Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Traffic Safety Facts, 2023 Data: A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Data
Presents descriptive statistics about traffic crashes of all severities, from those that result in property damage to those that result in the loss of human life. Features statistics including rural fatal crashes by average emergency medical services response times, vehicles involved in fatal crashes by speed limit, roadway function class, crash type, and hazardous cargo, and vehicle occupants killed in crashes, with breakdowns by state and by rural or urban location.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Presents descriptive statistics about traffic crashes of all severities, from those that result in property damage to those that result in the loss of human life. Features statistics including rural fatal crashes by average emergency medical services response times, vehicles involved in fatal crashes by speed limit, roadway function class, crash type, and hazardous cargo, and vehicle occupants killed in crashes, with breakdowns by state and by rural or urban location.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Baseline Estimates of Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Adults Aged 45 to 75 Years, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2022
Examines colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates for adults aged 45 to 75. Utilizes 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data to analyze CRC screening status according to respondent demographics, income, access to healthcare and health plans, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Sallyann Coleman King, Jessica King, Cheryll C. Thomas, Lisa C. Richardson
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 08/2025
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Examines colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates for adults aged 45 to 75. Utilizes 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data to analyze CRC screening status according to respondent demographics, income, access to healthcare and health plans, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Sallyann Coleman King, Jessica King, Cheryll C. Thomas, Lisa C. Richardson
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 08/2025
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NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) Detailed Tables - 2024
Explores 2024 survey data on use of prescription and illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, trends in substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness, and access to treatment for youth and adults. Features statistics for a variety of demographic and geographic characteristics, including rural versus urban status.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Explores 2024 survey data on use of prescription and illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, trends in substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness, and access to treatment for youth and adults. Features statistics for a variety of demographic and geographic characteristics, including rural versus urban status.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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U.S. Obesity Rate Changes Differ for Rural and Urban Areas, as Well as Across Regions
Reports on rural versus urban and regional differences in obesity prevalence among U.S. adults between 2019 and 2024. Identifies changes in obesity prevalence over time and discusses the geographic factors influencing obesity prevalence.
Author(s): Mariah Ehmke, Brandon J. Restrepo
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on rural versus urban and regional differences in obesity prevalence among U.S. adults between 2019 and 2024. Identifies changes in obesity prevalence over time and discusses the geographic factors influencing obesity prevalence.
Author(s): Mariah Ehmke, Brandon J. Restrepo
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Medicare Advantage Enrollees Account for 25% of all Inpatient Hospital Days
Describes the growth of Medicare Advantage (MA) as a share of hospital inpatient days between 2013 and 2022. Presents data from hospital cost reports submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) regarding the share of inpatient days attributable to MA compared to traditional Medicare, the percentage of hospitals with more inpatient days from Medicare Advantage than traditional Medicare, and the variation across hospitals within counties. Compares trends in the share of inpatient days for MA enrollees across urban; rural, adjacent to a metro area; and rural, not adjacent to a metro area hospitals.
Author(s): Jamie Godwin, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Zachary Levinson, Tricia Neuman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Describes the growth of Medicare Advantage (MA) as a share of hospital inpatient days between 2013 and 2022. Presents data from hospital cost reports submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) regarding the share of inpatient days attributable to MA compared to traditional Medicare, the percentage of hospitals with more inpatient days from Medicare Advantage than traditional Medicare, and the variation across hospitals within counties. Compares trends in the share of inpatient days for MA enrollees across urban; rural, adjacent to a metro area; and rural, not adjacent to a metro area hospitals.
Author(s): Jamie Godwin, Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Zachary Levinson, Tricia Neuman
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Oregon by the Numbers - Key Measures for Oregon and Its Counties
Breaks down demographic and socioeconomic data in Oregon by county. Highlights data on various measures for each county such as food insecurity, unemployment rate, adult smoking, broadband access, and percent rural versus urban, among others.
Additional links: En Español
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Ford Family Foundation, Oregon State University Rural Studies Program
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Breaks down demographic and socioeconomic data in Oregon by county. Highlights data on various measures for each county such as food insecurity, unemployment rate, adult smoking, broadband access, and percent rural versus urban, among others.
Additional links: En Español
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Ford Family Foundation, Oregon State University Rural Studies Program
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Rural-Urban Earnings Gap by Educational Attainment, 2023
Chart showing the gap in median earnings between rural and urban adults age 25 and older with different levels of education. Uses data from the 2023 American Community Survey.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Chart showing the gap in median earnings between rural and urban adults age 25 and older with different levels of education. Uses data from the 2023 American Community Survey.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Concomitant Mortality Trends Due to Obesity and Hypertension in the U.S.: A 20-year Retrospective Analysis of the CDC WONDER Database
Examines mortality trends related to hypertension (HTN) and obesity in the United States. Utilizes 2000-2019 CDC WONDER data to analyze 254,116 obesity- and hypertension-related deaths according to demographics, metro versus nonmetro location, and state.
Author(s): Rayyan Nabi, Alina Zanub, Muzamil Akhtar, et al.
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 25, 496
Date: 07/2025
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Examines mortality trends related to hypertension (HTN) and obesity in the United States. Utilizes 2000-2019 CDC WONDER data to analyze 254,116 obesity- and hypertension-related deaths according to demographics, metro versus nonmetro location, and state.
Author(s): Rayyan Nabi, Alina Zanub, Muzamil Akhtar, et al.
Citation: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 25, 496
Date: 07/2025
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NCHS Rapid Surveys System: GLP-1 Medication Access and Use
Interactive data showing access to and use of GLP-1 medications. Includes data breakdown by prescriber and various patient characteristics including urbanicity. Data gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics in July and August 2025.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Interactive data showing access to and use of GLP-1 medications. Includes data breakdown by prescriber and various patient characteristics including urbanicity. Data gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics in July and August 2025.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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An Examination of Geographic Proximity to Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation in Rural Versus Urban Tennessee Counties
Examines travel distance and time to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (OCR) facilities in Tennessee counties. Provides rural versus urban comparisons of OCR facility access as well as county-level Tennessee maps showing myocardial infarction hospitalization rate and travel burden.
Author(s): Phoebe M. Tran, Benjamin Fogelson, Andrew B. Sorey, R. Eric Heidel, Raj Baljepally
Citation: Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 41(2), 120-124
Date: 07/2025
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Examines travel distance and time to outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (OCR) facilities in Tennessee counties. Provides rural versus urban comparisons of OCR facility access as well as county-level Tennessee maps showing myocardial infarction hospitalization rate and travel burden.
Author(s): Phoebe M. Tran, Benjamin Fogelson, Andrew B. Sorey, R. Eric Heidel, Raj Baljepally
Citation: Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 41(2), 120-124
Date: 07/2025
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