Which local services is Middlesex County, NJ short of?

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

• Landscaping & Lawn Care321 with employees + 478 without = 799 · 9.1 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  2.0× fewerFewer than average
• Cleaning Services170 with employees + 1726 without = 1896 · 21.6 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.5× fewerFewer than average
• Pet Care42 with employees + 272 without = 314 · 3.6 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.3× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services39 with employees + 245 without = 284 · 3.2 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.3× fewerFewer 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.