Leptospirosis — for which rodents are a key reservoir — causes an estimated 1 million cases and ~60,000 deaths globally each year (CDC).
Why infestations explode so fast
House mouse reproduction, per the University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity Web (source):
- 5–10 litters per year (up to 14 recorded)
- 3–12 pups per litter (typically 5–6)
- Sexual maturity at 5–7 weeks old
Run the math: one breeding pair in October can be a multi-generation colony by spring. That’s why sealing entry points beats trapping alone.
- A rat’s teeth measure 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale — hard enough to chew through steel garbage cans (Orkin, 2025).
A note on two famous “statistics” we left out
You may have read that rodents cause “20–25% of unexplained house fires” or destroy “20% of the world’s food supply.” We could not trace either figure to a primary source (NFPA, FAO, or peer-reviewed research) — only to other pest-control blogs citing each other. We’ve excluded them; if you’re writing about rodents, we’d suggest doing the same.
Related guides
Wondering what removal costs? Try the Pest Control Cost Calculator — pro vs DIY, sourced ranges.
How to cite this page
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<a href="https://townhustle.com/rodent-infestation-statistics">Rodent Infestation Statistics (2026) — Townhustle</a>
Or cite as: Townhustle, “Rodent Infestation Statistics (2026),” townhustle.com, updated July 2026.