Name: 2026 U.S. Pest Pressure Index
Creator: PestPatrolPro
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Key findings

Hawaii ranks #1 with a Pest Pressure Index of 96.2/100 — a Very Heavy USDA termite zone paired with a hot, humid climate.
9 of the top 10 most pest-prone states are in the South and Southeast, where year-round warmth and humidity keep pests active far longer than the national average.
Every one of the top 8 states sits in a USDA "Very Heavy" termite zone — the highest classification on the federal map.
Older housing compounds the risk: among high-pressure areas, District of Columbia has the oldest median home (built 1957), and aging wood and foundations give pests more ways in.
The lowest-pressure states — Alaska, Idaho, and North Dakota — combine cold, dry climates with minimal termite activity.

Full ranking — all 50 states + D.C.

Rank	State	Index	USDA Termite Zone	Median Home Built
1	Hawaii	96.2	Very Heavy	1979
2	Louisiana	95.0	Very Heavy	1982
3	Alabama	93.8	Very Heavy	1985
4	Mississippi	93.3	Very Heavy	1986
5	Florida	92.5	Very Heavy	1988
6	Georgia	91.2	Very Heavy	1991
7	South Carolina	91.2	Very Heavy	1991
8	Texas	88.2	Very Heavy	1990
9	District of Columbia	79.5	Moderate–Heavy	1957
10	Arkansas	79.4	Moderate–Heavy	1987
11	Oklahoma	78.8	Moderate–Heavy	1980
12	North Carolina	78.2	Moderate–Heavy	1990
13	Virginia	77.2	Moderate–Heavy	1984
14	Tennessee	76.3	Moderate–Heavy	1986
15	Missouri	76.2	Moderate–Heavy	1978
16	Maryland	75.8	Moderate–Heavy	1979
17	Kentucky	74.5	Moderate–Heavy	1982
18	Kansas	73.9	Moderate–Heavy	1975
19	Delaware	72.8	Moderate–Heavy	1986
20	California	70.0	Moderate–Heavy	1976
21	Arizona	66.8	Moderate–Heavy	1992
22	New Mexico	66.7	Moderate–Heavy	1984
23	Connecticut	66.0	Slight–Moderate	1967
24	Illinois	66.0	Slight–Moderate	1970
25	New Jersey	66.0	Slight–Moderate	1969
26	Ohio	66.0	Slight–Moderate	1970
27	Rhode Island	66.0	Slight–Moderate	1961
28	Indiana	63.5	Slight–Moderate	1976
29	West Virginia	63.5	Slight–Moderate	1976
30	Massachusetts	62.5	Slight–Moderate	1963
31	New York	62.5	Slight–Moderate	1958
32	Pennsylvania	62.5	Slight–Moderate	1965
33	Iowa	62.1	Slight–Moderate	1971
34	Michigan	61.7	Slight–Moderate	1972
35	Nevada	61.7	Moderate–Heavy	1996
36	Wisconsin	60.4	Slight–Moderate	1975
37	Nebraska	56.9	Slight–Moderate	1975
38	Oregon	54.8	Slight–Moderate	1980
39	Washington	53.2	Slight–Moderate	1984
40	Colorado	51.9	Slight–Moderate	1987
41	Utah	50.2	Slight–Moderate	1991
42	Maine	46.5	None–Slight	1976
43	Vermont	46.5	None–Slight	1976
44	Minnesota	45.7	None–Slight	1978
45	New Hampshire	45.7	None–Slight	1978
46	South Dakota	41.8	None–Slight	1979
47	Montana	41.3	None–Slight	1980
48	Wyoming	41.3	None–Slight	1980
49	North Dakota	40.9	None–Slight	1981
50	Idaho	37.2	None–Slight	1990
51	Alaska	32.2	None–Slight	1985

Methodology

The Pest Pressure Index is a composite 0–100 score built from three free, public data sources:

USDA Termite Infestation Probability (TIP) zones — 40%. The U.S. Forest Service classifies regions from "Very Heavy" to "None–Slight" based on subterranean termite activity.
Climate — 35%. Based on NOAA climate regions; warmer, more humid regions sustain longer pest seasons (mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants).
Median home age — 25%. From the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2023, median year structure built). Older housing offers pests more entry points and vulnerable wood.

Sources: U.S. Forest Service (USDA) Termite Infestation Probability map; NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information climate regions; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2023). Analysis by PestPatrolPro, June 2026. Free to cite with attribution and a link to this page.

The 2026 U.S. Pest Pressure Index

Key findings

Top 15 most pest-prone states

Full ranking — all 50 states + D.C.

Methodology