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

Of the 10 Florida cities measured, Bonita Springs averages lowest, at 47 across 12 trades, and Jacksonville averages highest, at 66, 19 points higher. Bonita Springs’ calmest market is pool companies, at 38, and its toughest is med spas, at 57, with 253 reviews at the top-three median. There, 0 of 12 trades score under 35 and 0 score over 65, in a city of 57,634 residents. A low average means thinner competition than elsewhere, not none, so the profile and review basics still decide who ranks.

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

It depends on the trade. In Jacksonville, the median review count of the top three Google Maps results runs from 33 for pool companies to 1,577 for dentists, with law firms in the middle at 746. In dentists, 16 of the top 20 have passed 100 reviews and the top ten average 4.8 stars. Those are the businesses you would be trying to pass. Treat the median as the bar to aim for: reviews are 30 of 100 points, and distance helps a smaller count near home.

How is the Florida Market Competition Index calculated?

Take pest control in Fort Myers, which scores 58, close to the Florida median. Its top three Google Maps results hold 1,115 reviews at the median (weight 30), 13 of the top 20 have passed 100 (15) and the top ten average 4.9 stars (10). 0% of its top sites carry local business markup, part of the website signal (20). Lee County has 0.25 of these businesses per 1,000 homes (10) and Fort Myers has 101,581 residents (15). Each signal is scaled from 0 to 1 across every city measured, then weighted. Review counts and population are log-scaled.

How often is the Florida SEO forecast updated?

The Google Maps data behind this page was read October 29, 2026, in 120 searches, one for each of Florida’s 10 cities and 12 trades, covering 2,280 business listings. The Census figures are County Business Patterns 2023 and the Vintage 2025 population and housing estimates. Florida is one of 14 states published so far, with 36 more joining as their monthly Places batches complete. Because the index is relative, adding states recalculates every score, and small moves can happen with no local change.

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

No. In Florida, 1 of 120 markets scores under 35. The calmest are landscaping in Naples (34), pool companies in Fort Myers (38) and pool companies in Bonita Springs (38), where the top three hold as few as 22 reviews at the median. A low score means competitors there are less established than in other measured cities, not that customers stop searching. A complete Google Business Profile, correct categories and steady reviews may win those maps, and that work is cheapest before a rival does it first.

SEO Market Map Florida

SEO Market Map · Florida · 10 cities · 12 trades

Today’s SEO forecast for Florida.

Florida ranks 4th of 14 states for search competition, at 59 against a median of 54 across the 14 states measured so far. Its hardest trade is med spas (67); its calmest is landscaping (46). Pick yours.

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66/ 100

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Hardest Dentists · 74

Calmest Pool companies · 53

The Jacksonville market guide

The fly-through

From clear skies to severe, city by city.

01 / 10 · Bonita Springs · Clouds building

Clouds building. Index 47 across 12 trades.

Hardest trade: Med spas (57). Calmest: Pool companies (38).

Read the section The Bonita Springs market guide

02 / 10 · Naples · Storms likely

Storms likely. Index 52 across 12 trades.

Hardest trade: Plumbing (65). Calmest: Landscaping (34).

Read the section The Naples market guide

03 / 10 · Fort Myers · Storms likely

Storms likely. Index 57 across 12 trades.

Hardest trade: HVAC (72). Calmest: Pool companies (38).

Read the section The Fort Myers market guide

04 / 10 · Cape Coral · Storms likely

Storms likely. Index 58 across 12 trades.

Hardest trade: Dentists (71). Calmest: Landscaping (46).

Read the section The Cape Coral market guide

05 / 10 · Sarasota · Storms likely

Storms likely. Index 58 across 12 trades.

Hardest trade: HVAC (66). Calmest: Landscaping (42).

Read the section The Sarasota market guide

06 / 10 · Miami · Storms likely

Storms likely. Index 59 across 12 trades.

Hardest trade: Med spas (80). Calmest: Landscaping (42).

Read the section The Miami market guide

07 / 10 · Fort Lauderdale · Storms likely

Storms likely. Index 61 across 12 trades.

Hardest trade: Law firms (75). Calmest: Landscaping (47).

Read the section The Fort Lauderdale market guide

08 / 10 · Orlando · Storms likely

Storms likely. Index 63 across 12 trades.

Hardest trade: Law firms (75). Calmest: Landscaping (46).

Read the section The Orlando market guide

09 / 10 · Tampa · Storms likely

Storms likely. Index 64 across 12 trades.

Hardest trade: Plumbing (75). Calmest: Pool companies (50).

Read the section The Tampa market guide

10 / 10 · Jacksonville · Severe

Severe. Index 66 across 12 trades.

