Which Georgia Counties Have The Most Rats?

The numbers are in, and they aren’t pretty for homeowners in some parts of Georgia. With winter driving rodents indoors in search of warmth and food, rodent infestations are now front and center. Here’s what you need to know about which Georgia counties are struggling most with rat and mouse infestations—and why.

🐀 What’s Happening: According to a study by Clinch, Rodent infestations are a significant issue in homes across Georgia. Taliaferro County leads the state with 27.4% of homes reporting rodent problems. That’s more than three times higher than the state average of 8.3%. Other top offenders include Glascock County (27.1%) and Calhoun County (26.8%).

❗Why It Matters: Rodents do more than make noise in the walls. They carry diseases like hantavirus and salmonella, and their presence can worsen asthma and allergies—particularly in children. Beyond health concerns, rats and mice cause structural damage to homes by chewing through wires, walls, and insulation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites rodents as a growing public health issue, especially as infestations rise during colder months. Homeowners in areas with older housing stock or rural landscapes are hit hardest.

🔧 Why You Should Pay Attention: Counties with older homes and rural settings report the highest rodent activity. For example:

• Taliaferro County’s median home was built in 1975, and no part of the population lives in urbanized areas.
• Glascock and Calhoun Counties follow similar patterns, with no urban population and median home ages predating 1990.

Urbanization trends also play a role. Surprisingly, counties with higher urban populations like Fulton and Cobb report far fewer infestations due to modern, sealed housing and multi-unit buildings that offer fewer access points for rodents.

🏡 Where Does Your County Stand? The state’s average is 8.3% of homes experiencing rodent problems, equating to over 365,000 homes and nearly 900,000 Georgians living in rodent-affected households.

• Low-risk areas: Counties with modern homes and warmer climates, such as coastal or southern Georgia, see significantly lower infestation rates.
• High-risk areas: Counties with older homes and cold winters—a perfect storm for mice and rats seeking shelter.

🔒 Take Action: Experts recommend homeowners take steps to rodent-proof their homes:

• Seal entry points: Check for gaps around windows, doors, and pipes.
• Clean thoroughly: Keep food in airtight containers and promptly clean up crumbs.
• Trim vegetation: Remove shrubs or debris near home foundations to eliminate hiding spots.
• Call the pros: Pest control services can help manage serious infestations and prevent further damage.

By The Numbers: Here is the full list of county rankings for Georgia.

