Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Nicotine and Tobacco Product Use among US Youth in 10th and 12th Grade, 2023–2025: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
Examines trends in youth nicotine, tobacco, and multi-product co-use. Utilizes 2023-2025 survey data from 10th and 12th graders and analyzes lifetime use and past 30-day use of various nicotine and tobacco products according to grade, demographics, parent education, and school location of urban, suburban/town, or rural.
Author(s): Dayoung Bae, Junhan Cho, Alyssa F. Harlow, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 65, 101673
Date: 01/2027
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Examines trends in youth nicotine, tobacco, and multi-product co-use. Utilizes 2023-2025 survey data from 10th and 12th graders and analyzes lifetime use and past 30-day use of various nicotine and tobacco products according to grade, demographics, parent education, and school location of urban, suburban/town, or rural.
Author(s): Dayoung Bae, Junhan Cho, Alyssa F. Harlow, et al.
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 65, 101673
Date: 01/2027
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The Association of Hospital Characteristics With Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Prices
Examines the relationship between hospital characteristics and Medicaid facility prices for routine procedures. Utilizes 2021-2023 facility claims data from Elevance Health-affiliated Medicaid plans, alongside American Hospital Directory data, to compare prices by Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and children's hospital status, ownership (for-profit, religiously affiliated, or government), teaching status, system affiliation, rurality, and size.
Author(s): Brett Alfrey, Benjamin Ukert, Aliza S. Gordon
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70178
Date: 12/2026
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Examines the relationship between hospital characteristics and Medicaid facility prices for routine procedures. Utilizes 2021-2023 facility claims data from Elevance Health-affiliated Medicaid plans, alongside American Hospital Directory data, to compare prices by Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and children's hospital status, ownership (for-profit, religiously affiliated, or government), teaching status, system affiliation, rurality, and size.
Author(s): Brett Alfrey, Benjamin Ukert, Aliza S. Gordon
Citation: Health Services Research, 61(6), e70178
Date: 12/2026
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Access to WIC-Authorized Vendors and High-Speed Internet Services Varies Across U.S. Urban and Rural Areas
Color-coded map showing how access to fixed high-speed Internet services and vendors authorized by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) varies by census tract.
Author(s): Leslie Hodges, David Marquardt
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Color-coded map showing how access to fixed high-speed Internet services and vendors authorized by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) varies by census tract.
Author(s): Leslie Hodges, David Marquardt
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Availability of Hospital-Based Obstetric Services in the United States by County, 2010–2024: A State-by-State Report
Provides national-, state-, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care availability between 2010-2024. Includes maps and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban counties, including rural micropolitan and rural noncore counties.
Author(s): Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Provides national-, state-, and county-specific information on changes in obstetric care availability between 2010-2024. Includes maps and statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban counties, including rural micropolitan and rural noncore counties.
Author(s): Kevan O'Hanlon, Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante
Date: 11/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Urban-Rural Variability in Infant Formula Availability and Product Variety in United States Counties from 2022 to 2024
Examines infant formula variety and availability across rural and urban U.S. counties. Utilizes 2022-2024 infant formula product listing data as well as Household Pulse Survey data to analyze metro versus nonmetro differences in households using infant formula, difficulty in purchasing formula, and number of unique formula products by county.
Author(s): Gavin J. Fenske, Jessica E. Todd, Saied Toossi, Latasha A. Robinson, Jane M. Van Doren
Citation: Journal of Food Protection, 89(11), 100916
Date: 11/2026
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Examines infant formula variety and availability across rural and urban U.S. counties. Utilizes 2022-2024 infant formula product listing data as well as Household Pulse Survey data to analyze metro versus nonmetro differences in households using infant formula, difficulty in purchasing formula, and number of unique formula products by county.
Author(s): Gavin J. Fenske, Jessica E. Todd, Saied Toossi, Latasha A. Robinson, Jane M. Van Doren
Citation: Journal of Food Protection, 89(11), 100916
Date: 11/2026
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Rural-Urban Differences for Integrated First Responder and Drone Automated External Defibrillator Delivery in North Carolina
Models the impact of equipping first responders with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) or utilizing drone networks on median AED arrival time in rural and urban areas of North Carolina. Compares interventions against historical response times using 2013-2019 Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) data.
Author(s): Jamal Chu, K.H. Benjamin Leung, Audrey L. Blewer, et al.
Citation: American Heart Journal, 303, 107604
Date: 11/2026
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Models the impact of equipping first responders with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) or utilizing drone networks on median AED arrival time in rural and urban areas of North Carolina. Compares interventions against historical response times using 2013-2019 Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) data.
Author(s): Jamal Chu, K.H. Benjamin Leung, Audrey L. Blewer, et al.
Citation: American Heart Journal, 303, 107604
Date: 11/2026
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Differential Effects of Social Determinants on Cancer Survival by Age at Diagnosis: A Population-Based Study in Alabama
Examines whether the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on cancer survival differs by age at diagnosis. Utilizes 2010-2019 Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry data on adults diagnosed with breast, prostate, colorectal, or lung cancers and analyzes survival rate alongside social vulnerability, rurality, and insurance status.
Author(s): Mackenzie E. Fowler, Geetanjali Saini, Elizabeth Baker, Mahak Bhargava, Ritu Aneja
Citation: Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 17(8), 103094
Date: 11/2026
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Examines whether the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on cancer survival differs by age at diagnosis. Utilizes 2010-2019 Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry data on adults diagnosed with breast, prostate, colorectal, or lung cancers and analyzes survival rate alongside social vulnerability, rurality, and insurance status.
Author(s): Mackenzie E. Fowler, Geetanjali Saini, Elizabeth Baker, Mahak Bhargava, Ritu Aneja
Citation: Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 17(8), 103094
Date: 11/2026
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How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Rural-Urban Disparities in the Delivery and Intensity of the Medicare Hospice Benefit
Analyzes how receipt, duration, location, and frequency of hospice care vary by rural or urban dwelling among Medicare-enrolled decedents aged 66 years or older, using 2013-2022 Master Beneficiary Summary File (MBSF) data.
Author(s): Claire Ankuda, Ken Covinsky, Bocheng Jing, et al.
Citation: JAMA, 336(13), 1167-1169
Date: 10/2026
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Analyzes how receipt, duration, location, and frequency of hospice care vary by rural or urban dwelling among Medicare-enrolled decedents aged 66 years or older, using 2013-2022 Master Beneficiary Summary File (MBSF) data.
Author(s): Claire Ankuda, Ken Covinsky, Bocheng Jing, et al.
Citation: JAMA, 336(13), 1167-1169
Date: 10/2026
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Chronic Pain among Adults: Demographic and Behavioral Health Insights
Report explores chronic pain by demographic and behavioral health indicators. Compares rates of chronic pain by large metro, small metro, and nonmetro areas.
Citation: NSDUH Data Spotlight, 3(6)
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Report explores chronic pain by demographic and behavioral health indicators. Compares rates of chronic pain by large metro, small metro, and nonmetro areas.
Citation: NSDUH Data Spotlight, 3(6)
Date: 10/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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