https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/what-is-rural What is Rural? resources related to rural health, with information provided by the Rural Health Information Hub en Copyright 2026 Rural Health Information Hub https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/webinars/federal-rural-definitions Webinar recording featuring speakers from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) discussing how FORHP compiles information from various federal agencies to identify and define rural areas in the U.S. for rural health grant program eligibility. Highlights changes to rural areas, as identified by FORHP with their September 2025 data release. -- Rural Health Information Hub https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27216 Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:00:27 -0600 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1468-0009.70067 Provides a rurality index for all 50 U.S. states, utilizing measures of rural population percentage, rural land area percentage, and rural population density. Discusses the need for a multidimensional measure of rurality to provide an accurate tool for health policy research. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/27055 Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:37:32 -0600 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0328958 Provides a definition of rurality utilizing a 3-digit ZIP code-level scale. Applies definition to the All of Us Research Program to analyze rural healthcare issues such as access, delayed care, and affordability. Includes the definition's methodology and a U.S. map showcasing distribution of 3-digit ZIP codes according to rurality. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26933 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:53:06 -0600 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jrh.70102 Explores an effort to develop a rural-urban classification that captures the remoteness of frontier areas. Details the tract-level Integrated Metropolitan-to-Frontier Area Codes (tlMFAC), a combination of the USDA's Frontier and Remote Area (FAR) definition and the Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) Codes. Discusses the conceptual framework for tlMFAC and the census tract-level results of applying the definition nationally. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26894 Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:19:23 -0600 https://academic.oup.com/jnci/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/jnci/djaf329/65259911/djaf329.pdf Discusses how rural definitions influence cancer disparities research via an examination of perspectives originally presented at the Transforming Community and Rural Healthcare 2024 conference. Details limitations and inconsistencies in current rural definitions and highlights the value of community-based participatory research and identity-based approaches to rurality. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26802 Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:01:15 -0600 https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/CCI-25-00122 Details an open-access Rural-Urban Community Area (RUCA) tool to standardize patients' geographic coding in cancer disparities research by integrating RUCA codes with census tract and electronic health record system data. Provides data on the tool's application, utilizing 2023 cancer registry data provided by Wake Forest Cancer Center in North Carolina. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26745 Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:51:35 -0600 https://www.census.gov/data/academy/data-gems/2025/rural-vs-urban-area-population-data.html Video demonstrating how to compare rural and urban areas using data.census.gov. Transcript linked underneath the video player. -- U.S. Census Bureau https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/26162 Thu, 21 Aug 2025 08:35:35 -0500 https://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/for_researchers/cyber_seminars/archives/video_archive.cfm?SessionID=6492&Seriesid=120 Webinar recording discussing federal rural designations, how rural is defined by the Office of Rural Health in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and using VHA data sources. -- VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development, Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/25916 Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:26:14 -0500 https://www.census.gov/data/academy/data-gems/2025/rural-or-urban-area.html Video highlighting 3 ways to identify a location as either urban or rural using U.S. Census Bureau tools. Transcript linked underneath the video player. -- U.S. Census Bureau https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/25426 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:48:26 -0500 https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/4fb7051f809fa6b66dbececae806ddd3/PTAC-Sep-2023-Rural-Disparities-Report.pdf Examines health disparities and differences in healthcare characteristics between rural and nonrural counties using data from the 2023 County Health Rankings and 2021-2022 Area Health Resources Files. Compares community health and healthcare characteristics by two county-level urban-rural classification systems: Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) and Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs). Explores the degree to which four county-level classification systems - RUCC, CBSA, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties, and Urban Influence Codes (UIC) - agree regarding which counties are designated as rural. -- HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/25251 Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:19:01 -0600 https://ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=110873 Map showing the December 2024 Urban Influence Code status for counties in all 50 states. -- USDA Economic Research Service https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/25141 Tue, 04 Feb 2025 13:22:12 -0600 https://rhrc.