Google Maps Shows an Out-of-Town Plumber in 41.4% of Small-Town Searches vs 17.9% Overall

In 41.4% of small-town Google Maps searches for a plumber, at least one of the top three businesses is based in another town, against 17.9% across 20 local services. ChatGPT shows the same strain: it names 15.3% fewer businesses per answer in smaller cities than in large ones, and fewer of them check out.

Map packs with an out-of-town business by service searched

Plumber

41.4%

Emergency plumber

41.4%

Moving company

41.4%

Locksmith

34.5%

HVAC company

31%

Electrician

31%

Landscaper

31%

Veterinarian

31%

Pest control

20.7%

House cleaning service

17.2%

Roofer

10.3%

Accountant

6.9%

Dentist

3.4%

Hair salon

Restaurant

Source: Suff Digital analysis of 580 Google Maps searches in 29 small US towns and 3,160 AI local answers in 79 US cities · Google Maps results, ChatGPT and Gemini answers and Google Business Profiles, September 2026

Map packs with an out-of-town business by town

Lewiston, ME

65%

Burlington, VT

45%

Beaufort, SC

30%

Hattiesburg, MS

30%

Sandpoint, ID

30%

Mankato, MN

25%

Asheville, NC

25%

Bozeman, MT

25%

Santa Fe, NM

20%

Bismarck, ND

15%

Traverse City, MI

10%

Bend, OR

Flagstaff, AZ

Cookeville, TN

Ames, IA

Large cities

ChatGPT businesses per answer

12.6

Gemini businesses per answer

2.7

Google Maps listings per search

100

Fewer businesses named by ChatGPT in smaller cities by service

House cleaning service

28%

Pest control

26%

Plumber

22%

Dentist

22%

Veterinarian

20%

HVAC company

17%

Accountant

17%

Hair salon

16%

Personal injury lawyer

15%

Real estate agent

14%

Gym

12%

Chiropractor

11%

Roofer

11%

Emergency plumber

Source: Google Maps Shows an Out-of-Town Plumber in 41.4% of Small-Town Searches vs 17.9% Overall - Suff Digital