Hardest trade: Dentists (74). Calmest: Pool companies (53).

Read the section The Jacksonville market guide

County lines: US Census Bureau.Pins mark city centers from the Census Gazetteer.

01 / 16

How competitive is local search in Florida?

At 59, Florida ranks 4th of 14 measured states (median 54). That average hides a wide spread: landscaping in Naples scores 34, while med spas in Miami scores 80. Your own answer depends on which of the 120 city and trade markets you are in.

By band: 33 markets score over 65 (full SEO, usually with paid search), 86 fall between 35 and 65 (local SEO) and 1 comes in under 35 (a strong profile and reviews may do).

Trade by trade, med spas (67), plumbing (66) and dentists (66) average highest across Florida. Landscaping (46), pool companies (49) and electricians (54) average lowest.

Size matters less than you might expect: Jacksonville, the largest measured city at 1,017,689 residents, averages 66, while Naples, at 20,114, averages 52.

02 / 16

SEO competition in Jacksonville

Jacksonville averages 66 across 12 trades, 1st of 10 Florida cities. Its toughest market is dentists at 74, where the top three Google Maps results hold 1,577 reviews at the median and 16 of 20 rivals have passed 100. At the other end, pool companies score 53 with a 33-review 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 4.9 (law firms) across Jacksonville’s top ten results.

Jacksonville has 1,017,689 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Duval County counts 2,540 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 5.3 per 1,000 homes.

We read 36 competitor websites that rank for Jacksonville searches. 69% carry local business markup and 67% changed their sitemap in the last year.

03 / 16

SEO competition in Tampa

Tampa averages 64 across 12 trades, 2nd of 10 Florida cities. The hardest trade is plumbing (75), with a 1,319-review median among the top three and 19 of 20 competitors past 100 reviews. The calmest is pool companies at 50 (47 reviews at the median).

In Tampa, 6 of 12 trades score over 65, 6 sit between 35 and 65 and 0 fall under 35.

The top ten map results average 4.7 stars in veterinarians and 5.0 in chiropractors, the lowest and highest rating bars in Tampa.

Tampa has 413,554 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Hillsborough County counts 4,230 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 6.4 per 1,000 homes.

We read 36 competitor websites that rank for Tampa searches. 47% carry local business markup and 69% changed their sitemap in the last year.

Read more: Tampa SEO services and SEO for plumbing.

04 / 16

SEO competition in Orlando

Orlando scores 63 on average, ranking 3rd of 10 in Florida. Law firms are hardest at 75: the first three businesses on the map carry a median of 5,163 reviews, with 19 of the top 20 above 100. The calmest is landscaping at 46 (91 reviews at the median).

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

Orlando’s rating bar is lowest for veterinarians, 4.3 stars across the top ten, and highest for roofing, at 4.9.

Orlando has 333,888 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Orange County counts 3,802 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 6.2 per 1,000 homes.

For Orlando, 36 ranking competitor sites were readable: local business markup on 47%, a sitemap change in the past year on 67%.

Read more: Orlando SEO services and SEO for law firms.

05 / 16

SEO competition in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale scores 61 on average, ranking 4th of 10 in Florida. Law firms are hardest at 75: the first three businesses on the map carry a median of 1,716 reviews, with 18 of the top 20 above 100. Landscaping is calmest at 47, where 66 reviews is the top-three median.

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

Ratings run from 4.7 stars (veterinarians) to 4.9 (med spas) across Fort Lauderdale’s top ten results.

Fort Lauderdale has 188,677 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Broward County counts 6,827 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 7.8 per 1,000 homes.

We read 36 competitor websites that rank for Fort Lauderdale searches. 67% carry local business markup and 69% changed their sitemap in the last year.

06 / 16

SEO competition in Miami

Miami averages 59 across 12 trades, 5th of 10 Florida cities. Its toughest market is med spas at 80, where the top three Google Maps results hold 1,350 reviews at the median and 18 of 20 rivals have passed 100. At the other end, landscaping scores 42 with a 55-review median.

In Miami, 3 of 12 trades score over 65, 9 sit between 35 and 65 and 0 fall under 35.

Miami’s rating bar is lowest for veterinarians, 4.4 stars across the top ten, and highest for law firms, at 4.9.

Miami has 489,812 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Miami-Dade County counts 8,978 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 8.0 per 1,000 homes.

Of the 36 top competitor sites we could read here, 61% use local business markup, and 61% have a sitemap updated within twelve months.

Read more: Miami SEO services and SEO for med spas.

