The 10+ Best Places To DoorDash – Top Cities & States For Dashers!
As the most popular food delivery app in North America, it's no surprise that DoorDash is a very popular side hustle.
However, like other gig apps, it's important to work efficiently so you can maximize your DoorDash earnings. And a massive part of this involves Dashing at the right times and in the right places.
Additionally, the market you deliver in can play a massive role in how much you earn. And that's why this post is covering some of the best places to DoorDash so you can potentially deliver in the best markets.
Specifically, I'm covering some of the best cities to DoorDash in as well as the best states. Hopefully, you live near one of these hotspots!
Looking for other side hustles to boost your income? Checkout:
- Uber Eats – Start making money by delivering with Uber Eats!
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When finding the best places to DoorDash, it's important to look at DoorDash's overall market share in relation to other food delivery apps like Grubhub and Uber Eats. This is because the more DoorDash customers there are, the more orders you can get per hour.
The great news for DoorDash drivers is that the company is dominating the food delivery market in the United States.
In fact, according to data from Bloomberg Second Measure, DoorDash has 59% of monthly meal delivery sales in the United States as of May 2022.
There are several reasons for this. DoorDash's expansion into smaller markets and the rollout of DashPass are two prime examples of how this food delivery giant is claiming more customers.
Ultimately, this is great news for making money with DoorDash since more orders generally means more money.
However, one of the most important DoorDash driver tips is to deliver in the right market. So, let's explore where these juicy markets are!
The Best Places To DoorDash
Time to kick-off our list of the best places to deliver for DoorDash by covering the top DoorDash states by market share and opportunity.
Hopefully, you live in or near one of the best states to DoorDash so you can maximize your earning potential with this gig app!
1. California
There's a few reasons why California is one of the best states to do DoorDash in, but the first is population.
As the largest U.S. state by population, California just has a lot of massive markets. This means more steady demand for DoorDash drivers and any gig economy job really.
Secondly, California also has some areas with a very high cost of living, like San Francisco. This can lead to higher food prices and higher pay for Dashers. And in tech bubbles like San Fran, you might get some decent tips.
However, one of the main reasons California is one of the best places to DoorDash is because of Proposition 22, or Prop 22.
This ballot initiative passed in 2020 with the goal of providing more fair compensation and working conditions for independent contractors, which includes delivery drivers.
The main perks of Prop 22 include that drivers must earn 120% of minimum wage for each hour spent driving, $0.30 per mile driven, and health insurance stipends.
According to DoorDash, Prop 22 has resulted in:
- A 28% increase in pay for Bay Area Dashers
- A 29% increase in pay for Sacramento Dashers
- A 32% increase in pay for Los Angeles Dashers
- A 32% increase in pay for San Diego Dashers
In fact, Dashers in California earn $34 per hour including tips as of 2021 according to DoorDash data. This makes it the best state for DoorDash without any question.
2. Texas
Another great state to do DoorDash in is Texas. Once again, this is largely due to the population size and some great markets in cities like Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.
Plus, Texas doesn't have state income tax, and you can find some pretty low-cost living areas that are also great if you're making a living with DoorDash and other ride sharing apps.
Furthermore, since it's such a gas-rich state, gas prices are often a bit cheaper in Texas than some Northern states. Since DoorDash doesn't pay for gas, cheaper fuel means more money in your pocket at the end of the day.
3. Illinois
Chicago is one of the best cities to DoorDash in, making Illinois one of the top states unsurprisingly. It's a populous state with several large cities, so you're less likely to have slow DoorDash days.
On top of that, the Chicago City Council has capped third-party delivery fees for food apps like DoorDash to 15%. As a result, DoorDash charges customers a bit more to make up the difference.
The result is that people aren't paying as much in delivery fees but might pay more for food.
However, this might make customers more inclined to tip since they're not getting dinged with high delivery fees.
4. Arizona
Despite having massive amounts of open space and plenty of small cities and towns, Arizona is another great state for DoorDashing.
Granted, the highest earnings are generally concentrated in Phoenix. However, DoorDash is expanding into markets like Tucson and across Southern Arizona.
As it expands in the Arizona market, the state should only become more reliable for Dashers looking to make decent money.
5. Washington DC
DoorDash is an absolute powerhouse in Washington DC and is the most popular food delivery app by far. So, this means it's pretty much the go-to food delivery app for couriers over the likes of Uber Eats or other competitors.
You can still double-app with other food delivery apps in this market, but DoorDash has the lion's share of market share.
6. Georgia
Another one of the best places to DoorDash is in Georgia. Like many other states on this list, Georgia has several highly-populated cities that result in busy food delivery markets.
Atlanta is the prime candidate, and DoorDash is approaching 50% market share in that city despite being much smaller a few years ago.
Plus, Georgia also has large cities like Augusta and Macon that are busy markets for Dashers.
