Which local services is Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region short of?

4 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 2 have fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 2 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Cleaning Services28 with employees + 291 without = 319 · 18.1 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.8× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services6 with employees + 55 without = 61 · 3.5 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.2× fewerFewer than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care137 with employees + 299 without = 436 · 24.7 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.4× moreMore than average
• Pet Care26 with employees + 113 without = 139 · 7.9 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.7× moreMore than average

What this doesn't tell you: These counts measure how many businesses exist, not how many customers want one. Fewer of something can mean an opening — or that there is less local demand for it. Treat a low number as a lead to check, not a verdict.

Sources: US Census County Business Patterns ↗ (businesses with employees) and Nonemployer Statistics ↗ (sole proprietors). Every figure here is the two added together.