Original data · updated 2026-08-12

The Door-to-Door Market Index

250 US market areas, ranked for door-to-door home-services sales on two public signals: housing affordability and residential finishing-trade density. This is the same ranking NeuroKnock runs before a client team commits to a market — published, because it is built entirely from public Census data and can be checked.

How the index is scored

Each market is the named city plus the counties within roughly 25 miles of its center. 268 cities were scored. Where neighbouring cities resolve to the same county set — and so carry identical figures — they are merged into one row anchored on the largest city, with the rest named beside it, because ranking one place several times would be double-counting it. That merged 17 cities. A further 1 was excluded because the Census suppressed its establishment count. 250 market areas remain. Two signals produce the 0–100 score:

Housing affordability (60%). Population-weighted median home value from Census ACS table B25077. The index points down-market: modest home values earn full credit, tapering to zero as values climb toward the top of the range. That direction was set by an analysis of more than 350,000 real door-to-door leads, which showed the standard “knock rich neighborhoods” assumption is backwards for appointment rates.

Finishing-trade density (40%). Finish Carpentry Contractors (Census CBP, NAICS 238350) per 10,000 residents — a saturation proxy. This code covers interior trim, molding, cabinets, countertops and door and window frames, so read it as a measure of how much residential finishing work a market sustains, and therefore how much home-improvement selling already goes on there. Fewer such firms per capita reads as fresher doors. It is not a count of your direct competitors: roofing (238160), siding (238170), solar (238220), pest control (561710) are separate codes and are not in this number.

What the index does not capture: seasonality and weather windows, state and municipal licensing, per-offer fit, and your own team’s history in a market. Those are exactly what a NeuroKnock engagement layers on top. Vintages: ACS 2022 5-year, CBP 2022.

Vertical editions

The same index, read through one vertical’s economics — what to maximize, what the score can’t see for that offer, and a transparent re-sort of the published columns.

