Which Arizona city is the easiest place to rank on Google Maps?

Of the 5 Arizona cities measured, Chandler averages lowest, at 59 across 12 trades, and Phoenix averages highest, at 68, 9 points higher. Chandler’s calmest market is landscaping, at 40, and its toughest is veterinarians, at 68, with 953 reviews at the top-three median. There, 0 of 12 trades score under 35 and 4 score over 65, in a city of 278,748 residents. Calm is a comparison with every measured city, not an absence of competitors; complete, steadily reviewed profiles still win.

How many Google reviews do I need to compete in Phoenix?

It depends on the trade. In Phoenix, the median review count of the top three Google Maps results runs from 87 for pool companies to 3,223 for pest control, with roofing in the middle at 829. In pest control, 19 of the top 20 have passed 100 reviews and the top ten average 4.9 stars. Those are the businesses you would be trying to pass. Reviews carry 30 of the index’s 100 points, but relevance and distance let a smaller count win close to your own address.

How is the Arizona Market Competition Index calculated?

Take electricians in Phoenix, which scores 64, close to the Arizona median. Its top three Google Maps results hold 138 reviews at the median (weight 30), 16 of the top 20 have passed 100 (15) and the top ten average 4.8 stars (10). 100% of its top sites carry local business markup, part of the website signal (20). Maricopa County has 0.57 of these businesses per 1,000 homes (10) and Phoenix has 1,665,481 residents (15). Each signal is scaled from 0 to 1 across every city measured, then weighted. Reviews and population use a logarithm.

How often is the Arizona SEO forecast updated?

The Google Maps data behind this page was read October 29, 2026, in 60 searches, one for each of Arizona’s 5 cities and 12 trades, covering 1,151 business listings. The Census figures are County Business Patterns 2023 and the Vintage 2025 population and housing estimates. Arizona is one of 14 states published so far, with 36 more joining as their monthly Places batches complete. Each time states are added, every score is recalculated across all measured cities, so a number here can move slightly without any local change.

Does a low score mean my business does not need SEO?

No. In Arizona, none of the 60 markets scores under 35 yet. The calmest are landscaping in Chandler (40), electricians in Gilbert (44) and pool companies in Mesa (45), where the top three hold as few as 31 reviews at the median. A low score means competitors there are less established than in other measured cities, not that customers stop searching. Leading a calm market early costs far less than catching an established competitor later, so the basics are still worth doing now.

SEO Market Map Arizona

SEO Market Map · Arizona · 5 cities · 12 trades

Today’s SEO forecast for Arizona.

Arizona ranks 1st of 14 states for search competition, at 63 against a median of 54 across the 14 states measured so far. Its hardest trade is pest control (71); its calmest is landscaping (50). Pick yours.

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In one paragraph

This is a measured forecast of local search competition in Arizona: five cities, 12 trades, one score each from 0 for a calm market to 100 for a severe one. The scores come from Google Maps results, review counts, competitor websites and Census business counts read October 29, 2026. Statewide, Arizona averages 63, ranking 1st of 14.

The five-city outlook

Where search is calm, and where it is severe.

Chandler is calmest at 59; Phoenix runs at 68.

Storms likely

Chandler

59/ 100

Local SEO needed

Hardest Veterinarians · 68

Calmest Landscaping · 40

Storms likely

Gilbert

60/ 100

Local SEO needed

Hardest Med spas · 74

Calmest Electricians · 44

Storms likely

Mesa

62/ 100

Local SEO needed

Hardest Pest control · 77

Calmest Pool companies · 45

Severe

Tucson

65/ 100

Local SEO needed

Hardest HVAC · 72

Calmest Landscaping · 51

Severe

Phoenix

68/ 100

Full SEO plus paid

Hardest Med spas · 79

Calmest Pool companies · 52

The Arizona radar

Phoenix runs hottest.

Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler, stormiest first.

68PhoenixSevere
65TucsonSevere
62MesaStorms likely
60GilbertStorms likely
59ChandlerStorms likely

Clear skies 0–19
Mostly sunny 20–34
Clouds building 35–49
Storms likely 50–64
Severe 65–100

State lines: US Census Bureau. Numbered pins follow the key, stormiest first.

01 / 11

How competitive is local search in Arizona?

The short answer for Arizona is 63 out of 100, 1st of 14 states, where the median state scores 54. The long answer is 60 separate markets, from 40 (landscaping, Chandler) to 79 (med spas, Phoenix), and the one that matters is yours.

Counting markets, 25 are severe enough to call for full SEO and paid search, 35 are contested local-SEO markets and 0 are calm enough for profile and review work.

Trade by trade, pest control (71), plumbing (69) and med spas (69) average highest across Arizona. Landscaping (50), pool companies (54) and electricians (54) average lowest.

Size matters less than you might expect: Phoenix, the largest measured city at 1,665,481 residents, averages 68, while Chandler, at 278,748, averages 59.

