Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Poverty
Rural America at a Glance: 2025 Edition
Provides an overview of social and economic factors affecting rural America, with a focus on population migration, poverty, and employment. Includes county-level maps as well as metro and nonmetro comparisons.
Author(s): Tracey Farrigan, Austin Sanders, Lauren Miller, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Provides an overview of social and economic factors affecting rural America, with a focus on population migration, poverty, and employment. Includes county-level maps as well as metro and nonmetro comparisons.
Author(s): Tracey Farrigan, Austin Sanders, Lauren Miller, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Persistent Poverty and Breast Cancer Incidence by Tumor Subtype: Intersections of Rural/Urban Residence and Race Within USA Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Registries, 2017 to 2021
Examines the relationship between breast cancer types and persistent poverty across rurality and demographic variables. Utilizes county-level 2017-2021 (excluding 2020) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to analyze breast cancer subtype rates, with breakdowns according to counties defined as persistent poverty or non-persistent poverty and by rural versus urban. Discusses the impact of sociodemographics on cancer disparities.
Author(s): Heather R. Sherr, Amr S. Soliman, Kimberly A. Bertrand, Kelly A. Hirko
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37(26)
Date: 01/2026
view details
Examines the relationship between breast cancer types and persistent poverty across rurality and demographic variables. Utilizes county-level 2017-2021 (excluding 2020) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to analyze breast cancer subtype rates, with breakdowns according to counties defined as persistent poverty or non-persistent poverty and by rural versus urban. Discusses the impact of sociodemographics on cancer disparities.
Author(s): Heather R. Sherr, Amr S. Soliman, Kimberly A. Bertrand, Kelly A. Hirko
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37(26)
Date: 01/2026
view details
Outcomes Among Patients With Colon Cancer Living in Neighborhoods With Persistent Poverty
Results of a study comparing clinical outcomes for colon cancer patients based on the number of census tracts per ZIP code that were in persistent poverty at the time of diagnosis. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Leon Naar, Alexa L. Pohl, Arden M. Morris, Aaron J. Dawes,
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2551212.
Date: 01/2026
view details
Results of a study comparing clinical outcomes for colon cancer patients based on the number of census tracts per ZIP code that were in persistent poverty at the time of diagnosis. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Leon Naar, Alexa L. Pohl, Arden M. Morris, Aaron J. Dawes,
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2551212.
Date: 01/2026
view details
Assessing Measurement Invariance in Neighborhood Socioeconomic Environment Across Levels of Urbanicity
Examines neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) variables by census tract and their relationship to public health. Provides data on poverty, use of public assistance, employment characteristics, transportation insecurity, education, and more, by higher density urban, lower density urban, suburban/small town, and rural location.
Author(s): S. S. A. De Silva, Melissa A. Meeker, Tara P. McAlexander, et al.
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 102, 1094-1103
Date: 10/2025
view details
Examines neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) variables by census tract and their relationship to public health. Provides data on poverty, use of public assistance, employment characteristics, transportation insecurity, education, and more, by higher density urban, lower density urban, suburban/small town, and rural location.
Author(s): S. S. A. De Silva, Melissa A. Meeker, Tara P. McAlexander, et al.
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 102, 1094-1103
Date: 10/2025
view details
High-Poverty Counties in Appalachia, 1960 and 2019-2023
Maps showing a comparison of high-poverty Appalachian counties in 1960 and 2019-2023.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
view details
Maps showing a comparison of high-poverty Appalachian counties in 1960 and 2019-2023.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
view details
Caregiving in the US 2025: Caring Across States
Offers data on caregivers including demographics, tasks performed, finances and employment, and wellness. Includes rural, suburban, and urban breakdown for caregivers in 32 states.
Additional links: State-Specific Findings
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving
view details
Offers data on caregivers including demographics, tasks performed, finances and employment, and wellness. Includes rural, suburban, and urban breakdown for caregivers in 32 states.
Additional links: State-Specific Findings
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving
view details
Associations Between Insurance Status, Financial Hardship, and Rurality on Receipt of Guideline-Concordant Mammography
Analyzes associations between receipt of ACS or USPSTF guideline-concordant mammography and factors including healthcare-related financial hardship, insurance status, and rurality, utilizing 2023 National Health Interview Survey data of 11,138 women. Includes data on interactions between healthcare-related financial hardship and rurality within the context of access to mammography.
Author(s): Nicole E. Caston, Lisa P. Spees, Austin R. Waters, Stephanie B. Wheeler
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Date: 09/2025
view details
Analyzes associations between receipt of ACS or USPSTF guideline-concordant mammography and factors including healthcare-related financial hardship, insurance status, and rurality, utilizing 2023 National Health Interview Survey data of 11,138 women. Includes data on interactions between healthcare-related financial hardship and rurality within the context of access to mammography.
Author(s): Nicole E. Caston, Lisa P. Spees, Austin R. Waters, Stephanie B. Wheeler
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Date: 09/2025
view details
Colorectal Cancer Survival Disparities in Persistent Poverty Areas
Presents a study exploring the effect of living in a persistent poverty census tract on colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates in both rural and urban locations. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, treatment type, and tumor location, among other measures. Draws data from 2013-2019 cancer registry and 2013-2021 death records.
Author(s): Peter DelNero, Mario Schootman, Cheng Peng, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70045
Date: 09/2025
view details
Presents a study exploring the effect of living in a persistent poverty census tract on colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates in both rural and urban locations. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, treatment type, and tumor location, among other measures. Draws data from 2013-2019 cancer registry and 2013-2021 death records.
Author(s): Peter DelNero, Mario Schootman, Cheng Peng, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70045
Date: 09/2025
view details
Oregon Areas of Unmet Health Care Need Report, 2025
Covers nine variables that describe areas of unmet healthcare need in Oregon and measure access to primary care, mental, and oral healthcare services. Areas of unmet need are scored based on variables within the following categories: availability of providers, ability to afford care, and utilization. Includes statistics and county-level information by service areas.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
view details
Covers nine variables that describe areas of unmet healthcare need in Oregon and measure access to primary care, mental, and oral healthcare services. Areas of unmet need are scored based on variables within the following categories: availability of providers, ability to afford care, and utilization. Includes statistics and county-level information by service areas.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Office of Rural Health
view details
Poverty in the United States: 2024
Reports on poverty rates for 2023 and 2024, including changes in official poverty and changes in the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) rate. Includes statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2025and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Author(s): Emily A. Shrider, Christina Bijou
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
view details
Reports on poverty rates for 2023 and 2024, including changes in official poverty and changes in the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) rate. Includes statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2025and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Author(s): Emily A. Shrider, Christina Bijou
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
view details