07 / 16

SEO competition in Cape Coral

Cape Coral averages 58 across 12 trades, 6th of 10 Florida cities. Dentists are hardest at 71: the first three businesses on the map carry a median of 655 reviews, with 20 of the top 20 above 100. Landscaping is calmest at 46, where 103 reviews is the top-three median.

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

Ratings run from 4.5 stars (veterinarians) to 5.0 (med spas) across Cape Coral’s top ten results.

Cape Coral has 236,264 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Lee County counts 2,455 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 5.1 per 1,000 homes.

For Cape Coral, 36 ranking competitor sites were readable: local business markup on 64%, a sitemap change in the past year on 78%.

Read more: Cape Coral SEO services and SEO for dentists.

08 / 16

SEO competition in Sarasota

Sarasota averages 58 across 12 trades, 7th of 10 Florida cities. HVAC is hardest at 66: the first three businesses on the map carry a median of 1,077 reviews, with 16 of the top 20 above 100. The calmest is landscaping at 42 (95 reviews at the median).

Of its 12 trades, 2 call for full SEO plus paid search, 10 for local SEO and 0 for a strong profile and reviews.

Sarasota’s rating bar is lowest for pool companies, 4.6 stars across the top ten, and highest for chiropractors, at 5.0.

Sarasota has 58,458 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Sarasota County counts 1,711 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 6.0 per 1,000 homes.

We read 36 competitor websites that rank for Sarasota searches. 69% carry local business markup and 81% changed their sitemap in the last year.

Read more: Sarasota SEO services and SEO for HVAC.

09 / 16

SEO competition in Fort Myers

Across 12 trades, Fort Myers comes in at 57, the 8th highest of Florida’s 10 measured cities. Its toughest market is HVAC at 72, where the top three Google Maps results hold 1,756 reviews at the median and 20 of 20 rivals have passed 100. At the other end, pool companies score 38 with a 22-review median.

Split by verdict, Fort Myers has 2 full-SEO markets, 10 local-SEO markets and 0 where a profile may be enough.

Ratings run from 4.6 stars (veterinarians) to 4.9 (pool companies) across Fort Myers’ top ten results.

Fort Myers has 101,581 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Lee County counts 2,455 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 5.1 per 1,000 homes.

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

Read more: Fort Myers SEO services and SEO for HVAC.

10 / 16

SEO competition in Naples

Naples scores 52 on average, ranking 9th of 10 in Florida. Plumbing is hardest at 65: the first three businesses on the map carry a median of 1,814 reviews, with 16 of the top 20 above 100. Landscaping is calmest at 34, where 35 reviews is the top-three median.

In Naples, 0 of 12 trades score over 65, 11 sit between 35 and 65 and 1 falls under 35.

The top ten map results average 4.7 stars in veterinarians and 5.0 in chiropractors, the lowest and highest rating bars in Naples.

Naples has 20,114 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Collier County counts 1,500 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 6.0 per 1,000 homes.

Of the 36 top competitor sites we could read here, 61% use local business markup, and 72% have a sitemap updated within twelve months.

Read more: Naples SEO services and SEO for plumbing.

11 / 16

SEO competition in Bonita Springs

Bonita Springs averages 47 across 12 trades, 10th of 10 Florida cities. Its toughest market is med spas at 57, where the top three Google Maps results hold 253 reviews at the median and 7 of 20 rivals have passed 100. At the other end, pool companies score 38 with a 40-review median.

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

Ratings run from 4.6 stars (law firms) to 5.0 (med spas) across Bonita Springs’ top ten results.

Bonita Springs has 57,634 residents in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate. Lee County counts 2,455 establishments across the trades the Census codes, about 5.1 per 1,000 homes.

We read 36 competitor websites that rank for Bonita Springs searches. 61% carry local business markup and 61% changed their sitemap in the last year.

12 / 16

Where Florida needs full SEO and paid search

Three trades average over 65 in Florida: med spas (67), plumbing (66) and dentists (66). Expect entrenched leaders: large review counts, mature sites and steady publishing. Organic work wins here over time, and paid search tends to carry the calls until it does.

SEO for med spas: Naples 57 to Miami 80, a 263-review median. SEO for plumbing: Bonita Springs 46 to Tampa 75, a 1,193-review median. SEO for dentists: Bonita Springs 56 to Jacksonville 74, a 1,171-review median.

In Miami, med spas’ top three hold 1,350 reviews at the median, 18 of the top 20 have passed 100 and the top ten average 4.9 stars.

To lead plumbing in Tampa, a business faces a 1,319-review top-three median, 19 established rivals and ratings averaging 4.8.