02 / 11

SEO competition in Phoenix

Phoenix scores 68 on average, ranking 1st of 5 in Arizona. The hardest trade is med spas (79), with a 1,086-review median among the top three and 17 of 20 competitors past 100 reviews. The calmest is pool companies at 52 (87 reviews at the median).

Of its 12 trades, 7 call for full SEO plus paid search, 5 for local SEO and 0 for a strong profile and reviews.

Ratings run from 4.6 stars (veterinarians) to 5.0 (plumbing) across Phoenix’s top ten results.

Phoenix has 1,665,481 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Maricopa County counts 10,116 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 5.1 per 1,000 homes.

Of the 36 top competitor sites we could read here, 58% use local business markup, and 72% have a sitemap updated within twelve months.

SEO competition in Tucson

Across 12 trades, Tucson comes in at 65, the 2nd highest of Arizona’s 5 measured cities. Its toughest market is HVAC at 72, where the top three Google Maps results hold 4,115 reviews at the median and 20 of 20 rivals have passed 100. The calmest is landscaping at 51 (170 reviews at the median).

Split by verdict, Tucson has 6 full-SEO markets, 6 local-SEO markets and 0 where a profile may be enough.

Ratings run from 4.5 stars (veterinarians) to 4.9 (med spas) across Tucson’s top ten results.

Tucson has 548,371 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Pima County counts 2,053 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 4.1 per 1,000 homes.

Of the 36 top competitor sites we could read here, 58% use local business markup, and 78% have a sitemap updated within twelve months.

SEO competition in Mesa

Mesa scores 62 on average, ranking 3rd of 5 in Arizona. Its toughest market is pest control at 77, where the top three Google Maps results hold 3,476 reviews at the median and 19 of 20 rivals have passed 100. Pool companies are calmest at 45, where 57 reviews is the top-three median.

Split by verdict, Mesa has 5 full-SEO markets, 7 local-SEO markets and 0 where a profile may be enough.

The top ten map results average 4.7 stars in veterinarians and 4.9 in electricians, the lowest and highest rating bars in Mesa.

Mesa has 513,656 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Maricopa County counts 10,116 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 5.1 per 1,000 homes.

For Mesa, 36 ranking competitor sites were readable: local business markup on 56%, a sitemap change in the past year on 61%.

SEO competition in Gilbert

Across 12 trades, Gilbert comes in at 60, the 4th highest of Arizona’s 5 measured cities. Med spas are hardest at 74: the first three businesses on the map carry a median of 268 reviews, with 19 of the top 20 above 100. Electricians are calmest at 44, where 72 reviews is the top-three median.

Split by verdict, Gilbert has 3 full-SEO markets, 9 local-SEO markets and 0 where a profile may be enough.

Gilbert’s rating bar is lowest for veterinarians, 4.7 stars across the top ten, and highest for med spas, at 5.0.

Gilbert has 287,285 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Maricopa County counts 10,116 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 5.1 per 1,000 homes.

Of the 36 top competitor sites we could read here, 56% use local business markup, and 72% have a sitemap updated within twelve months.

SEO competition in Chandler

Chandler scores 59 on average, ranking 5th of 5 in Arizona. The hardest trade is veterinarians (68), with a 953-review median among the top three and 19 of 20 competitors past 100 reviews. The calmest is landscaping at 40 (31 reviews at the median).

In Chandler, 4 of 12 trades score over 65, 8 sit between 35 and 65 and 0 fall under 35.

Chandler’s rating bar is lowest for landscaping, 4.8 stars across the top ten, and highest for chiropractors, at 4.9.

Chandler has 278,748 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Maricopa County counts 10,116 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 5.1 per 1,000 homes.

We read 36 competitor websites that rank for Chandler searches. 53% carry local business markup and 78% changed their sitemap in the last year.

Where Arizona needs full SEO and paid search

Five trades average over 65 in Arizona: pest control (71), plumbing (69), med spas (69), HVAC (67) and dentists (67). Here the businesses on top have years of reviews and full websites behind them; catching up takes local SEO and review work, usually with paid search covering the gap.

SEO for pest control: Tucson 66 to Mesa 77, a 1,863-review median. SEO for plumbing: Chandler 64 to Phoenix 73, a 1,191-review median. SEO for med spas: Chandler 58 to Phoenix 79, a 389-review median. SEO for HVAC: Gilbert 59 to Phoenix 75, a 846-review median. SEO for dentists: Gilbert 65 to Phoenix 69, a 572-review median.

In Mesa, pest control’s top three hold 3,476 reviews at the median, 19 of the top 20 have passed 100 and the top ten average 4.9 stars.

In Phoenix, plumbing’s top three hold 1,191 reviews at the median, 20 of the top 20 have passed 100 and the top ten average 5.0 stars.