Best solar markets Best roofing markets Best pest control markets

The Door-to-Door Market Index: 250 US market areas ranked by door-to-door market-fit score, with median home value, finish carpentry contractors per 10,000 residents, and population within about 25 miles of the market center.
Rank	Market	Score	Median home value	Finishing-trade firms / 10k	Population(25-mile area)
1	McAllen, TX	97.0	$109,919	0.15	1,381,045
2	Brownsville, TX	96.7	$109,600	0.17	421,854
3	Gulfport, MS	95.7	$176,928	0.21	517,228
4	Laredo, TX	95.7	$157,234	0.21	281,178
5	Evansville, IN	95.5	$165,980	0.23	531,498
6	Corpus Christi, TX	95.0	$173,582	0.25	483,813
7	Lawton, OK	94.8	$139,639	0.26	268,137
8	Huntington, WV	94.7	$135,061	0.27	524,123
9	Sioux City, IA	94.1	$169,677	0.29	205,074
10	Memphis, TN	93.8	$200,721	0.31	1,394,206
11	Columbus, GA	93.7	$184,360	0.32	535,897
12	Macon, GA	93.4	$170,402	0.33	515,223
13	Southaven, MS	93.4	$203,681	0.33	1,306,492
14	Roswell, NM	92.9	$148,106	0.35	84,923
15	Charleston, WV	92.6	$134,431	0.37	513,923
16	Waco, TX	92.6	$184,874	0.37	810,615
17	Tuscaloosa, AL	92.5	$202,441	0.37	992,223
18	Houston, TX	92.0	$253,133	0.40	7,054,734
19	Jonesboro, AR	92.0	$138,603	0.40	300,185
20	Montgomery, AL	92.0	$157,382	0.40	472,611
21	Midland, TX	91.9	$212,987	0.41	394,123
22	Johnson City, TN	91.8	$185,693	0.41	731,369
23	El Paso, TXalso covers Las Cruces, NM	91.7	$159,199	0.42	1,151,552
24	Joplin, MO	91.5	$135,157	0.43	305,735
25	Yuma, AZ	91.5	$208,148	0.42	400,633
26	Birmingham, AL	91.3	$210,703	0.43	1,454,048
27	College Station, TX	91.3	$231,001	0.44	389,231
28	Shreveport, LA	91.3	$165,128	0.44	550,613
29	Odessa, TX	91.2	$219,233	0.44	363,203
30	San Antonio, TX	91.1	$237,181	0.44	2,549,680
31	Bakersfield, CA	91.0	$282,800	0.39	906,883
32	Chattanooga, TN	90.7	$200,265	0.46	929,022
33	Fort Smith, AR	90.5	$135,503	0.48	356,495
34	Wichita Falls, TX	90.4	$125,727	0.48	166,493
35	Lake Charles, LA	90.3	$179,891	0.49	307,845
36	Baton Rouge, LA	90.2	$220,968	0.49	900,544
37	Gillette, WY	90.2	$246,131	0.49	60,985
38	Morgantown, WV	90.0	$173,042	0.50	682,639
39	Fayetteville, NC	89.9	$170,885	0.50	893,553
40	Fort Worth, TX	89.9	$277,400	0.48	6,294,685
41	Jackson, MS	89.9	$176,727	0.50	574,549
42	Bloomington, IN	89.5	$202,051	0.52	688,445
43	New Orleans, LA	89.4	$240,851	0.53	1,475,440
44	Knoxville, TN	89.1	$228,130	0.55	1,061,479
45	Augusta, GA	88.6	$175,925	0.57	663,951
46	South Bend, IN	88.5	$174,504	0.58	1,007,831
47	Bowling Green, KY	88.4	$241,907	0.58	588,159
48	Toledo, OH	88.4	$166,123	0.58	985,119
49	Erie, PA	88.3	$142,282	0.59	579,477
50	San Angelo, TX	88.3	$167,153	0.58	137,235
51	Clarksville, TN	88.1	$214,496	0.59	540,025
52	Springfield, IL	88.1	$134,854	0.59	506,038
53	Temple, TX	88.1	$269,692	0.60	1,376,327
54	Peoria, IL	88.0	$156,459	0.60	635,811
55	Tyler, TX	88.0	$174,887	0.60	749,850
56	Dayton, OH	87.7	$197,719	0.62	1,753,371
57	Huntsville, AL	87.7	$208,928	0.62	876,285
58	Lexington, KY	87.7	$219,733	0.61	782,280
59	Mobile, AL	87.7	$192,888	0.61	815,566
