Which local services is Mercer County, NJ short of?

4 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 1 has fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 0 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Exterior & Building Services15 with employees + 118 without = 133 · 3.4 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.2× fewerFewer than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care248 with employees + 430 without = 678 · 17.6 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  ≈About average
• Cleaning Services83 with employees + 1234 without = 1317 · 34.1 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  ≈About average
• Pet Care33 with employees + 169 without = 202 · 5.2 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.1× moreAbout 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.