Biggest gaps
Ranked by how far each county sits below its similar counties. Only counties where the Census publishes the full count are ranked. Counties with a hidden small count (under 3) are on their own pages as a range.
| County or parish | People | Has | Typical | Below by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payne County, Oklahoma | 82,290 | 184 | 301 | 39% |
| Columbia County, Arkansas | 22,527 | 51 | 83 | 39% |
| Lincoln Parish, Louisiana | 48,160 | 132 | 192 | 31% |
| Orange County, North Carolina | 147,292 | 307 | 434 | 29% |
| Comanche County, Oklahoma | 121,699 | 256 | 354 | 28% |
| Newton County, Mississippi | 21,151 | 58 | 80 | 27% |
| Jefferson County, Arkansas | 65,780 | 192 | 258 | 26% |
A gap is a place to look, not a forecast. People shop across county lines, and a county can have fewer shops because it is small or because customers drive to the next county. Check demand on your own street before you sign a lease. Census data read October 25, 2026. How we check.
If you opened one: Independent: $2K-$10K (ZenBusiness via U1); commercial cleaning under $10K (C1). Five-year survival for the whole sector: 48.9%. Groundwork Startup Industry Database
Other business types
Sit-down restaurantsFast food and takeoutCoffee shops and snack barsHardware and building supply storesPet storesChild careDentistsVeterinariansAuto repairBarber shopsHair and beauty salonsLaundromats and dry cleanersPet grooming and boardingHotels and motelsFurniture storesSporting goodsCaterers and food trucksLawn care and landscapingPhotography studios and photographers
