Which local services is Merrimack County, NH 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; 1 has more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Cleaning Services32 with employees + 296 without = 328 · 20.9 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.6× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services9 with employees + 43 without = 52 · 3.3 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.2× fewerFewer than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care115 with employees + 210 without = 325 · 20.7 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.1× moreAbout average
• Pet Care18 with employees + 93 without = 111 · 7.1 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.5× 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.