Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on LawnStarter.
Which metro areas offer more green for keeping lawns green and healthy?
To find out, LawnStarter ranked 2025’s best metro areas for landscapers.
We compared the 381 biggest U.S. metro areas based on four categories. More specifically, we factored in the number of landscaping jobs and employers, access to landscaping equipment and supplies, and climate, among 21 total metrics.
Explore our following ranking. To learn how we ranked the metro areas, see our methodology at the end.
15. Homosassa Springs, FL
- Overall score: 44.04
- Supply access rank: 378
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 8
- Climate rank: 65
- Regulations rank: 57
14. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL
- Overall score: 44.35
- Supply access rank: 44
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 54
- Climate rank: 9
- Regulations rank: 190
13. Ocala, FL
- Overall score: 44.58
- Supply access rank: 68
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 21
- Climate rank: 55
- Regulations rank: 57
12. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Overall score: 44.93
- Supply access rank: 3
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 206
- Climate rank: 59
- Regulations rank: 342
11. Sebring, FL
- Overall score: 45.16
- Supply access rank: 204
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 23
- Climate rank: 20
- Regulations rank: 57
10. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
- Overall score: 45.47
- Supply access rank: 12
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 215
- Climate rank: 16
- Regulations rank: 190
9. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
- Overall score: 45.74
- Supply access rank: 1
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 274
- Climate rank: 32
- Regulations rank: 322
8. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
- Overall score: 45.89
- Supply access rank: 4
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 196
- Climate rank: 81
- Regulations rank: 290
7. Jacksonville, FL
- Overall score: 46.43
- Supply access rank: 20
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 49
- Climate rank: 26
- Regulations rank: 190
6. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC
- Overall score: 46.50
- Supply access rank: 110
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 15
- Climate rank: 57
- Regulations rank: 4
5. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Overall score: 46.85
- Supply access rank: 7
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 212
- Climate rank: 12
- Regulations rank: 190
4. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Overall score: 47.04
- Supply access rank: 6
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 150
- Climate rank: 56
- Regulations rank: 134
3. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Overall score: 47.14
- Supply access rank: 5
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 171
- Climate rank: 47
- Regulations rank: 290
2. Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
- Overall score: 50.38
- Supply access rank: 79
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 7
- Climate rank: 8
- Regulations rank: 57
1. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
- Overall score: 50.50
- Supply access rank: 19
- Economic and job opportunities rank: 43
- Climate rank: 14
- Regulations rank: 57
Methodology
First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best Metro Areas for Landscapers. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into four categories: Supply Access, Economic Job Opportunities, Climate, and Regulations. The factors are listed below.
For each of the 383 biggest U.S. metro areas, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table. We eliminated two metro areas lacking sufficient data in a single category, resulting in a final sample size of 381 metro areas.
Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each metro area to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A metro area’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Best” (No. 1).
Here are the factors:
- Median Household Income
- Mean Annual Landscaper Wage Index (Adj. to Cost of Living)
- Landscaping Jobs per 1,000 Total Jobs
- Number of Landscaping Employers (Adj. to 100K Population)
- Projected Industry Growth
- Portion of Income Spent on Professional Lawn and Gardening Services
- Number of Colleges Offering Landscaping Degree Programs
- Average Yard Size
- Google Search Index (Adj. to 100K Population)
- Noise Bans or Ordinances
- Business License Required
- Insurance Cost
- Gas Powered Equipment Ban
- Number of Sod Stores & Sodding Services
- Number of Garden Centers
- Number of Irrigation System Equipment Stores
- Number of Landscaping Equipment and Supply Stores
- Number of Lawn & Garden Equipment Supply Stores
- Average Number of Very Hot Days
- Average Number of Very Cold Days
- Number of Days in Growing Season
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