Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Traffic Safety Facts, 2023 Data: State Traffic Data
Contains information on fatal motor vehicle crashes and fatalities, using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Includes a state-level U.S. map showing percentage change in traffic fatalities from 2022-2023. Features state-by-state statistics on fatalities and fatality rates, percentage change from 1975-2023, population and vehicle miles traveled in 2014 and 2023, registered vehicles and licensed drivers in 2014 and 2023, vehicle type, restraint use, passenger fatalities, alcohol use and survivor status, and speeding-related fatalities by roadway function class, with breakdowns including interstate rural and urban interstate.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Contains information on fatal motor vehicle crashes and fatalities, using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Includes a state-level U.S. map showing percentage change in traffic fatalities from 2022-2023. Features state-by-state statistics on fatalities and fatality rates, percentage change from 1975-2023, population and vehicle miles traveled in 2014 and 2023, registered vehicles and licensed drivers in 2014 and 2023, vehicle type, restraint use, passenger fatalities, alcohol use and survivor status, and speeding-related fatalities by roadway function class, with breakdowns including interstate rural and urban interstate.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Rural Beneficiary Access to Medicare Advantage-Part D Plans
Policy brief updating RUPRI's analysis of Medicare Advantage-Part D plans (MA-PDs) including enhanced benefit plan availability and differences in characteristics across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas. Features statistics including number of MA-PDs and stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs), average monthly premium costs, and availability in metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas from 2008-2023.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Dan M. Shane, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Policy brief updating RUPRI's analysis of Medicare Advantage-Part D plans (MA-PDs) including enhanced benefit plan availability and differences in characteristics across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas. Features statistics including number of MA-PDs and stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs), average monthly premium costs, and availability in metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas from 2008-2023.
Author(s): Edmer Lazaro, Dan M. Shane, Fred Ullrich, Keith Mueller
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Rural/Urban Differences in Health, Health Care Use, and Barriers to Care for Postpartum and Parenting Women, 2006-2018
Presents a study on rural and urban differences in access to and utilization of healthcare for postpartum or parenting women. Highlights barriers women parents face in accessing care and utilizing care that is available. Breaks down data by age of child, barriers to care, rural versus urban location, and compares rates for postpartum and parenting women to all women aged 18-49 by rurality.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Clara E. Busse, Alyssa Fritz, et al.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Presents a study on rural and urban differences in access to and utilization of healthcare for postpartum or parenting women. Highlights barriers women parents face in accessing care and utilizing care that is available. Breaks down data by age of child, barriers to care, rural versus urban location, and compares rates for postpartum and parenting women to all women aged 18-49 by rurality.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Clara E. Busse, Alyssa Fritz, et al.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model: Third Annual Evaluation Report, Calendar Years 2021-2023
Evaluation of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model, incorporating analyses of home dialysis use, waitlisting for a kidney transplant, living donor and deceased donor transplantation, utilization of services, Medicare payments, and quality of care. Features results from interviews and surveys involving model participants and beneficiaries, and examines impacts of the first three years of the ETC Model, 2021-2023. Explores if the impacts of the ETC Model differed by patient subgroup, including rural residence.
Additional links: Appendices, Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, The Lewin Group
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Evaluation of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model, incorporating analyses of home dialysis use, waitlisting for a kidney transplant, living donor and deceased donor transplantation, utilization of services, Medicare payments, and quality of care. Features results from interviews and surveys involving model participants and beneficiaries, and examines impacts of the first three years of the ETC Model, 2021-2023. Explores if the impacts of the ETC Model differed by patient subgroup, including rural residence.
Additional links: Appendices, Executive Summary, Findings at a Glance
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, The Lewin Group
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Supply, Distribution, and Access to Cardiologists, Oncologists, and Pulmonologists in the Rural and Urban U.S.
Describes the changes in the supply and demand of four specialists - cardiologists, neurologists, oncologists, and pulmonologists - between 2012 and 2022. Compares data on the ratio of these specialists per 100,000 population across urban, large rural, and small/isolated rural areas. Explores the socioeconomic characteristics of rural counties with and without one of these specialists in 2022. Summarizes perspectives of rural health system leaders on how specialty care is accessed by and delivered to rural patients.
Author(s): Signe Burchim, David Evans, Nathan Maris, et al.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes the changes in the supply and demand of four specialists - cardiologists, neurologists, oncologists, and pulmonologists - between 2012 and 2022. Compares data on the ratio of these specialists per 100,000 population across urban, large rural, and small/isolated rural areas. Explores the socioeconomic characteristics of rural counties with and without one of these specialists in 2022. Summarizes perspectives of rural health system leaders on how specialty care is accessed by and delivered to rural patients.
Author(s): Signe Burchim, David Evans, Nathan Maris, et al.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2023
Highlights from the 2023 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 2023 and changes from 2022 to 2023 for the total population and children.
Additional links: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2023 Report
Author(s): Sara B. Robinson, Sam A. Shirazi
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Highlights from the 2023 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 2023 and changes from 2022 to 2023 for the total population and children.
Additional links: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2023 Report
Author(s): Sara B. Robinson, Sam A. Shirazi
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Trends in Births and Deaths: United States, 2010–2023
Offers data showing trends in births and deaths between 2010 and 2023 by demographic and geographic factors including urbanicity.
Author(s): Brady E. Hamilton, Anne K. Driscoll, Arialdi M. Miniño
Citation: National Vital Statistics Reports, 74(11)
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers data showing trends in births and deaths between 2010 and 2023 by demographic and geographic factors including urbanicity.
Author(s): Brady E. Hamilton, Anne K. Driscoll, Arialdi M. Miniño
Citation: National Vital Statistics Reports, 74(11)
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Rural County Population Growth Has Continued in Recent Years
Chart showing the percent change from the previous year for the U.S. population by rural or urban county status. Includes years from 1971 until 2024.
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Chart showing the percent change from the previous year for the U.S. population by rural or urban county status. Includes years from 1971 until 2024.
Author(s): Justin B. Winikoff
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Data Gem: Access and Compare Rural vs. Urban Area Population Data
Video demonstrating how to compare rural and urban areas using data.census.gov. Transcript linked underneath the video player.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Video demonstrating how to compare rural and urban areas using data.census.gov. Transcript linked underneath the video player.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Growth of Health IT-Enabled Patient Engagement Capabilities Among U.S. Hospitals: 2021-2024
Describes hospital trends regarding the adoption of capabilities that enable patient access to their electronic health information, including the ability to view, download, transmit, and import data from other organizations into their patient portal; view clinical notes; and access information through apps between 2021-2024. Presents data and analysis by hospital type, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural hospitals, on the percent of hospitals that app-based and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource® (FHIR)-enabled patient engagement capabilities.
Author(s): Meghan Hufstader Gabriel, Chelsea Richwine, Priscilla Owusu-Mensah, Catherine Strawley
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Describes hospital trends regarding the adoption of capabilities that enable patient access to their electronic health information, including the ability to view, download, transmit, and import data from other organizations into their patient portal; view clinical notes; and access information through apps between 2021-2024. Presents data and analysis by hospital type, including Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural hospitals, on the percent of hospitals that app-based and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource® (FHIR)-enabled patient engagement capabilities.
Author(s): Meghan Hufstader Gabriel, Chelsea Richwine, Priscilla Owusu-Mensah, Catherine Strawley
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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