Neighbors spend about $60 a week at restaurants, 21% more than the average consumer, according to a Nextdoor survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted in late October. More than half (53%) say they are spending more at quick-service and casual restaurants than they did a year ago, and higher prices are the factor cited most often (54%).
The survey also asked how neighbors pick a restaurant, how far they will travel for a meal, and what they expect from the places down the street. Its findings arrive just ahead of the holidays, when neighbors say they eat out more.
Eating out is routine for most neighbors. Lunch is the most common occasion: 58% buy it from a restaurant at least once a week, and more than half do the same for breakfast and for dinner. Rising grocery costs (43%) and busier schedules (38%) also push spending up.
Timing plays a role. About 42% of neighbors say they dine out more during busy work or school periods, and 41% say the same of the holiday season. Compared with the general population, neighbors are 52% more likely to increase how often they get food from restaurants over the holidays. Half of neighbors (51%) are typically the ones deciding where their household eats, 16% more than the general population.
Asked why they chose a restaurant over cooking on their most recent occasion, 45% of neighbors said they were craving a specific restaurant’s food and 44% wanted to treat themselves or their family. The treat motivation runs 29% higher than among the general population. Convenience mattered too: 36% were already out, and 34% did not feel like cooking. When choosing the restaurant itself, food quality or taste (39%) and a convenient location (35%) led the list.
Most neighbors stay local. Some 61% get most or all of their restaurant meals from places within 10 minutes of home. The limit shifts with the occasion: 65% set a 10-minute travel limit for takeout, while only 34% do for dining in.
Most orders still happen in person. About 41% say all of their restaurant purchases this year were in person and another 28% say mostly in person. Among those who order online, 54% usually go through the restaurant’s own site or app.
A recommendation from a friend or family member is the most common way neighbors first hear about a restaurant they try (20%), followed by walking or driving past it (19%). Social media came next at 16%, 23% higher than the general population. Recommendations on Nextdoor carry weight: 67% of neighbors have considered buying from a quick-service or casual restaurant because of one they saw on the platform, up 17% from last year.
Neighbors are nearly evenly divided. About a third prefer local or independent restaurants (33%) and about a third prefer national chains (32%), while 35% have no preference. Their reasons differ. Chain fans point to consistency (27%, compared with 14% of local fans) and value (30% versus 23%). Local fans point to personalized service (31% versus 12%) and atmosphere (30% versus 13%), and 36% say they choose local to support local. Across formats, fast-food and quick-service restaurants are the most preferred (41%), and neighbors are 35% more likely than the general population to favor fast-casual.
Some 79% of neighbors consider the restaurants in their area part of the community, up 11% from last year. Another 69% say restaurants make it easier to connect with other people nearby, and 70% would like to see them do more to give back.
Supporting local charities topped the list of what would make a restaurant feel more connected to its community (36%), 24% higher than the general population. Discounts or promotions for locals followed at 34%, with a 26% gap over the general population. Being locally owned or operated drew 35%.
The survey of 1,000 U.S. adults was fielded October 28 to 30, 2026.