60	Stillwater, OK	87.7	$168,193	0.62	372,910
61	Columbia, SC	87.3	$180,363	0.63	1,040,237
62	Denton, TX	87.3	$297,259	0.46	6,960,860
63	Lafayette, LA	87.3	$179,143	0.64	613,301
64	Santa Fe, NM	87.3	$297,376	0.46	394,902
65	Frisco, TX	87.2	$298,795	0.45	7,001,429
66	Arlington, TX	87.1	$297,086	0.47	7,160,191
67	Irving, TX	87.1	$297,567	0.46	7,090,129
68	Killeen, TX	87.1	$272,982	0.65	1,405,747
69	Tucson, AZ	87.1	$261,413	0.64	1,475,731
70	Plano, TXalso covers Garland, TX	86.8	$298,582	0.47	7,073,930
71	Dallas, TX	86.7	$297,731	0.48	7,350,533
72	Rio Rancho, NM	86.7	$262,840	0.66	1,055,246
73	Columbus, OH	86.6	$256,573	0.67	2,067,520
74	Lynchburg, VA	86.6	$198,970	0.67	462,929
75	Sierra Vista, AZ	86.5	$248,103	0.67	1,215,735
76	Cincinnati, OH	86.3	$220,912	0.69	2,212,668
77	Spartanburg, SC	86.3	$205,959	0.69	1,192,929
78	Topeka, KS	86.1	$195,330	0.69	403,539
79	Lubbock, TX	85.9	$162,668	0.70	412,266
80	Broken Arrow, OK	85.7	$184,851	0.71	1,107,972
81	Little Rock, AR	85.7	$177,184	0.72	893,342
82	Tulsa, OK	85.6	$183,407	0.72	1,136,909
83	Eau Claire, WI	85.5	$210,841	0.73	289,501
84	Lansing, MI	85.4	$197,129	0.73	1,094,598
85	McKinney, TX	85.4	$308,081	0.47	5,025,223
86	Roanoke, VA	85.3	$219,662	0.73	585,074
87	Abilene, TX	84.9	$151,574	0.76	198,127
88	Greensboro, NC	84.9	$204,180	0.75	1,644,382
89	Winston-Salem, NC	84.9	$194,373	0.75	1,524,841
90	Cedar Rapids, IA	84.5	$212,156	0.78	502,261
91	Springdale, AR	84.5	$222,107	0.77	697,557
92	Fayetteville, AR	84.4	$220,400	0.78	717,228
93	St. Louis, MO	84.1	$221,388	0.79	2,509,637
94	Visalia, CA	84.0	$316,299	0.47	1,634,241
95	Fresno, CA	83.9	$318,406	0.46	1,791,484
96	Ann Arbor, MI	83.6	$226,318	0.82	4,315,701
97	Fort Wayne, IN	83.6	$165,336	0.82	697,111
98	Grand Rapids, MI	83.6	$226,261	0.82	1,495,915
99	Davenport, IA	83.5	$159,567	0.82	546,487
100	Louisville, KY	83.4	$219,933	0.83	1,479,008
101	Hartford, CT	83.1	$285,720	0.76	3,128,845
102	Fishers, IN	83.0	$217,807	0.85	2,211,878
103	Akron, OH	82.9	$180,367	0.85	3,266,959
104	Carmel, IN	82.9	$225,121	0.85	2,105,850
105	Rochester, MN	82.9	$245,428	0.85	363,482
106	Cleveland, OH	82.6	$186,790	0.87	2,780,337
107	Indianapolis, IN	82.5	$227,040	0.87	2,057,502
108	Lawrence, KS	82.4	$264,457	0.88	1,252,954
109	Pittsburgh, PA	82.4	$194,570	0.88	2,365,501
110	Tallahassee, FL	82.2	$217,679	0.89	494,571
111	Springfield, MO	82.0	$186,626	0.90	566,002
112	Greenville, SC	81.8	$222,847	0.91	1,430,662
113	Chesapeake, VA	81.4	$294,614	0.77	1,682,698
114	Great Falls, MT	81.4	$223,533	0.93	96,558
115	Flint, MI	81.2	$251,562	0.94	2,271,696
116	Grand Island, NE	81.1	$188,255	0.95	179,796
117	Detroit, MI	80.9	$216,755	0.96	4,247,438
118	Harrisburg, PA	80.9	$230,496	0.96	1,966,308
119	Norfolk, VA	80.8	$297,835	0.78	1,631,735
120	Virginia Beach, VA	80.8	$293,175	0.81	1,512,052
121	Casper, WY	80.7	$248,204	0.97	93,235
122	Green Bay, WI	80.7	$210,907	0.97	764,938
123	Overland Park, KS	80.7	$250,438	0.96	2,198,036
124	Olathe, KS	80.6	$249,100	0.97	2,242,391
125	Edmond, OK	80.5	$193,538	0.98	1,599,005
