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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2024
Highlights from the 2024 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), which provides single-year median household income and poverty statistics. Includes county-level maps showing income and poverty rates in 2024 and changes from 2023 to 2024 for the total population and children.
Additional links: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2024 Report
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Rural Background, Training Exposure, and Rural Practice Location Among US Physicians
Research letter exploring the interdependence between recruiting students from rural backgrounds and providing exposure to rural settings during undergraduate and graduate medical education training. Uses data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) 2022 National Sample Survey of Physicians.
Author(s): Xiaochu Hu, Davis G. Patterson, Sarah S. Conrad, Qian Luo, Michael J. Dill
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(8), e2625481
Date: 08/2026
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Unequal Paths to Care: How Region, Rurality, and Deprivation Determine Transport to Verified Trauma Centers among the Critically Injured
Examines the relationship among rurality, area deprivation index (ADI), and trauma center transport of critically injured patients. Utilizes 2018-2022 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data from 36,897,269 critically injured patients and analyzes rural versus urban transport to a trauma center, region of the country, and ADI.
Author(s): Amani Sampson, Edward Helderop, Tokoya Williams, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 196, 110232
Date: 08/2026
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Young Adult Urbanicity, Late Midlife Neighborhood Disadvantage, and Cognitive Functioning in Community-Dwelling Older Men
Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Geographical Access to Preferred Pharmacies in Medicare Part D
Analyzes access to preferred pharmacies in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage PDPs (MAPDs). Utilizes multiple data sources to examine the nearest preferred pharmacy in MAPDs and stand-alone PDPs across rural and urban ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs). Discusses geographic disparities related to PDP and MAPD access.
Author(s): Pinka Chatterji, Yiran Han, Chun-Yu Ho
Citation: The American Journal of Managed Care, 32, 7
Date: 07/2026
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Predictors of Routine HPV-Based Cervical Cancer Screening Adoption in Federally Qualified Health Centers within a Multi-State Practice Research Network 2012–2022: Retrospective Observational Study
Examines adoption of HPV screening for cervical cancer across 25 clinics within 3 Federally Qualified Health Center systems in Washington and Idaho from 2012-2022. Includes demographic data breakdowns, including rural versus urban comparisons.
Author(s): Michelle B. Shin, Connor R. Volpi, Warren Szewczyk,et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care
Date: 07/2026
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County-Level Social, Preventive Care, and Behavioral Correlates of Colorectal Cancer Mortality in the United States: A Nationwide Ecological Analysis
Examines how county-level demographics, social conditions, preventive care, and behavioral risks influence colorectal cancer mortality using linked CDC PLACES, ACS, USCS, and NCHS data. Includes metro versus nonmetro data comparisons.
Author(s): Kaide Xia, Li Luo, Chengdu Fan, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Oncology, 16, 1844633
Date: 07/2026
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Rural–Urban Residence in Relation to Cannabis Use Influences and Behaviors among a Sample of US Young Adults Reporting Past‐Month Cannabis Use
Examines how cannabis use behaviors and perceptions vary among rural and urban young adults via an online survey of 1,961 adults aged 18-34 who reported past-month cannabis use. Includes data on perceived harm, coping, frequency of use, driving under the influence, likelihood of mental health diagnosis, consequences of use, and more.
Author(s): Katelyn F. Romm, Amanda Y. Kong, Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg, Carla J. Berg
Citation: The American Journal on Addictions, 35(5), 622-632
Date: 07/2026
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Rural–Urban Comparisons of Area-Based Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Vulnerability Indices
Analyzes how area-based socioeconomic disadvantage indices vary in their index items and predictive accuracy, including the Neighborhood Atlas Area Deprivation Index (NA-ADI), Standardized Area Deprivation Index, Reproducible Area Deprivation Index, Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), and Neighborhood Disadvantage Index. Compares NA-ADI and SVI discordance and discusses implications for health disparities research.
Author(s): Hannah Lang, Kimberly A. Rollings
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(7), qxag173
Date: 07/2026
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North Dakota Statewide Traffic Safety Survey, 2026: Traffic Safety Performance Measures for State and Federal Agencies
Provides information on traffic safety issues among varied demographic groups in North Dakota and their beliefs, practices, and distractions related to driving. Includes rural versus urban comparisons about driving safety, driving under the influence, and more.
Author(s): Kimberly Vachal, Andrew Kubas, Jaclyn Andersen
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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