Photo by David Bartus
Article courtesy of Nealon Insulation.
- Michigan has the 16th-lowest pest-risk score in the US, scoring 37.14 out of 100. The state ranks 35th overall for household pest risk, placing it well below higher-risk states such as Ohio and Indiana.
- Hawaii tops the ranking, with a pest-risk score of 78.43 out of 100, helped by warm, wet conditions and a “very heavy” termite-risk zone.
- Wyoming ranks lowest overall, scoring just 15.16, followed by Idaho and Montana, where low housing density and “none to slight” termite-risk ratings help keep pest vulnerability down.
Not every part of the US faces the same pest pressures at home. While some states have the climate, housing stock and density that can make pest problems more likely, others have conditions that are much less favorable for pests such as termites, cockroaches and rodents.
A new study by Nealon Insulation analyzed official housing, climate, density and termite-risk data to identify the US states where homes may be most vulnerable to pest problems.
The pest-risk index combines Census housing data, Census density data, NOAA climate data and termite-risk zones. The final score is a relative vulnerability index, not a count of confirmed infestations.
Michigan findings
| Rank | State | Pest-risk score | Termite-risk zone | Cockroach suitability | Rodent suitability | Average annual temperature | Average annual precipitation | Homes built before 1980 | Housing density |
| 35 | Michigan | 37.14 | Slight to moderate | 29.63 | 29.28 | 45.19°F | 33.91 in | 62.1% | 81.6 homes/sq mi |
Michigan has the 16th-lowest pest-risk score in the US, scoring 37.14 out of 100. The state falls into the “slight to moderate” termite-risk zone and records relatively modest pest suitability scores, including 29.63 for cockroaches and 29.28 for rodents. Its cooler climate also helps keep risk lower, with an average annual temperature of 45.19°F and average annual precipitation of 33.91 inches.
That said, Michigan’s lower overall score does not mean homes are risk-free. Older properties remain a key pressure point, with 62.1% of homes built before 1980, while its housing density of 81.6 homes per square mile is higher than many of the lowest-ranking states. This means its overall risk is lower than many warmer or denser states, but older properties may still create entry points or maintenance issues that make pest prevention more important.
Compared with neighbouring states, Michigan has a lower pest-risk score than Ohio, which ranks 20th overall with a score of 55.67, and Indiana, which ranks 27th with 50.20. It also sits just below Wisconsin, which has the 18th-lowest pest-risk score at 38.36. However, Minnesota performs better than Michigan, recording the 10th-lowest pest-risk score in the study at 29.37.
The states where homes are most likely to have pest problems
| Rank | State | Pest-risk score | Termite-risk zone | Cockroach suitability | Rodent suitability | Average annual temperature | Average annual precipitation | Homes built before 1980 | Housing density |
| 1 | Hawaii | 78.43 | Very heavy | 83.61 | 43.84 | 66.28°F | 61.73 in | 50.5% | 88.4 homes/sq mi |
| 2 | New Jersey | 77.94 | Moderate to heavy | 59.72 | 77.76 | 53.56°F | 47.56 in | 62.8% | 515.5 homes/sq mi |
| 3 | Florida | 72.58 | Very heavy | 73.21 | 35.01 | 71.42°F | 54.42 in | 34.0% | 191.2 homes/sq mi |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 72.08 | Slight to moderate | 56.73 | 80.24 | 50.66°F | 49.09 in | 70.9% | 470.0 homes/sq mi |
| 5 | New York | 69.10 | Slight to moderate | 65.00 | 77.34 | 46.00°F | 43.55 in | 73.9% | 182.2 homes/sq mi |
Hawaii comes out on top, with a pest-risk score of 78.43 out of 100. The state has an average annual temperature of 66.28°F and average annual precipitation of 61.73 inches, creating warm and wet conditions that can be more favorable for household pests. It also falls into the “very heavy” termite-risk zone.
In second place is New Jersey, with a pest-risk score of 77.94. Its biggest pressure point is density, with 515.5 housing units per square mile, the highest housing density in the study. The state also has a large share of older housing, with 62.8% of homes built before 1980.
Ranking third is Florida, with a pest-risk score of 72.58. Its warm, damp climate gives pests plenty to work with, with an average annual temperature of 71.42°F and 54.42 inches of precipitation. The state’s “very heavy” termite-risk rating adds another layer to that vulnerability.
Scoring 72.08 and ranking fourth is Rhode Island. The state stands out for both older housing and density, with 70.9% of homes built before 1980 and 470.0 housing units per square mile. That combination can make pest prevention and recurrence harder to manage.