126	Kansas City, MO	80.5	$248,338	0.98	2,088,907
127	Warren, MI	80.5	$217,306	0.97	4,092,615
128	Appleton, WI	80.3	$205,212	0.98	985,173
129	Oklahoma City, OK	80.2	$193,400	0.99	1,516,947
130	Duluth, MN	80.1	$193,608	0.99	291,491
131	Wichita, KS	80.1	$165,690	1.00	743,336
132	Norman, OK	80.0	$192,486	1.00	1,451,738
133	Canton, OH	79.8	$178,129	1.01	1,867,380
134	Richmond, VA	79.8	$299,471	0.81	1,374,566
135	Milwaukee, WI	79.7	$252,986	1.02	1,871,135
136	Syracuse, NY	79.7	$161,700	1.02	1,012,675
137	Buffalo, NY	79.5	$176,639	1.02	1,466,444
138	Wilmington, DE	79.5	$286,638	0.93	6,015,068
139	Atlanta, GA	78.5	$314,724	0.76	5,238,707
140	Kenosha, WI	78.5	$264,182	1.08	2,835,533
141	Myrtle Beach, SC	78.4	$229,921	1.08	639,932
142	Amarillo, TX	77.8	$163,545	1.11	287,863
143	Rochester, NY	77.7	$176,001	1.12	1,120,350
144	Rock Hill, SC	77.4	$295,471	0.97	2,152,980
145	Rockford, IL	76.7	$206,981	1.16	1,152,033
146	Lancaster, PA	76.5	$284,767	1.10	2,769,511
147	Pensacola, FL	76.3	$241,904	1.18	743,710
148	Philadelphia, PA	76.2	$304,238	0.95	6,129,018
149	Charlotte, NC	76.1	$286,884	1.10	2,838,051
150	Yakima, WA	76.1	$278,777	1.16	300,567
151	Farmington, NM	75.5	$274,828	1.23	203,851
152	Madison, WI	75.0	$281,188	1.20	1,083,440
153	Columbia, MO	74.8	$201,356	1.26	397,411
154	Chicago, IL	74.2	$293,356	1.14	8,390,834
155	Asheville, NC	73.9	$269,867	1.30	667,845
156	Savannah, GA	73.3	$266,680	1.34	770,469
157	Las Vegas, NValso covers Henderson, NV	73.0	$357,130	0.69	2,480,155
158	Albany, NY	72.7	$248,146	1.37	1,250,962
159	Aurora, ILalso covers Naperville, IL	72.5	$297,243	1.20	7,765,554
160	Athens, GA	72.4	$283,986	1.31	1,560,087
161	Lakeland, FL	72.1	$266,236	1.40	3,686,406
162	Pocatello, ID	71.7	$227,999	1.42	155,235
163	Des Moines, IA	71.6	$235,036	1.42	859,631
164	Rapid City, SD	71.4	$253,847	1.43	174,918
165	Twin Falls, ID	71.4	$243,744	1.43	160,648
166	Wilmington, NC	71.0	$268,727	1.45	510,081
167	Allentown, PA	70.8	$315,521	1.13	3,233,639
168	Medford, OR	70.2	$352,029	0.87	354,647
169	Tampa, FL	70.2	$272,762	1.49	4,138,987
170	Murfreesboro, TN	70.1	$357,504	0.83	1,772,541
171	Round Rock, TX	70.1	$374,348	0.70	2,444,933
172	Sioux Falls, SD	70.0	$243,507	1.50	352,994
173	Fargo, ND	69.4	$251,795	1.53	281,094
174	Ocala, FL	69.2	$229,283	1.54	1,448,660
175	Phoenix, AZalso covers Casa Grande, AZ, Chandler, AZ, Gilbert, AZ, Mesa, AZ, Scottsdale, AZ, Tempe, AZ	69.2	$362,269	0.84	4,864,209
176	Kennewick, WA	68.8	$312,968	1.25	446,306
177	Glendale, AZalso covers Peoria, AZ, Surprise, AZ	68.6	$361,897	0.87	5,102,039
178	Eugene, OR	68.4	$350,647	0.98	717,753
179	Orlando, FL	68.2	$285,218	1.51	4,584,770
180	Nashville, TN	67.3	$369,606	0.88	1,817,395
181	Raleigh, NC	67.0	$330,152	1.21	2,259,493
182	Durham, NC	66.7	$340,192	1.14	2,044,375
183	Cary, NC	66.4	$333,206	1.22	2,228,038
184	Jacksonville, FL	66.3	$281,093	1.64	1,626,134
185	Charleston, SC	65.7	$339,707	1.19	803,398
186	Austin, TX	65.4	$398,893	0.74	2,296,377
187	Lincoln, NE	65.2	$225,300	1.74	454,421
