Which local services is Polk County, IA short of?

4 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 3 have fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 0 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Cleaning Services136 with employees + 1035 without = 1171 · 23.1 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.4× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services22 with employees + 127 without = 149 · 2.9 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.4× fewerFewer than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care182 with employees + 533 without = 715 · 14.1 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.3× fewerFewer than average
• Pet Care59 with employees + 200 without = 259 · 5.1 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.