Cockroaches scatter when the light is turned on at night. Just the thought of these pests causes disgust and fear, but some cities have more of a roach problem than others.
Which are the Roachiest Cities in America? Pest Gnome mined data from the Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as climate info to come up with our Top 25 list. (See Behind the Ranking for our methodology.) We also included expert tips on how to get rid of and how to prevent roaches.
Oh, and check out our by-the-roaches fun facts quiz for everything you might want to know (and some things you probably don’t want to know) about these common household pests.
Table of Contents
- City Rankings
- Highlights and Lowlights
- Expert Insights
- Behind the Ranking
- Health Dangers of Roaches
- By the Roaches Fun Facts Quiz
City Rankings
See how each city fared in our top-25 ranking:
Highlights and Lowlights
We’re talking about cockroaches here. Are there anything but lowlights, really? Let’s talk about these lowlife pests.
Houston, We Have a Roach Problem
H-Town leads our list of the cockroachiest cities in America with 37% of homes showing signs of these pests in the past 12 months. The cause of all those bugs? The heat and humidity. People hate the swelter, but roaches thrive in these conditions.
The two most common types of cockroaches in Houston are the big, brown, and flying American cockroach (aka palmetto bug) and the kitchen, pantry, and sink-dwelling German cockroach.
How to keep these pests from invading your home? Seal points of entry, don’t leave crumbs anywhere, and fix any leaky pipes. When Raid and roach motels aren’t doing the job, call in the cavalry.
Southern Cities Have More Roach Motels
San Antonio landed at No. 2 on our list with 28.32% of homes showing signs of roaches in the past 12 months. Tampa, Florida, Phoenix, and Las Vegas crawled (or skittered?) to finish in the Top 5.
All of these cities have sun and heat in summer, which roaches love, and winters here just don’t get that cold to kill them off. How chilly does it need to be to put these creepy crawlies on ice?
A roach can’t survive temperatures below 45 degrees F, but this temperature must be maintained for a while. And if temperatures fall (or rise) slowly, these critters can adapt. Cockroaches at room temperature put into a sub-zero freezer will die within 30 minutes.
Ice, Ice, Baby Roaches
As noted above, cold kills roaches, which explains why Seattle landed at the bottom of our roachiest cities ranking. Other northern metros where freezing temps torpedo roaches are Detroit, San Francisco, Boston, and Rochester, New York.
The cold outside leads roaches inside for warmth, so make your home less inviting. Keep it clean, and apply a barrier spray at doorways. You don’t want these critters moving in for the winter with your family.
Expert Insights
- What advice would you give homeowners who spotted a cockroach inside their home but couldn’t identify it?
- What is your No. 1 tip for how to prevent cockroaches?
- What is one mistake you often see homeowners make when it comes to cockroaches and their homes?
- What is the greatest misconception people have about cockroaches
Behind the Ranking
Pest Gnome synthesized data from U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for 25 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) to arrive at these rankings. The Census Bureau survey was released in 2023.
The city that earned the highest average score was ranked as No. 1, or the “Roachiest,” and the lowest average score as No. 25, or “Least Roachy.”
Health Dangers of Roaches
Infestations of roaches may affect your health, both physically and mentally.
Intestinal Bugs, Allergies, and Worse
Cockroaches may carry bacteria or parasites that can cause intestinal disease, including the following organisms:
- Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
- Entamoeba histolytica
- Poliomyelitis virus
Roaches also can cause allergic reactions through their excrement and shed skins. Not only can roaches cause all the regular allergy symptoms (congestion, sneezing, watery eyes), but they also can cause life-threatening bronchial inflammation (asthma).
Roaches, especially the flying kind, can bite you in your sleep. This happens rarely but more often if you don’t move around too much while sleeping.
The Roach-Mind Connection
And, oh, what these pests can do to your psyche. Even the thought of a cockroach makes us shudder in disgust. At the very least, people with roach infestations might avoid entertaining for fear that one or more of these creepy crawlies might, well, creep out their guests.
Katsaridaphobia is the fear of cockroaches. Tens of millions of people may suffer from this phobia, but the exact number may be undeterminable because people often do not seek treatment.
When to Call a Cockroach Exterminator
Despite all your efforts, you may not get all of the roaches. Even one surviving male-female couple can start the process all over again. The best — and easiest — solution might be to call for help, especially if you’ve tried everything else to get rid of your buggy problem.
The cost of a cockroach exterminator ranges from $115 to $350, but that’s maybe a small price for peace of mind. Pest Gnome connects you to the best cockroach exterminators (and all other manner of pest control pros) near you.
By the Roaches Fun Facts Quiz
Questions
- Roaches can survive in a microwave oven. True or False
- A cockroach’s hiss can scare a dog. True or False
- How many species of cockroaches are there in the world?
- A: 4,500
- B: 1,300
- C: 900
- Roach droppings are often confused with what other pest?
- A: Ants
- B: Bed bugs
- C: Boll weevil
- Combat’s roach killer was originally developed to treat malaria. True or False
- The Cockroach Festival and BBQ Cook-Off is held annually in Santa Fe, Texas. True or False
Answers:
- True. Cockroaches can hide away from where the microwaves are focused. That’s one of many odd facts about cockroaches published by Joseph G. Kunkel, UMass professor emeritus.
- True, according to the University of Massachusetts. A few cockroaches hiss at humans and other mammals; a cockroach fancier’s favorite, Gromphadorhina species, can hiss loudly enough, and frighteningly enough, to scare a dog. Leucophaea maderae makes a “stridulating noise” probably meant to scare away anything trying to eat it.
- There are 4,500 species of cockroaches in the world, and 69 species of cockroaches in the U.S., according to Terminix. As you probably know, roaches breed like, well,
rabbitsroaches. Times change, roaches don’t change much. Roaches have been a pest for at least 320 million years and look much like they did then. - Roach droppings are often confused with bed bugs. For what it’s worth, it’s much easier to get rid of cockroaches than bed bugs — and far less costly. Other bugs that look like bed bugs include ants, ticks, fleas, and head lice. And the cost of bed bug extermination ranges from $917 to $1,917.
- True. Read all about the research and marketing of Combat’s roach traps in this New York Times article. “The bait, specially tailored to cockroach tastes, amounts to an oatmeal cookie. It is a mixture of corn syrup, grease and oatmeal laced with the hydramethylnon,” the article explains.
- True. We just missed the 38th Annual Cockroach Festival and BBQ Cook-Off this year. Yes, the festival’s mascot is a cockroach. The event is sponsored every year by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. We’d argue it should be the Fraternal Order of the Cockroaches, and no, they don’t barbecue cockroaches — though cockroaches can be found on the menu in Mexico and Thailand (among other countries).
How did you do?
1-2 Right: You need to brush up on your roaches — before stomping on them or solving your problem with a roach trap or spray. Or hire a pest control pro.
3-4 Right: You’re smarter than the average bear about cockroaches, so maybe head to Texas for the Cockroach Festival next fall to learn a bit more.
5-6 Right: You’re a cockroach champ! Just don’t get too cocky. If cockroaches can survive a microwave, they might even outsmart you.
Main Photo Credit: Houston: Meinzahn / Canva Pro / License, The Alamo: paulbrady / Canva Pro / License, Tampa: TriggerPhoto / Canva Pro / License, created using Canva Pro
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