How we rank
Short version: Google star rating, weighted by how many reviews back it up. Nothing else, and nobody can pay to change it.
The score
Each business gets a weighted rating (a Bayesian average):
score = (C × 25 + R × v) ÷ (25 + v)
where R is the business's Google star rating, v is its number of Google reviews, and C is the average rating of all rated businesses we list in that trade. It works as if every business started with 25 “average” reviews. A 5.0 from 3 reviews scores about the same as the trade average, while a 4.9 from 300 reviews scores close to 4.9. Ties go to the business with more reviews.
| Trade | Average rating (C) | Rated businesses |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbers | 4.88 | 44 |
| Landscapers & Yard Care | 4.76 | 65 |
| Pool Service | 4.69 | 30 |
| Handymen | 4.81 | 36 |
Where the data comes from
Public Google Maps listings, read on October 14, 2026: name, Google category, rating, review count, phone, whether a website is linked, and the listed address. Towns come from the listing's map pin. Businesses that hide their address (service-area businesses) are listed on the county page for their trade.
Who is included
Businesses whose Google category is the trade (for example “Plumber”), or whose category is general and whose name clearly says the trade. Supply stores, builders and businesses outside Washington County are left out. Businesses with no reviews are listed, unranked.
Featured listings
Some pages may show a Featured box. That is a paid or client placement, labelled every time, and it sits outside the ranked list. Being Featured never changes a business's rank.
What we don't do
- We don't write or invent reviews.
- We don't accept payment for rank.
- We haven't hired these businesses, so the ranking reflects public reviews, not our own testing.