08 / 11

Where local SEO decides the call in Arizona: the tougher trades

Four trades average between 35 and 65 in Arizona: veterinarians (65), roofing (63), law firms (63) and chiropractors (61). Competition is real but beatable: a business that pairs its profile with service-area pages and a steady review habit can move into the top three.

SEO for veterinarians: Phoenix 60 to Chandler 68, a 686-review median. SEO for roofing: Gilbert 54 to Mesa 70, a 623-review median. SEO for law firms: Gilbert 47 to Phoenix 76, a 218-review median. SEO for chiropractors: Chandler 58 to Tucson 63, a 365-review median.

To lead veterinarians in Chandler, a business faces a 953-review top-three median, 19 established rivals and ratings averaging 4.8.

Mesa sets the bar for roofing: 708 reviews at the median among the top three, 17 rivals past 100 reviews and a 4.9-star average.

09 / 11

Where local SEO decides the call in Arizona: the lighter trades

Three trades average between 35 and 65 in Arizona: electricians (54), pool companies (54) and landscaping (50). The map pack is contested here. A complete profile is not enough on its own; location pages, reviews and on-page work separate the businesses that get the call.

SEO for electricians: Gilbert 44 to Phoenix 64, a 357-review median. SEO for pool companies: Mesa 45 to Tucson 65, a 96-review median. SEO for landscaping: Chandler 40 to Phoenix 57, a 148-review median.

Phoenix sets the bar for electricians: 138 reviews at the median among the top three, 16 rivals past 100 reviews and a 4.8-star average.

To lead pool companies in Tucson, a business faces a 674-review top-three median, 10 established rivals and ratings averaging 4.7.

10 / 11

What Arizona's top competitor websites do

180 competitor sites from Arizona’s Google Maps results were readable, the top three per search that publish their own website. 56% carry local business markup, against 54% across every state measured, and 72% changed their sitemap in the last year. The median ranking site lists 3 location-style pages.

Across every state measured the median ranking site lists 1 location-style page, so Arizona’s leaders are ahead of the national pattern. WordPress runs 104 of them; custom or less common builders run 40. The builder matters less than the structure on it.

Those three are also the cheapest fixes on most local sites. Our free audit reports where your own site stands on each.

11 / 11

How to use the Arizona forecast

Find your city and trade in the table and read its band. In Arizona, 0 markets score under 35, where a profile and reviews may be enough; 35 sit between 35 and 65, where local SEO decides the call; and 25 score over 65, where full SEO and paid search are the norm.

In Arizona, plumbing in Phoenix (73) is a full-SEO market; electricians in Phoenix (64) needs local SEO.

Half of Arizona’s 60 markets score below 64 and half above it. Choose a trade at the top of the page to redraw every card and the map for it, or open the methodology for each signal and its weight.

What a searcher sees on the map

The view from the phone.

City Trade

79/ 100

Severe

Competitors with deep review counts and built-out websites hold the top spots. This market rewards full SEO, with paid search to buy time while it builds.

1,086 median reviews among the top three
17 of the top 20 with 100 or more reviews
4.9 average stars across the top 10

The full forecast

Every city, every trade.

Arizona by city and trade, read October 29, 2026. Business counts are county-wide: Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler share Maricopa County. Methodology.
City	Plumbing	HVAC	Roofing	Electricians	Landscaping	Pest control	Pool companies	Dentists	Law firms	Med spas	Veterinarians	Chiropractors
Phoenix	73	75	70	64	57	74	52	69	76	79	60	61
Tucson	69	72	64	57	51	66	65	66	68	71	64	63
Mesa	66	61	70	54	52	77	45	68	62	63	68	60
Gilbert	71	59	54	44	52	70	56	65	47	74	64	61
Chandler	64	67	55	52	40	66	52	67	61	58	68	58

Questions

What business owners in Arizona ask first.

Jamie Kloncz · SEO Elite Agency, Naples

Pest control averages 71 across Arizona’s 5 measured cities, the highest of the 12 trades, and 5 of the 5 cities score it over 65. It is hardest in Mesa, at 77: the top three Google Maps results there hold 3,476 reviews at the median, 19 of the top 20 have passed 100 and the top ten average 4.9 stars. Its calmest Arizona city is Tucson, at 66. The least competitive trade statewide is landscaping, at 50, 21 points lower. Leaders there win on several fronts at the same time.

Sources

Google Maps Platform: Text Search (New), Places API documentationOpened and checked October 30, 2026
U.S. Census Bureau: County Business Patterns (2023)Opened and checked October 30, 2026
U.S. Census Bureau: Population and Housing Unit Estimates (Vintage 2025)Opened and checked October 30, 2026

Keep reading

The national SEO forecast How the forecast is measured SEO for pest control SEO for plumbing

Written by Jamie Kloncz, founderSEO Elite Agency, Naples FL. Data last read October 29, 2026.

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