Amazon caters to small-town USA with expanded same-day Prime delivery

From mascara to phone chargers, Amazon Prime is making sure folks in rural America have faster access to everyday products with a $4 billion investment expanding same-day delivery services to over 4000 new locations by the end of 2025.

“Everybody loves fast delivery. So, whether you live in Monmouth, Iowa or in downtown Los Angeles, now you're going to have the same fantastic Amazon customer experience: the ability to get the wide variety of items you need to keep your household running every day, delivered the same or next day," said Doug Herrington, CEO of Worldwide Amazon Stores.

The e-commerce giant said the four billion-dollar investment will expand “Same-Day and Next-Day delivery” to over 4,000 smaller cities, towns, and rural communities by the end of this year.

The plan will triple the size of Amazon’s delivery network, and with the help of AI machine learning algorithms, ensure that each community has access to the most popular everyday products, curating item availability for each specific locale.

Amazon plans to expand the convenience and reliability of Same-Day and Next-Day Delivery to tens of millions of U.S. customers in more than 4,000 smaller cities, towns, and rural communities by the end of the year. https://t.co/slAdgApj0l pic.twitter.com/Em6g6yk4QA

undefined Amazon News (@amazonnews) June 24, 2025

Amazon says the expansion is about “transforming daily life” for the millions of rural customers who “typically live farther from brick-and-mortar retailers, have fewer product and brand choices, and face limited delivery options when shopping online.”

Currently, same-day delivery is available in more than 140 US metro areas.

Most popular delivery items by region

According to Amazon, subscribers in the Western part of the nation go for face masks and coffee pods, while those in the Northeast are privy to batteries and fruit snacks.

For those down South, popular everyday items include phone chargers and bottled water, while folks in the Midwest often order mascara and paper plates for same-day delivery.

Another plus to the expanded service is an expected influx of new job opportunities for thousands of people living in less populated rural areas.

Amazon estimates an average of 170 jobs will be created for each new delivery hub that is opened, in addition to other driving opportunities, such as with independent Amazon Delivery Service Partners (DSP) and Amazon Flex delivery drivers.

The only caveat is that Prime members will have to spend at least $25 to receive the faster delivery option, or customers can pay a flat $2.99 fee for eligible items.

Amazon said its same-day and next-day delivery services have jumped over 30% since June of last year, which, besides grocery and household goods, includes vitamins and medications, cleaning supplies, and various beauty products.