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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webb County, Texas | 267,731 | 35 | 103 | 66% |
| Cameron County, Texas | 423,192 | 71 | 150 | 53% |
| Hidalgo County, Texas | 880,921 | 163 | 330 | 51% |
| Jefferson County, Texas | 253,939 | 48 | 97 | 51% |
| Iberia Parish, Louisiana | 69,194 | 14 | 27 | 48% |
| Ascension Parish, Louisiana | 128,593 | 40 | 71 | 44% |
| Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana | 107,362 | 26 | 43 | 40% |
| East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana | 452,821 | 113 | 181 | 38% |
| Creek County, Oklahoma | 72,353 | 21 | 33 | 36% |
| Nueces County, Texas | 352,829 | 99 | 149 | 33% |
| Bossier Parish, Louisiana | 129,134 | 34 | 51 | 33% |
| Ector County, Texas | 163,206 | 51 | 75 | 32% |
| Fort Bend County, Texas | 859,721 | 364 | 532 | 32% |
| Lafayette Parish, Louisiana | 245,075 | 80 | 115 | 31% |
| Ellis County, Texas | 203,927 | 85 | 119 | 28% |
| Orange County, Texas | 84,993 | 31 | 42 | 27% |
| Caddo Parish, Louisiana | 232,973 | 62 | 85 | 27% |
| Saline County, Arkansas | 125,724 | 45 | 61 | 26% |
| Sebastian County, Arkansas | 128,448 | 37 | 50 | 26% |
| Jefferson Parish, Louisiana | 432,484 | 133 | 180 | 26% |
| Titus County, Texas | 31,284 | 9 | 12 | 26% |
| Canadian County, Oklahoma | 162,621 | 63 | 84 | 25% |
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: Dog walker and sitter $600 (C2); pet sitting under $2K (C1). Five-year survival for the whole sector: 56.9%. Groundwork Startup Industry Database
