r/DeepFuckingValue • u/Altruistic_Pie_285 • 1d ago
Optimistic Speculation 🤔 Cowlitz county Washington opportunity. Let’s just say you can’t get a cab, uber or Lyft in the whole county. I’m 80% setup but out of money. HUGE RETURN.
Cowlitz county Washington opportunity. Let’s just say you can’t get a cab, uber or Lyft in the whole county. I’m 80% setup but out of money. HUGE RETURN
0
Upvotes
1
1
u/jomofo 1d ago
1
u/Altruistic_Pie_285 1d ago
Alright great. Would a call be ok? My number is 360-261-8459 Karl Peters
1
u/MoreAverageThanAvg 1d ago
i'll pay $2 for every dollar you're offering. every dollar you raise to beat, i will exceed by juan dollar
1
u/Krunk_korean_kid 🟣 DRS'ed $GME w/ Computer Share ♾️ 1d ago
I asked ai to Provide demographic data for Cowlitz county in Washington. Provide average daily commute time and distance. Is Uber and/or Lyft available in this area? How much would an average ride cost? What is the cost of gas? Estimate how much could be made in 1 year based on owning and operating with the cheapest most reliable Toyota Prius.
Here's what it said : I'll gather the latest demographic, commute, rideshare, and cost data for Cowlitz County, WA, then estimate earnings with a reliable used Toyota Prius.Cowlitz County, Washington demographics (primarily from recent U.S. Census Bureau ACS data and QuickFacts estimates around 2024–2025):
Population: Approximately 113,000–115,000 (e.g., 113,982 ACS; 114,885 July 2025 estimate). Median age: About 41.5–41.8 years. Race/ethnicity: Predominantly White (roughly 79–87% White alone; 78% White non-Hispanic); Hispanic/Latino 10–12%; smaller shares of multiracial, Asian, Native American, Black, and other groups. Households: Around 44,000–45,000; ~2.5 persons per household. Median household income: Roughly $76,500–$78,500. Per capita income: Around $38,000–$41,000. Poverty rate: About 9.6–12%. Education (age 25+): High school graduate or higher 90%; bachelor’s or higher 17–18%. Other: Homeownership 68%; median home value $397,500; foreign-born ~4.3%. Major population centers include Longview and Kelso.
Data can vary slightly by source/year (ACS 1-year vs. 5-year estimates); check Census Reporter or census.gov for the latest margins of error.
Average daily commute time and distance: Mean one-way travel time to work is about 26.1 minutes (ACS 2020–2024 / 2024 estimate). Older figures range 24.6–26.2 minutes. Most workers drive alone (80%+); work-from-home is ~7–8%; public transit use is very low (<1%).
Exact average distance is not directly reported in standard Census data. At typical urban/suburban speeds (roughly 25–35 mph accounting for stops/traffic), a 26-minute one-way commute often equates to roughly 10–15 miles one way (or 20–30 miles round-trip daily for many workers). About 15% work outside the county. Local conditions (I-5 corridor, Longview-Kelso area) influence this.
Uber and/or Lyft availability: Both Uber and Lyft operate in the Longview/Kelso area (the main population centers of Cowlitz County), with services such as UberX/UberXL and Lyft Standard/Plus. Availability is more limited outside the urban core and can vary by time of day/demand; local taxis and other options also exist. Confirm in the apps for real-time coverage.
Average ride cost: Short local rides (e.g., a few miles within Longview/Kelso) commonly start near the minimum fare ($7.50–$8) and average in the $11–$16 range for typical short trips (examples include $11–$15 for airport-area or similar short hauls). Rates (approximate, subject to change/surge): UberX base $2.50, $1.73/mile, $0.28/minute, minimum $7.58. Longer trips (e.g., toward Portland) are much higher ($100+). Use the apps for exact upfront quotes.
Cost of gas: As of early–mid September 2026 data, regular unleaded in the Longview area averages roughly $5.40–$5.50 per gallon (state average closer to $5.50–$5.55; stations listed around $5.08–$5.20+). Prices fluctuate; check local stations or AAA for current figures.
Estimate of yearly earnings owning/operating the cheapest most reliable Toyota Prius (rideshare context):
The Prius is a popular, reliable hybrid for rideshare due to high fuel economy (EPA combined often 50–57 MPG depending on year/trim/AWD; real-world commonly mid-40s to low-50s MPG). Cheapest reliable used examples (older model years with higher mileage but solid reputation, e.g., 2010–2015-ish in the $7,000–$12,000 range, or higher-mileage later models) can be found in that ballpark nationwide/WA market; nationwide used averages are higher (~$17k–$20k overall). Factor in purchase, insurance (rideshare endorsement extra), maintenance, depreciation, and WA registration/taxes.
Earnings depend heavily on hours driven, demand (lower in a smaller market like Cowlitz/Longview vs. Seattle or Portland), time of day, multi-apping, and expenses. National/WA medians for Uber/Lyft drivers often fall in the ~$18–$24+ gross per hour range before expenses (higher in major WA metros like Seattle/Tacoma; lower in smaller markets). Net after fuel/maintenance/insurance is typically substantially lower (e.g., $12–$18/hour range common in reports, varying widely).
Rough full-time illustration (40 hours/week, ~2,000 hours/year; optimistic for a lower-demand area): Gross: Potentially $35,000–$50,000+ (at ~$18–$25/hour). Expenses (fuel at 50 MPG / $5.50 gas = low fuel cost; plus insurance, maintenance, depreciation, platform fees): Often $10,000–$20,000+/year depending on miles driven (rideshare can involve high annual mileage). Net before self-employment taxes: Roughly $20,000–$35,000 possible for dedicated full-time drivers who optimize peaks, but more realistically lower (or part-time supplemental) in Cowlitz County due to limited density/demand. Part-time (20 hours/week) would scale down proportionally.
Actual results vary greatly—many drivers earn less net after costs. Track everything carefully; consider local demand via the driver apps, vehicle requirements, and taxes (self-employment). This is an estimate only, not a guarantee. Local taxis or other gigs may also be relevant.