The top-scoring US metros of 100,000 to 500,000 residents for roofing, siding, windows and gutters: 291 metros in the band, ranked on the same national 0-100 opportunity score as every market on the site.
Jump to: Roofing · Siding & Exterior · Windows & Doors · Gutters & Trim
The highest-scoring US metros of 100,000 to 500,000 people, by line. Roofing: Trenton, NJ (77.4), Killeen, TX (74.6), Midland, TX (74.6). Siding: Trenton, NJ (79.1), Ann Arbor, MI (74.7), Hagerstown, MD (74.5). Windows: Trenton, NJ (77.6), Ann Arbor, MI (74.5), Hagerstown, MD (72.4). Gutters: Trenton, NJ (79.1), Hagerstown, MD (74.9), Ann Arbor, MI (74.1).
The score blends seven national percentiles: market size, growth, ability to pay, storm exposure, climate load, housing age and competition. Demand / firm is annual demand per specialty contractor (BLS QCEW); higher means more work per competitor. Saturation runs from Land Grab (least crowded) to Knife Fight (most crowded).
| # | Metro | Opportunity score | Annual demand | Population | Demand / firm | Saturation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton, NJ | 77.4 | $101.78M | 383,286 | $4.24M | Wide Open |
| 2 | Killeen, TX | 74.6 | $119.70M | 485,850 | $3.74M | Balanced |
| 3 | Midland, TX | 74.6 | $58.75M | 176,726 | $5.87M | Land Grab |
| 4 | Odessa, TX | 74.5 | $52.26M | 163,206 | $10.45M | Wide Open |
| 5 | Sherman, TX | 74.5 | $51.49M | 139,988 | $4.29M | Balanced |
| 6 | Lincoln, NE | 73.1 | $102.76M | 341,309 | $1.90M | Knife Fight |
| 7 | Hagerstown, MD | 73.1 | $108.41M | 298,525 | $6.38M | Land Grab |
| 8 | Janesville, WI | 72.0 | $63.83M | 163,944 | $3.99M | Balanced |
| 9 | Davenport, IA | 71.3 | $156.30M | 381,864 | $4.88M | Wide Open |
| 10 | Ann Arbor, MI | 71.1 | $104.46M | 368,394 | $6.14M | Land Grab |
| 11 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 70.9 | $104.87M | 275,960 | $3.88M | Wide Open |
| 12 | Savannah, GA | 70.7 | $105.04M | 412,089 | $3.62M | Wide Open |
| 13 | Appleton, WI | 70.6 | $87.17M | 244,163 | $2.72M | Balanced |
| 14 | Waterloo, IA | 70.4 | $64.43M | 168,163 | $2.39M | Crowded |
| 15 | Whitewater, WI | 70.2 | $39.47M | 105,447 | $4.93M | Land Grab |
Of 291 scored metros in the band. National context: US roofing market size.
| # | Metro | Opportunity score | Annual demand | Population | Demand / firm | Saturation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton, NJ | 79.1 | $57.01M | 383,286 | $9.50M | Land Grab |
| 2 | Ann Arbor, MI | 74.7 | $57.33M | 368,394 | $8.19M | Land Grab |
| 3 | Hagerstown, MD | 74.5 | $64.52M | 298,525 | $1.84M | Crowded |
| 4 | Greeley, CO | 73.4 | $72.21M | 340,711 | $5.16M | Wide Open |
| 5 | Killeen, TX | 73.3 | $76.87M | 485,850 | $4.52M | Wide Open |
| 6 | Janesville, WI | 72.4 | $35.70M | 163,944 | $3.97M | Balanced |
| 7 | Appleton, WI | 71.5 | $48.05M | 244,163 | $3.43M | Balanced |
| 8 | Springfield, MA | 71.2 | $80.91M | 462,853 | $16.18M | Wide Open |
| 9 | Whitewater, WI | 70.8 | $22.74M | 105,447 | $3.25M | Balanced |
| 10 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 70.8 | $59.39M | 275,960 | $2.38M | Crowded |
| 11 | Fort Collins, CO | 70.7 | $57.31M | 363,561 | $9.55M | Land Grab |
| 12 | Niles, MI | 70.2 | $30.71M | 153,411 | $30.71M | Land Grab |
| 13 | Fort Wayne, IN | 70.1 | $85.16M | 451,440 | $3.15M | Balanced |
| 14 | Boulder, CO | 70.1 | $53.46M | 328,317 | $13.36M | Land Grab |
| 15 | Sioux Falls, SD | 69.9 | $53.79M | 293,107 | $1.25M | Crowded |
Of 291 scored metros in the band. National context: US siding market size.
