1. Set the geographic boundary before you assess the opportunity
The 2020–2024 ACS five-year population estimate is 75,556, with a margin of error of 71. It also should not be treated as a count of households, clients, or people seeking counsel. For a firm evaluating reviews, the useful geographic question is narrower: which clients and matters does the firm actually serve, and which Google Business Profile represents that service area? A firm may serve Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota, or a different combination, but those scopes should not be blurred in review reporting.
Recommended approach
Write down the firm’s service geography and the profile being evaluated before comparing reviews. Use Bismarck and Burleigh County only where they match the firm’s real service area.