7. New York
Unsurprisingly, New York and NYC are two other great places to DoorDash for similar reasons as California: population size.
And, New York also passed similar caps on food delivery fees like Chicago, so there's the potential for higher pay and larger tips.
Living in NYC is also an excellent opportunity if you're a bike courier, as pretty much any major city is.
8. Florida
I've lived in Florida on and off for the last few years, and it's definitely one of the more peculiar markets for gig work.
On the one hand, North Florida can feel pretty spread out, especially in areas like Jacksonville.
But South Florida is one of the best places for DoorDash, especially in major cities like Fort Lauderdale and Miami. In fact, DoorDash has grown to over 30% market share in Miami in just a few short years.
9. Pennsylvania
The reason Pennsylvania made the list of the best places to deliver for DoorDash is largely because of Philadelphia.
This iconic city has over 50% market share for DoorDash and is by far the most popular food delivery app.
So, if you live in or around Philadelphia, consider testing out DoorDash to see how busy the app is.
10. Michigan
One final state that's great for DoorDash is Michigan. And, like a few candidates on this list, the main reason is that Michigan is one of the U.S. states with the highest population.
If you live in a large market, your odds of consistent orders and decent tips is pretty much always higher than in small towns.
This is just the nature of food delivery gigs, so hopefully, you live in a populous market with more opportunities.
The Best Cities To DoorDash
I know I've mentioned several cities when outlining the best states to DoorDash in. But the great news is that there's actually data from Statista that outlines the best cities to DoorDash in based on market share as well.
According to Statista, the best DoorDash cities include:
- San Francisco: 74% market share.
- Houston: 63% market share.
- Dallas-Fort Worth: 56% market share.
- Phoenix: 52% market share.
- Washington DC: 45% market share.
- Atlanta: 45% market share.
- Los Angeles: 41% market share.
- Chicago: 37% market share.
- New York City: 34% market share.
- Boston: 33% market share.
- Miami: 31% market share.
Of course, every market is a bit different, and larger cities tend to have more opportunity than small towns, so keep this in mind and test out several areas around you.
Extra Reading – Can I DoorDash In A Different State?
What Do Other Dashers Think?
Now that I've outlined some of the best places to DoorDash based on data and some delivery laws, it's time to hear from other DoorDash drivers about their favorite markets.
Here's what some DoorDash drivers are saying on Reddit about the best states and cities for Dashing:
- One driver says: “California without a doubt.”
- Another driver says: “It has nothing to do with the state.. it all comes down to market. Even zones in market. I have one zone where I make a lot more than say the other zones.”
- Neat Positive says: “The Bay Area! Some bring in 2k+ a week.”
- DoorSmasherSC says: “I’ve seen a lot of big weeks from Arizona, Illinois and California.”
This makes sense. Again, larger markets with larger populations tend to have more opportunities, steady orders, and higher pay.
Extra Reading – How To Make $500 A Week With DoorDash.
Methodology & Research
To find the best markets for DoorDash, I relied on third-party data from research websites and groups like Statista and Bloomberg Second Measure. I also relied on DoorDash quarterly and annual reports plus press releases from the company that mention driver earnings in specific markets.
I also read numerous threads on Reddit where other Dashers share their experiences delivering in various markets.
You should still test out your market, and know that every market is different and conditions can change.
Extra Reading – Is DoorDash Worth It?
Frequently Asked Questions
What's The Best Place To DoorDash Near Me?
To find the best area to DoorDash near you, open your Dasher app and look for hotspots. These are areas that have a high number of restaurants and high order volume, so waiting near these areas can help you get more orders.
This isn't a gurantee for more orders, but hotspots generally help you complete more deliveries per hour and drive a bit less since you're close to pickup locations.
What Are The Highest Paying DoorDash Cities?
Some of the highest paying DoorDash cities include San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. This is because the Prop 22 initiative in California helps guarantee DoorDash driver pay. In fact, DoorDash drivers in California earn $34 per hour on average as of 2021, including tips.
High-population cities can also be quite lucrative, especially if you drive a fuel efficient vehicle and deliver quickly.
Final Thoughts
I hope this list of the best cities and states for DoorDash helps you find some areas near you where earnings might be higher.
Again, like any driving app, it's important to test a few markets and different DoorDash times so you find when order volume is highest and most lucrative.
Busy cities and populous states are the best based on data, but every market is different, so don't give up until you give things a try!
And remember: you can always stack DoorDash with similar delivery gigs, like Uber Eats or Instacart, to earn even more.
Happy Dashing!
If you're not currently delivering for DoorDash, you can sign up today to start a new side hustle!
Looking for more ways to make extra money? Checkout:
- How To Get More Orders On DoorDash.
- Is DoorDash Safe?
- DoorDash vs Uber Eats Pay – Which App Is Best?
DoorDash Disclaimer: Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses.Start Dashing today: Subject to background check and availability.