Rank	County	% of Homes with Rodents	Homes with rodents	Median year home built
1	Taliaferro	27.40%	281	1975
2	Glascock	27.10%	418	1988
3	Calhoun	26.80%	645	1977
4	Atkinson	26.30%	925	1991
5	Schley	25.20%	561	1993
6	Wilcox	23.00%	813	1978
7	Wheeler	22.90%	603	1982
8	Stewart	22.70%	532	1984
9	Echols	21.80%	349	1990
10	Twiggs	20.60%	883	1985
11	Madison	20.50%	2,466	1990
12	Pike	20.40%	1,463	1993
13	Heard	20.40%	1,073	1984
14	Clinch	20.10%	608	1979
15	Banks	19.70%	1,543	1992
16	Baker	19.70%	328	1978
17	Wilkinson	19.60%	884	1983
18	Long	19.40%	1,389	1998
19	Warren	19.30%	575	1979
20	Franklin	18.60%	2,005	1989
21	Johnson	18.50%	762	1984
22	Clay	18.10%	385	1986
23	Oglethorpe	18.00%	1,217	1988
24	Marion	17.90%	760	1993
25	Irwin	17.90%	734	1981
26	Meriwether	17.80%	1,791	1984
27	Screven	17.80%	1,212	1982
28	Jefferson	17.60%	1,284	1982
29	Miller	17.60%	485	1978
30	Dade	17.40%	1,273	1988
31	Brantley	17.30%	1,421	1993
32	Fannin	17.20%	3,048	1994
33	Morgan	17.10%	1,365	1994
34	Chattahoochee	17.10%	570	1978
35	Crawford	16.90%	916	1992
36	Haralson	16.50%	2,086	1989
37	Lanier	16.50%	737	1994
38	Upson	16.40%	1,996	1976
39	Chattooga	16.30%	1,802	1977
40	Emanuel	16.30%	1,615	1981
41	Lamar	16.30%	1,253	1987
42	Terrell	16.30%	680	1975
43	Elbert	16.20%	1,564	1979
44	Webster	16.20%	250	1989
45	Wilkes	16.10%	830	1976
46	Montgomery	16.10%	643	1990
47	Talbot	15.90%	547	1989
48	Monroe	15.50%	1,756	1995
49	Greene	15.50%	1,620	1996
50	Jasper	15.50%	1,018	1990
51	Early	15.50%	773	1984
52	Butts	15.30%	1,452	1994
53	Bacon	15.30%	738	1984
54	Harris	15.20%	2,207	1996
55	Cook	15.00%	1,121	1984
56	Grady	14.90%	1,635	1990
57	Taylor	14.90%	688	1986
58	Turner	14.90%	588	1977
59	Pickens	14.70%	2,082	1995
60	Burke	14.70%	1,490	1984
61	Berrien	14.70%	1,302	1989
62	Appling	14.70%	1,265	1984
63	Mitchell	14.60%	1,329	1979
64	Colquitt	14.50%	2,726	1987
65	Tattnall	14.50%	1,459	1986
66	Pierce	14.40%	1,193	1989
67	Brooks	14.40%	1,131	1985
68	Rabun	14.30%	1,813	1987
69	Bartow	14.20%	6,005	1993
70	Dodge	14.20%	1,401	1981
71	McDuffie	14.20%	1,327	1985
72	Treutlen	14.20%	431	1982
73	Walker	14.10%	4,297	1978
74	Stephens	14.10%	1,775	1983
75	Wayne	14.10%	1,747	1988
76	Washington	14.10%	1,340	1982
77	Floyd	14.00%	5,690	1977
78	Troup	14.00%	4,012	1984
79	Hart	14.00%	1,863	1986
80	Lincoln	14.00%	688	1984
81	Candler	14.00%	672	1987
82	Polk	13.90%	2,387	1983
83	Gordon	13.80%	3,165	1986
84	Gilmer	13.70%	2,387	1997
85	Bleckley	13.60%	723	1982
86	Jeff Davis	13.50%	885	1986
87	Charlton	13.50%	617	1986
88	Habersham	13.40%	2,521	1992
89	Pulaski	13.30%	686	1982
90	Murray	13.20%	2,145	1993
91	Evans	13.20%	632	1986
92	Spalding	13.10%	3,646	1984
93	Worth	13.10%	1,231	1986
94	Randolph	13.10%	536	1980
95	Telfair	13.00%	950	1977
96	Towns	12.90%	1,075	1994
97	Jackson	12.80%	3,418	2001
98	Sumter	12.60%	1,743	1979
99	Union	12.50%	1,876	1994
100	Jones	12.50%	1,498	1990
101	Decatur	12.30%	1,503	1987
102	Macon	12.30%	748	1979
103	Peach	12.10%	1,427	1986
104	Dooly	12.10%	755	1980
105	Jenkins	11.90%	505	1979
106	Ben Hill	11.80%	948	1981
107	Quitman	11.70%	243	1988
108	Toombs	11.60%	1,415	1984
109	Hancock	11.60%	628	1989
110	Lumpkin	11.50%	1,590	1997
111	Crisp	11.40%	1,231	1983
112	Whitfield	11.30%	4,561	1986
113	Tift	11.30%	1,918	1985
114	Effingham	11.20%	2,699	2001
115	Coffee	11.10%	1,927	1988
116	Laurens	11.00%	2,369	1988
117	McIntosh	11.00%	1,067	1997
118	Seminole	10.80%	522	1980
119	Newton	10.60%	4,268	1998
120	Walton	10.50%	3,637	1997
121	Putnam	10.50%	1,402	1990
122	Ware	10.40%	1,764	1977
123	Thomas	10.30%	2,146	1986
124	Oconee	10.20%	1,529	1996
125	Catoosa	10.10%	2,801	1992
126	Carroll	10.00%	4,606	1991
127	Bulloch	9.80%	3,116	1994
128	Dawson	9.80%	1,191	1997
129	Dougherty	9.70%	3,942	1975
130	White	9.60%	1,577	1994
131	Baldwin	9.40%	1,945	1986
132	Bibb	9.10%	6,395	1976
133	Richmond	8.70%	7,795	1980
134	Coweta	8.50%	4,819	1998
135	Barrow	8.40%	2,509	2000
136	Lowndes	8.30%	4,086	1992
137	Hall	8.10%	6,181	1995
138	Muscogee	7.90%	6,763	1978
139	Douglas	7.70%	4,093	1996
140	Camden	7.50%	1,702	1994
141	Glynn	7.40%	3,268	1987
142	Clarke	7.30%	3,922	1987
143	Bryan	7.30%	1,108	2004
144	Rockdale	7.10%	2,407	1988
145	Chatham	6.70%	8,484	1985
146	Houston	6.50%	4,249	1994
147	Paulding	6.50%	3,851	2001
148	Lee	6.50%	747	1998
149	Cherokee	5.90%	5,771	2000
150	Columbia	5.80%	3,447	1998
151	Liberty	5.80%	1,679	1993
152	Clayton	5.30%	5,639	1988
153	DeKalb	5.10%	16,215	1983
154	Cobb	5.00%	15,254	1989
155	Forsyth	4.70%	4,128	2004
156	Henry	4.70%	3,045	2000
157	Gwinnett	4.10%	13,010	1995
158	Fulton	4.00%	19,688	1992
159	Fayette	4.00%	1,746	1993