13 / 16

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

Five trades average between 35 and 65 in Florida: law firms (64), HVAC (63), pest control (60), veterinarians (58) and roofing (55). 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 law firms: Naples 46 to Miami 77, a 550-review median. SEO for HVAC: Bonita Springs 50 to Fort Myers 72, a 1,070-review median. SEO for pest control: Bonita Springs 53 to Jacksonville 70, a 602-review median. SEO for veterinarians: Bonita Springs 46 to Jacksonville 68, a 440-review median. SEO for roofing: Naples 42 to Orlando 67, a 278-review median.

Miami sets the bar for law firms: 760 reviews at the median among the top three, 18 rivals past 100 reviews and a 4.9-star average.

Fort Myers sets the bar for HVAC: 1,756 reviews at the median among the top three, 20 rivals past 100 reviews and a 4.9-star average.

14 / 16

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

Four trades average between 35 and 65 in Florida: chiropractors (55), electricians (54), pool companies (49) and landscaping (46). These are contested map packs, where a finished profile gets a business into the running and location pages, reviews and on-page fixes decide who stays there.

SEO for chiropractors: Bonita Springs 46 to Jacksonville 65, a 308-review median. SEO for electricians: Bonita Springs 39 to Jacksonville 70, a 225-review median. SEO for pool companies: Fort Myers 38 to Orlando 54, a 53-review median. SEO for landscaping: Naples 34 to Jacksonville 59, a 93-review median.

In Jacksonville, chiropractors’ top three hold 218 reviews at the median, 17 of the top 20 have passed 100 and the top ten average 4.9 stars.

In Jacksonville, electricians’ top three hold 1,035 reviews at the median, 16 of the top 20 have passed 100 and the top ten average 4.8 stars.

15 / 16

What Florida's top competitor websites do

360 competitor sites from Florida’s Google Maps results were readable, the top three per search that publish their own website. 60% carry local business markup, against 54% across every state measured, and 68% changed their sitemap in the last year. The median ranking site lists 2 location-style pages.

Across every state measured the median ranking site lists 1 location-style page, so Florida’s leaders are ahead of the national pattern. WordPress runs 200 of them; custom or less common builders run 117. Platform matters less than markup, sitemap and service-area pages.

Trailing the leaders on markup, sitemap or service-area pages is usually the quickest gap to close, and the free audit checks each of them.

16 / 16

How to use the Florida forecast

Find your city and trade in the table and read its band. In Florida, 1 market scores under 35, where a profile and reviews may be enough; 86 sit between 35 and 65, where local SEO decides the call; and 33 score over 65, where full SEO and paid search are the norm.

In Florida, plumbing in Jacksonville (73) is a full-SEO market; roofing in Jacksonville (56) needs local SEO; landscaping in Naples (34) is a market a strong profile may carry.

The median Florida market scores 58, so half of the 120 city and trade pairs here are calmer than that and half are tougher. The trade buttons near the top redraw the cards and map for one trade; the methodology explains every signal and weight.

What a searcher sees on the map

The view from the phone.

City Trade

74/ 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.

1,577 median reviews among the top three
16 of the top 20 with 100 or more reviews
4.8 average stars across the top 10

The full forecast

Every city, every trade.

Florida by city and trade, read October 29, 2026. Business counts are county-wide: Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Bonita Springs share Lee County. Methodology.
City	Plumbing	HVAC	Roofing	Electricians	Landscaping	Pest control	Pool companies	Dentists	Law firms	Med spas	Veterinarians	Chiropractors
Naples	65	60	42	44	34	57	53	59	46	57	56	51
Fort Myers	68	72	56	57	53	58	38	63	56	63	54	51
Cape Coral	65	66	55	46	46	60	54	71	58	66	58	55
Bonita Springs	46	50	47	39	39	53	38	56	49	57	46	46
Sarasota	65	66	60	52	42	59	49	61	64	66	59	56
Tampa	75	66	53	67	55	64	50	70	72	72	65	56
Orlando	69	68	67	62	46	63	54	66	75	73	55	59
Miami	62	54	56	48	42	55	50	71	77	80	57	51
Fort Lauderdale	71	63	59	52	47	56	48	72	75	70	62	57
Jacksonville	73	67	56	70	59	70	53	74	71	62	68	65

Questions

What business owners in Florida ask first.

Jamie Kloncz · SEO Elite Agency, Naples

The answer is med spas: a 67 average, top among 12 trades, with 6 of 10 Florida cities scoring it above 65. It is hardest in Miami, at 80: the top three Google Maps results there hold 1,350 reviews at the median, 18 of the top 20 have passed 100 and the top ten average 4.9 stars. Its calmest Florida city is Naples, at 57. The least competitive trade statewide is landscaping, at 46, 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 med spas SEO for plumbing Naples SEO services Fort Myers SEO services

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

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