188	Anchorage, AK	64.3	$337,239	1.29	458,570
189	Billings, MT	64.1	$283,986	1.72	203,161
190	St. Petersburg, FL	64.0	$295,455	1.64	2,833,547
191	Minneapolis, MN	62.5	$338,692	1.37	3,482,482
192	Modesto, CA	62.2	$415,926	0.76	1,714,465
193	Baltimore, MD	61.6	$408,924	0.85	4,873,393
194	Palm Bay, FL	61.2	$281,317	1.89	1,165,454
195	Pueblo, CO	61.1	$356,818	1.29	952,450
196	Omaha, NE	61.0	$226,317	1.95	1,003,863
197	Bellevue, NE	60.5	$227,924	1.97	973,327
198	Flagstaff, AZ	60.2	$363,795	1.28	382,535
199	Bismarck, ND	59.3	$279,203	2.46	146,545
200	Idaho Falls, ID	58.5	$284,354	2.38	256,613
201	Palm Springs, CA	57.4	$451,122	0.72	4,610,050
202	Prescott, AZ	57.0	$354,300	1.51	237,830
203	Missoula, MT	56.6	$357,778	1.51	232,348
204	Coeur d'Alene, ID	54.7	$347,492	1.69	783,213
205	Portland, ME	53.3	$324,258	1.94	664,448
206	Logan, UT	53.2	$337,729	1.84	483,606
207	St. George, UT	53.1	$318,403	2.84	397,526
208	Fort Myers, FL	52.2	$323,447	3.16	1,395,104
209	Cape Coral, FL	51.9	$325,491	3.19	1,382,925
210	Bend, OR	50.0	$413,053	1.39	631,216
211	Olympia, WA	49.9	$414,891	1.38	1,437,653
212	Miami, FL	49.1	$370,900	1.78	4,629,144
213	Grand Junction, CO	49.0	$343,811	2.21	248,987
214	Port St. Lucie, FL	49.0	$343,527	2.84	2,189,742
215	Sacramento, CA	48.3	$499,079	0.79	3,805,919
216	Nampa, IDalso covers Caldwell, ID	45.1	$371,012	1.98	828,711
217	Fort Lauderdale, FL	44.8	$370,265	2.01	6,123,949
218	Meridian, ID	44.6	$373,291	1.99	825,925
219	Colorado Springs, CO	44.1	$436,760	1.50	1,358,986
220	Boise, ID	44.0	$376,735	1.99	800,354
221	Cheyenne, WY	44.0	$425,645	1.59	828,670
222	Salem, OR	43.4	$427,235	1.61	1,186,227
223	Reno, NValso covers Sparks, NV	43.0	$506,176	1.00	1,171,822
224	New Haven, CT	41.2	$401,348	1.93	4,759,823
225	Portland, OR	40.0	$465,869	1.47	2,961,748
226	Ogden, UT	39.0	$416,040	1.92	2,011,721
227	Gresham, OR	38.7	$471,055	1.49	2,851,127
228	Vancouver, WA	38.4	$480,856	1.43	2,615,933
229	Layton, UT	38.0	$423,102	1.92	2,128,277
230	Carson City, NV	37.8	$529,051	1.08	1,363,003
231	Frederick, MD	37.0	$543,437	1.00	3,998,761
232	Laramie, WY	36.7	$434,608	1.89	497,204
233	Providence, RI	36.4	$489,800	1.46	5,500,303
234	Bellingham, WA	35.8	$475,225	1.61	460,514
235	Tooele, UT	34.4	$435,296	2.00	2,283,728
236	Provo, UT	33.0	$443,904	2.10	1,893,616
237	Salt Lake City, UTalso covers West Valley City, UT	32.5	$446,903	2.06	2,373,628
238	Manchester, NH	31.9	$535,219	1.33	3,515,911
239	Orem, UTalso covers Lehi, UT	31.9	$450,528	2.07	1,998,229
240	Boulder, CO	28.9	$517,334	1.61	2,935,884
241	Aurora, CO	28.3	$526,489	1.57	3,586,654
242	Denver, CO	27.8	$526,009	1.60	3,619,510
243	Riverside, CA	26.5	$682,500	0.67	17,721,967
244	Stockton, CA	25.7	$665,168	0.72	6,274,436
245	Loveland, CO	25.0	$526,485	1.74	1,093,433
246	Fort Collins, COalso covers Greeley, CO	24.9	$522,488	1.78	1,019,487
247	San Rafael, CA	24.9	$1,017,778	0.75	5,769,057
248	Marin County, CA	24.1	$931,675	0.79	3,350,984
249	Bozeman, MT	23.6	$502,545	5.42	145,747
250	Tacoma, WA	17.5	$629,134	1.29	3,809,100

