This NC city is among the most bug infested in the US, new report says
Pests can prove problematic for locals in any major city, and Charlotte is no exception, according to a new report from Thumbtack.
For the second year in a row, Charlotte ranked among the buggiest cities in the U.S., coming in at No. 7 on the top 10 list published annually by the home services website.
The online directory connects users looking to hire local service providers for everything from junk removal to cleaning services and home improvement projects, according to its website.
For the rankings, Thumbtack said it analyzed the relative frequency of requests for “pest control services, pest inspection, bed bug extermination and outdoor pesticide application” on its platform between August 2024 and July 2025. Results were then adjusted for the population of state and metro areas, the company said.
Charlotte among ‘buggiest’ cities
The Queen City, home to more than 874,000 residents, saw a 16% jump in searches for pest-related services since last year, according to Thumbtack data.
Charlotte also earned a spot on Orkin’s top 50 bed bug cities list for 2025, despite seeing a “significant” dip in reported bed bug infestations from the year before. Other common pests in the area include cockroaches, ants, termites and wasps, according to the pest control company.
“There’s a common misconception that pest threats are predictably seasonal, but changing weather patterns have rewritten the rules,” Jim Fredericks, senior vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association, said in a statement.
“Pests are staying active longer, increasing the risk of disease transmission.”
Twice a year, the organization releases its Public Health Pest Index identifying the U.S. cities most at risk for an uptick in pests from late summer into fall. NPMA entomologists analyze weather patterns in the nation’s top 50 metro areas and how those patterns might impact the presence of certain pests.
“The top cities make the list, as they’ve experienced the most significant deviations from typical temperatures and precipitation,” the organization said.
In Charlotte, specifically, “a hot, rainy season” could create the perfect storm for “moisture-loving pests” like ticks and mosquitos well beyond the summer months, according to the index.
What are the top buggiest cities in the U.S.?
Pest problems aren’t unique to the Queen City. Here’s how others ranked, according to Thumbtack:
- 1. Austin, Texas
- 2. Dallas, Texas
- 3. Washington, D.C.
- 4. Atlanta, Georgia
- 5. Houston, Texas
- 6. Baltimore, Maryland
- 7. Charlotte, North Carolina
- 8. San Francisco, California
- 9. West Palm Beach, Florida
- 10. Miami, Florida
How to stay pest free in NC
There are practical steps you can take to keep pests from making your house their home. During the summer months, Orkin recommends:
- Keeping food sealed and properly disposing of trash
- Use air conditioning or dehumidifiers
- Checking for cracks or gaps around doors and windows
- Keeping pet food and water bowls clean
This story was originally published August 25, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "This NC city is among the most bug infested in the US, new report says."