New York ranks fifth with a pest-risk score of 69.10. It has the highest share of pre-1980 housing in the top 10, at 73.9%, while 51.2% of homes are multifamily properties. These housing conditions help explain why it ranks high despite a cooler climate.
The states where homes are least likely to have pest problems:
| Rank | State | Pest-risk score | Termite-risk zone | Cockroach suitability | Rodent suitability | Average annual temperature | Average annual precipitation | Homes built before 1980 | Housing density |
| 1 | Wyoming | 15.16 | None to slight | 19.45 | 17.74 | 42.25°F | 16.02 in | 49.1% | 2.9 homes/sq mi |
| 2 | Idaho | 16.14 | None to slight | 26.14 | 12.83 | 43.91°F | 23.68 in | 39.0% | 9.6 homes/sq mi |
| 3 | Montana | 17.47 | None to slight | 22.81 | 21.01 | 42.55°F | 18.93 in | 48.9% | 3.6 homes/sq mi |
| 4 | Alaska | 18.46 | None to slight | 26.93 | 21.28 | 27.98°F | 37.63 in | 36.8% | 0.6 homes/sq mi |
| 5 | Utah | 22.04 | Slight to moderate | 31.65 | 17.10 | 49.20°F | 13.52 in | 35.5% | 14.8 homes/sq mi |
At the other end of the ranking is Wyoming, with the lowest pest-risk score in the study, at 15.16. The state has very low housing density, at just 2.9 homes per square mile, and falls into the “none to slight” termite-risk zone. Its cooler, drier climate also helps keep the score down.
Next is Idaho, scoring 16.14. It has an average annual temperature of 43.91°F and a “none to slight” termite-risk classification. Housing density is also low, at 9.6 homes per square mile.
Montana has the third-lowest pest-risk score in the study, at 17.47. With homes far less tightly packed than in higher-ranking states and average annual precipitation of 18.93 inches, it has fewer of the damp, dense conditions that many household pests prefer.
With a pest-risk score of 18.46, Alaska ranks fourth-lowest. It has the lowest average annual temperature in the study, at 27.98°F, and the lowest housing density, at 0.6 homes per square mile.
Utah has the fifth-lowest pest-risk score, at 22.04, thanks mostly to its dry conditions. With just 13.52 inches of average annual precipitation, the state remains much less favorable for moisture-loving pests, despite not having the lowest termite-risk classification.
Uri “Ori” Pearl, owner of Nealon Insulation, commented on the findings: “It is easy to blame pests on the weather, especially in warm and humid states, but houses are not that simple. Climate matters, but pests also need somewhere to get in and somewhere to stay. Small gaps, damp insulation, aging materials and tightly packed homes can all make that easier.
“That explains why the top of the list is not just Southern or tropical states. Hawaii and Florida make sense because of the weather, but New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York show the other side of the story. Older homes and dense housing can create plenty of pest pressure even without extreme heat.
“In older homes, small maintenance issues can build up quietly. A tiny crack near the foundation, a loose vent cover, damp insulation or a gap where pipes enter the property might not seem urgent, but pests do not need much space to get in.
“This does not mean every homeowner in a high-ranking state should assume they have a pest problem. The index is about vulnerability, not confirmed infestations. It simply shows where the conditions make prevention more important.
“The best thing homeowners can do is keep up with the small checks before they turn into bigger issues. Look for damp insulation, gaps around pipes and vents, cracks near the foundation, standing water, and any areas where air is not moving properly. None of these sound dramatic on their own, but together they can make a home much easier for pests to get into and stay in.”
Methodology:
Household pest-risk factors were analyzed across all 50 US states to identify where homes may be most vulnerable to pest problems.
The study uses a pest-risk index, rather than confirmed infestation counts. A higher score means a state has a stronger mix of conditions linked to household pest vulnerability.
The final score was based on five weighted factors:
- Climate suitability – 30%
Based on average annual temperature and precipitation, as warmer and wetter conditions can make homes more suitable for pests. - Housing vulnerability – 25%
Based on the share of older homes, multifamily housing, renter-occupied homes and overcrowded homes. These can point to buildings where pest issues may be harder to prevent or contain. - Pest prevalence indicators – 30%
Based on termite-risk zones, alongside modeled cockroach and rodent suitability indicators. - Density exposure – 10%
Based on population density and housing density, as pests can be harder to manage where homes are closer together. - Home-value maintenance pressure – 5%
Based on median home value, used as a small indirect proxy for repair and prevention pressure.