| # | Metro | Opportunity score | Annual demand | Population | Demand / firm | Saturation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton, NJ | 77.6 | $48.25M | 383,286 | $6.89M | Wide Open |
| 2 | Ann Arbor, MI | 74.5 | $49.48M | 368,394 | $24.74M | Land Grab |
| 3 | Hagerstown, MD | 72.4 | $53.04M | 298,525 | $1.43M | Crowded |
| 4 | Janesville, WI | 72.1 | $30.17M | 163,944 | $15.09M | Land Grab |
| 5 | Greeley, CO | 72.0 | $56.68M | 340,711 | $9.45M | Land Grab |
| 6 | Appleton, WI | 71.8 | $40.93M | 244,163 | $2.27M | Crowded |
| 7 | Duluth, MN | 71.6 | $48.20M | 280,710 | $2.10M | Crowded |
| 8 | Killeen, TX | 71.2 | $61.02M | 485,850 | $2.44M | Crowded |
| 9 | Fort Collins, CO | 71.1 | $48.11M | 363,561 | $3.70M | Wide Open |
| 10 | Springfield, MA | 70.9 | $72.15M | 462,853 | $9.02M | Wide Open |
| 11 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 70.3 | $49.70M | 275,960 | $1.66M | Crowded |
| 12 | Niles, MI | 70.3 | $27.82M | 153,411 | $13.91M | Land Grab |
| 13 | Sioux Falls, SD | 70.1 | $44.49M | 293,107 | $2.02M | Balanced |
| 14 | Rochester, MN | 70.1 | $36.74M | 227,252 | $874.78K | Crowded |
| 15 | Whitewater, WI | 70.0 | $18.95M | 105,447 | $9.48M | Land Grab |
Of 291 scored metros in the band. National context: US window and door replacement market size.
| # | Metro | Opportunity score | Annual demand | Population | Demand / firm | Saturation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton, NJ | 79.1 | $11.69M | 383,286 | $1.95M | Land Grab |
| 2 | Hagerstown, MD | 74.9 | $12.94M | 298,525 | $369.75K | Crowded |
| 3 | Ann Arbor, MI | 74.1 | $12.01M | 368,394 | $1.72M | Land Grab |
| 4 | Killeen, TX | 74.1 | $15.11M | 485,850 | $888.92K | Wide Open |
| 5 | Greeley, CO | 72.5 | $14.15M | 340,711 | $1.01M | Wide Open |
| 6 | Janesville, WI | 72.3 | $7.42M | 163,944 | $824.54K | Balanced |
| 7 | Springfield, MA | 71.0 | $17.01M | 462,853 | $3.40M | Land Grab |
| 8 | Niles, MI | 70.9 | $6.40M | 153,411 | $6.40M | Land Grab |
| 9 | Appleton, WI | 70.8 | $10M | 244,163 | $714.02K | Balanced |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | 70.8 | $17.56M | 451,440 | $650.36K | Balanced |
| 11 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 70.5 | $12.40M | 275,960 | $496.19K | Crowded |
| 12 | Whitewater, WI | 70.1 | $4.66M | 105,447 | $665.43K | Balanced |
| 13 | Davenport, IA | 70.1 | $18.22M | 381,864 | $828.34K | Balanced |
| 14 | Michigan City, IN | 69.8 | $4.68M | 112,141 | $1.56M | Wide Open |
| 15 | Lincoln, NE | 69.7 | $12.91M | 341,309 | $496.43K | Balanced |
Of 291 scored metros in the band. National context: US gutter market size.
Among US metros of 100,000 to 500,000 residents, the highest roofing opportunity scores are: Trenton, NJ (77.4); Killeen, TX (74.6); Midland, TX (74.6); Odessa, TX (74.5); Sherman, TX (74.5). The score is a 0-100 national percentile blend of market size, growth, affluence, storm exposure, climate, housing age and competition, so it compares directly with large metros.
Among US metros of 100,000 to 500,000 residents, the highest siding opportunity scores are: Trenton, NJ (79.1); Ann Arbor, MI (74.7); Hagerstown, MD (74.5); Greeley, CO (73.4); Killeen, TX (73.3). The score is a 0-100 national percentile blend of market size, growth, affluence, storm exposure, climate, housing age and competition, so it compares directly with large metros.
Among US metros of 100,000 to 500,000 residents, the highest window and door replacement opportunity scores are: Trenton, NJ (77.6); Ann Arbor, MI (74.5); Hagerstown, MD (72.4); Janesville, WI (72.1); Greeley, CO (72.0). The score is a 0-100 national percentile blend of market size, growth, affluence, storm exposure, climate, housing age and competition, so it compares directly with large metros.
Among US metros of 100,000 to 500,000 residents, the highest gutter opportunity scores are: Trenton, NJ (79.1); Hagerstown, MD (74.9); Ann Arbor, MI (74.1); Killeen, TX (74.1); Greeley, CO (72.5). The score is a 0-100 national percentile blend of market size, growth, affluence, storm exposure, climate, housing age and competition, so it compares directly with large metros.
Large metros carry the most demand, but they are also where national operators and well-funded local firms already compete. Smaller metros can offer more work per contractor and less marketing noise. Each listed metro links to a full report with housing age, hail history, competition and a county map.
A US metro or micropolitan area (Census CBSA) with 100,000 to 500,000 residents. Figures are installed residential demand, built bottom-up from Census, BLS and NOAA data.
Free to reuse, including commercially, with credit (CC BY 4.0). Suggested citation:
NextTerritory (2026). Best Small Markets for Exterior Contractors. https://nextterritory.com/intel/best-small-markets. Licensed CC BY 4.0.