Which local services is Orange County, NC 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 Services23 with employees + 284 without = 307 · 20.2 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.6× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services9 with employees + 31 without = 40 · 2.6 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.6× fewerFewer than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care57 with employees + 239 without = 296 · 19.4 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.1× moreAbout average
• Pet Care20 with employees + 166 without = 186 · 12.2 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  2.6× 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.