Each indicator was normalized on a 0-100 scale and combined into a final pest-risk score. Median home value was inverted, meaning lower home values received higher maintenance-pressure scores.
Sources used include the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year data, U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer files, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Climate at a Glance data, and HUD/IRC Termite Infestation Probability zone proxies.
Full rank:
| Rank | State | Pest-risk score | Termite-risk zone | Cockroach suitability | Rodent suitability | Average annual temperature | Average annual precipitation | Homes built before 1980 | Housing density |
| 1 | Hawaii | 78.43 | Very heavy | 83.61 | 43.84 | 66.28°F | 61.73 in | 50.5% | 88.4 homes/sq mi |
| 2 | New Jersey | 77.94 | Moderate to heavy | 59.72 | 77.76 | 53.56°F | 47.56 in | 62.8% | 515.5 homes/sq mi |
| 3 | Florida | 72.58 | Very heavy | 73.21 | 35.01 | 71.42°F | 54.42 in | 34.0% | 191.2 homes/sq mi |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 72.08 | Slight to moderate | 56.73 | 80.24 | 50.66°F | 49.09 in | 70.9% | 470.0 homes/sq mi |
| 5 | New York | 69.10 | Slight to moderate | 65.00 | 77.34 | 46.00°F | 43.55 in | 73.9% | 182.2 homes/sq mi |
| 6 | Louisiana | 68.97 | Very heavy | 64.23 | 25.59 | 67.13°F | 59.72 in | 46.3% | 48.8 homes/sq mi |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 66.92 | Slight to moderate | 56.98 | 75.60 | 48.75°F | 48.65 in | 67.4% | 388.5 homes/sq mi |
| 8 | Connecticut | 62.86 | Slight to moderate | 51.96 | 62.78 | 49.93°F | 48.74 in | 67.2% | 318.4 homes/sq mi |
| 9 | Mississippi | 62.10 | Very heavy | 57.34 | 17.10 | 64.18°F | 58.49 in | 41.5% | 28.6 homes/sq mi |
| 10 | Alabama | 61.40 | Very heavy | 56.17 | 19.27 | 63.60°F | 56.88 in | 42.1% | 46.1 homes/sq mi |
| 11 | Tennessee | 60.36 | Very heavy | 54.71 | 25.53 | 58.44°F | 55.11 in | 40.8% | 76.3 homes/sq mi |
| 12 | Georgia | 60.14 | Very heavy | 60.01 | 23.29 | 64.20°F | 50.38 in | 31.5% | 78.7 homes/sq mi |
| 13 | Arkansas | 59.76 | Very heavy | 55.65 | 20.72 | 61.03°F | 52.48 in | 39.6% | 26.8 homes/sq mi |
| 14 | Maryland | 59.72 | Moderate to heavy | 51.41 | 46.04 | 55.38°F | 45.23 in | 51.2% | 263.7 homes/sq mi |
| 15 | Illinois | 58.79 | Moderate to heavy | 51.11 | 44.94 | 52.64°F | 40.74 in | 63.5% | 98.3 homes/sq mi |
| 16 | California | 58.32 | Moderate to heavy | 62.49 | 51.20 | 59.00°F | 22.27 in | 56.0% | 94.0 homes/sq mi |
| 17 | North Carolina | 57.64 | Very heavy | 53.81 | 23.79 | 59.55°F | 50.77 in | 33.9% | 100.7 homes/sq mi |
| 18 | Texas | 57.38 | Very heavy | 60.50 | 27.43 | 65.78°F | 28.60 in | 33.2% | 46.4 homes/sq mi |
| 19 | Oklahoma | 56.72 | Very heavy | 49.36 | 25.77 | 60.30°F | 36.37 in | 49.4% | 25.9 homes/sq mi |
| 20 | Ohio | 55.67 | Moderate to heavy | 43.38 | 41.40 | 51.65°F | 41.09 in | 63.4% | 129.5 homes/sq mi |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | 55.18 | Moderate to heavy | 40.83 | 40.29 | 49.47°F | 45.03 in | 67.2% | 129.8 homes/sq mi |
