Orkin updates its Top 50 Termite Cities list

PHOTO: ApisitWilaiji/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Miami, Fla. remains the most termite-infested city in America, according to Orkin’s Top 50 Termite Cities list. 2025 marks the third year in a row that Miami has been named the top termite-infested city.

Los Angeles, Calif., and Tampa, Fla., held on to their second- and third-place spots, rounding out the top three cities with the most termite trouble in the country. This year, Houston, Texas, made its debut in the Top 10.

Orkin developed this list based on treatment data from the cities where its team performed the most termite treatments. The data were collected from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024.

Top 50 termite-infested cities:

1. Miami, Fla.
2. Los Angeles, Calif.
3. Tampa, Fla.
4. Washington, D.C.
5. Orlando, Fla.
6. West Palm Beach, Fla.
7. Houston, Texas
8. San Diego, Calif.
9. Baltimore, Md.
10. Dallas, Texas
11. Atlanta, Ga.
12. San Francisco, Calif.
13. Chicago, Ill.
14. New Orleans, La.
15. Philadelphia, Pa.
16. New York, N.Y.
17. Raleigh, N.C.
18. Phoenix, Ariz.
19. Greenville, N.C.
20. Charlotte, N.C.
21. Nashville, Tenn.
22. Memphis, Tenn.
23. Charleston, S.C.
24. Norfolk, Va.
25. San Antonio, Texas
26. Fort Myers, Fla.
27. Charleston, W. Va.
28. Indianapolis, Ind.
29. Pittsburgh, Pa.
30. Jacksonville, Fla.
31. Oklahoma City, Okla.
32. Cincinnati, Ohio
33. Austin, Texas
34. Honolulu, Hawaii
35. Knoxville, Tenn.
36. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
37. Columbia, S.C.
38. Tulsa, Okla.
39. Waco, Texas
40. St. Louis, Mo.
41. Richmond, Va.
42. Kansas City, Mo.
43. Mobile, Ala.
44. Denver, Colo.
45. Detroit, Mich.
46. Grand Rapids, Mich.
47. Chattanooga, Tenn.
48. Harrisburg, Pa.
49. Savannah, Ga.
50. Columbus, Ohio

“Termites cost American homeowners about $5 billion a year in damage, often going undetected until they’ve caused serious damage,” said Glen Ramsey, director of the entomology team at Orkin. “That’s why homeowners should prioritize preventive treatments this time of year.”

Signs of a termite infestation that pest management professionals (PMPs) can warn customers include: 

• A temporary swarm of small, winged insects inside the home or around the soil outside
• Cracked or bubbling paint or wood that sounds hollow when tapped
• Mud tubes on exterior walls, wooden beams or in scraw spaces
• An accumulation of wings or frass

Orkin recommends PMPs tell customers to follow this checklist to prevent termites this spring:

• Ensure water drainage sites are clear
• Maintain pipes, gutters, downspouts, A/C units and other areas susceptible to leaks
• Use caulk to close gaps around the home, especially around utility lines and pipes
• Remove rotting wood and debris on the property
• Use screens on windows and outside vents
• Periodically check wooden structures for damage