Market Index, answered

What does the Door-to-Door Market Index measure?

How well-suited each of 250 US market areas is for door-to-door home-services sales — windows, roofing, solar, pest control and similar offers sold at the door. Each market is scored 0–100 on two public signals: housing affordability (weighted 60%) and residential finishing-trade density (weighted 40%).

Where does the data come from?

Entirely from public US Census data: ACS 5-year median home value (table B25077) and population (B01003), plus County Business Patterns establishment counts for Finish Carpentry Contractors (NAICS 238350). Figures are aggregated across the counties within roughly 25 miles of each market center. No private, personal, or protected-class data is used.

What exactly does the contractor column count — and what does it miss?

It counts establishments in one Census industry code, NAICS 238350, whose official title is "Finish Carpentry Contractors" — interior trim, molding, cabinets, countertops, paneling, door and window frames. It is a measure of how much residential finishing work a market sustains, used as a proxy for how much home-improvement selling already happens there. It is explicitly NOT a count of your direct competitors: roofing (238160), siding (238170), solar (238220), pest control (561710) are separate codes and are not in this number. Treat it as a saturation signal, not a competitor census.

Why do 250 markets appear when 268 cities were scored?

Because a market here is a city plus the counties within about 25 miles of it, neighbouring cities frequently resolve to the same county set and therefore carry identical figures. Publishing those as separate ranked markets would be double-counting one place, so cities sharing a footprint are merged into a single row anchored on the largest city, with the others listed beside it. 17 cities were merged that way. A further 1 was excluded because the Census suppressed its establishment count for disclosure reasons — a suppressed value arrives as a zero, and since the score rewards low contractor density, leaving it in would have promoted a data gap to the top of the ranking.

Why do affordable markets rank higher than wealthy ones?

Because the data says so. The index favors modest home values — the assumption that expensive neighborhoods are the best door-to-door territory was tested against an analysis of more than 350,000 real door-to-door leads and found backwards. Homeowners in the modest band book appointments at the door at meaningfully higher rates than homeowners at the top of the market.

Can I cite or republish these rankings?

Yes — cite "the NeuroKnock Door-to-Door Market Index" and link this page. The rankings are derived from public Census data with a documented method, so they can be checked.

The index picks the market. NeuroKnock picks the blocks.

Inside a chosen market, NeuroKnock scores every neighborhood block on the same public-data discipline and routes your reps to the strongest ones — offline, in the field.

See NeuroKnock Book a demo