| 22 | South Carolina | 55.03 | Very heavy | 52.74 | 16.08 | 63.38°F | 48.26 in | 32.8% | 81.3 homes/sq mi |
| 23 | Kentucky | 52.90 | Moderate to heavy | 49.55 | 25.07 | 56.33°F | 50.38 in | 47.1% | 51.2 homes/sq mi |
| 24 | Delaware | 51.53 | Moderate to heavy | 45.29 | 30.50 | 56.17°F | 45.91 in | 41.9% | 238.2 homes/sq mi |
| 25 | Missouri | 51.20 | Moderate to heavy | 46.39 | 28.24 | 55.25°F | 43.45 in | 52.7% | 41.1 homes/sq mi |
| 26 | Virginia | 51.13 | Moderate to heavy | 50.19 | 29.39 | 55.99°F | 45.83 in | 43.5% | 93.3 homes/sq mi |
| 27 | Indiana | 50.20 | Moderate to heavy | 41.95 | 28.95 | 52.36°F | 43.63 in | 55.0% | 83.1 homes/sq mi |
| 28 | West Virginia | 46.27 | Moderate to heavy | 37.04 | 18.73 | 52.64°F | 47.05 in | 55.9% | 35.8 homes/sq mi |
| 29 | Kansas | 46.08 | Moderate to heavy | 40.71 | 28.24 | 55.05°F | 29.00 in | 55.9% | 15.8 homes/sq mi |
| 30 | Washington | 40.44 | Slight to moderate | 47.19 | 32.37 | 47.29°F | 43.18 in | 43.4% | 49.8 homes/sq mi |
| 31 | Arizona | 40.27 | Very heavy | 43.80 | 17.01 | 61.08°F | 11.65 in | 29.3% | 28.1 homes/sq mi |
| 32 | Iowa | 39.17 | Slight to moderate | 34.68 | 27.67 | 48.30°F | 35.55 in | 61.6% | 25.7 homes/sq mi |
| 33 | Wisconsin | 38.36 | Slight to moderate | 35.28 | 34.23 | 43.83°F | 34.05 in | 57.0% | 51.3 homes/sq mi |
| 34 | Oregon | 37.34 | Slight to moderate | 41.71 | 31.83 | 47.90°F | 32.13 in | 49.1% | 19.4 homes/sq mi |
| 35 | Michigan | 37.14 | Slight to moderate | 29.63 | 29.28 | 45.19°F | 33.91 in | 62.1% | 81.6 homes/sq mi |
| 36 | Nebraska | 36.66 | Slight to moderate | 35.50 | 30.46 | 49.45°F | 24.20 in | 57.2% | 11.2 homes/sq mi |
| 37 | New Mexico | 33.27 | Moderate to heavy | 32.99 | 16.86 | 54.46°F | 13.75 in | 42.7% | 7.9 homes/sq mi |
| 38 | New Hampshire | 33.12 | None to slight | 37.62 | 28.03 | 44.05°F | 47.87 in | 51.5% | 72.4 homes/sq mi |
| 39 | Vermont | 31.54 | None to slight | 33.63 | 25.53 | 43.05°F | 46.02 in | 56.0% | 36.8 homes/sq mi |
| 40 | Nevada | 30.82 | Moderate to heavy | 41.80 | 23.77 | 51.04°F | 10.19 in | 22.0% | 12.1 homes/sq mi |
| 41 | Minnesota | 29.37 | Slight to moderate | 28.31 | 24.87 | 41.65°F | 28.57 in | 52.1% | 32.0 homes/sq mi |
| 42 | Maine | 28.35 | None to slight | 30.14 | 21.20 | 41.78°F | 45.54 in | 54.4% | 24.4 homes/sq mi |
| 43 | Colorado | 25.64 | Slight to moderate | 33.42 | 26.25 | 46.19°F | 18.01 in | 39.7% | 25.0 homes/sq mi |
| 44 | North Dakota | 24.88 | None to slight | 31.97 | 33.58 | 40.99°F | 18.85 in | 47.8% | 5.5 homes/sq mi |
| 45 | South Dakota | 23.91 | None to slight | 29.96 | 24.23 | 45.65°F | 21.24 in | 49.7% | 5.4 homes/sq mi |
| 46 | Utah | 22.04 | Slight to moderate | 31.65 | 17.10 | 49.20°F | 13.52 in | 35.5% | 14.8 homes/sq mi |
| 47 | Alaska | 18.46 | None to slight | 26.93 | 21.28 | 27.98°F | 37.63 in | 36.8% | 0.6 homes/sq mi |
| 48 | Montana | 17.47 | None to slight | 22.81 | 21.01 | 42.55°F | 18.93 in | 48.9% | 3.6 homes/sq mi |
| 49 | Idaho | 16.14 | None to slight | 26.14 | 12.83 | 43.91°F | 23.68 in | 39.0% | 9.6 homes/sq mi |
| 50 | Wyoming | 15.16 | None to slight | 19.45 | 17.74 | 42.25°F | 16.02 in | 49.1% | 2.9 homes/sq mi |