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PracticalImplications_measuring-rurality_final.pdf Explores how different measures of rurality influence research outcomes, with a focus on maternal health research. Describes multiple measures and definitions commonly employed to categorize rural populations. Discusses the implications of these definitions for research, public health interventions, and policy formulation. -- University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/24980 Mon, 13 Jan 2025 10:48:10 -0600 https://eig.org/redefining-rural-basics-and-well-being/ Offers a hybrid definition of rurality based on metro and nonmetro definitions from the Office of Management and Budget, Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, and considers outlying communities in metro and micropolitan counties as rural. Compares rural and non-rural poverty rates, economic well-being, population changes, and other characteristics to represent counties in economic distress. -- Economic Innovation Group https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/16401 Sun, 22 Sep 2024 10:22:44 -0500 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10925553/ Examines perceptions of rurality through a survey of 1,384 people in rural Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Provides data breakdowns by geography of 18 perceptions related to belonging, attitudes toward rurality, loneliness, and community social ties. Discusses the relationship between individual factors, the concept of rurality, and geographically defined versus perceived rurality. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/24121 Wed, 18 Sep 2024 14:17:37 -0500 https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2024/08/redefining-rural.html Highlights the change in commuting patterns between rural workers and urban areas and describes the impact on rural communities and economies. Discusses the multiple definitions of rural. -- U.S. Census Bureau https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/23943 Wed, 28 Aug 2024 07:39:32 -0500 https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF12704/IF12704.1.pdf Provides an overview of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs). Identifies key terms related to CBSAs, including central counties, metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, outlying counties, and more. Includes information on revisions and updates to CBSAs, relevant legislation, and issues of interest for Congress. -- Congressional Research Service https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/23578 Fri, 05 Jul 2024 14:44:53 -0500 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jrh.12840 Compares the All of Us health research dataset that utilizes self-reported rurality to other nationally representative data sources that represent rurality. Discusses implications of using the All for Us dataset as a proxy measure of rurality in health research. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/23107 Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:33:51 -0500 https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/charts-of-note/chart-detail?chartId=108862 Presents a map of metro and nonmetro counties based on the 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC). Breaks down the counties on a nine-level scale of rurality. -- USDA Economic Research Service https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/22909 Mon, 01 Apr 2024 17:03:01 -0500 https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/research/files/harvard_jchs_in_search_of_rural_hermann_obrycki_2024.pdf Describes the effect of rural definitions on rural housing research. Categorizes rural definitions by type, and compares data produced by applying 11 rural definitions to 2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Discusses definition impacts on estimated rural demographics and housing stock, characteristics, and challenges. Includes state-by-state estimates of rural population share for each definition. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/22545 Thu, 08 Feb 2024 08:35:34 -0600 https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/docs/ORH_RuralityFactSheet_508.pdf Fact sheet defines rural in the context of the Veterans Health Administration. Discusses RUCA codes, Census tracts, and how the VA assigns rurality. -- Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/22330 Wed, 10 Jan 2024 17:57:16 -0600 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf Outlines the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, Combined Statistical Areas, and Metropolitan Division – collectively called Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) – for the United States and Puerto Rico. Reflects the 2020 Standards for Delineating Core Based Statistical Areas published by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in July 2021 and the application of those standards to Census population and journey-to-work data, including the 2020 Decennial Census, American Community Survey, and Census Population Estimates Program data. Also provides guidance on the use of these delineations. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/21528 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 11:13:58 -0500 https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R47510/R47510.2.pdf Provides an overview of the definitions of rural that are used to determine eligibility for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) programs. Identifies issues that Congress may want to consider related to these definitions and community eligibility. -- Congressional Research Service https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/20613 Fri, 21 Apr 2023 14:10:48 -0500 https://www.ruralhealth.us/getmedia/46547c8c-8f09-432b-ad85-6321a5131002/NRHA-Policy-Brief-Final-Draft-Urban-Bias-in-Rural-Data-Sets-(1).pdf Policy position paper discussing various classifications of rural, how these definitions may not accurately represent rural areas, and the potential implications for rural populations. Offers policy recommendations regarding rural data infrastructure and the allocation of resources using rural definitions. -- National Rural Health Association https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/20477 Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:05:46 -0500 https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2022/12/redefining-urban-areas-following-2020-census.html Provides an overview of changes made to the U.S. Census Bureau urban area criteria following the 2020 Census. Covers the minimum population threshold, housing unit density, and the decision to cease distinguishing between different types of urban areas. -- U.S. Census Bureau https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/19932 Tue, 27 Dec 2022 11:22:28 -0600 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-022-08678-9 Analyzes peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2020 to provide a scoping review of the different methods of rurality defined and used in health services research. Examines 103 full-text studies across various journals to observe different measures of rurality. Includes discussion about the benefits and drawbacks of the respective measures of rurality and how inconsistent use of measures impacts federal funding and the study of rural health disparities. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/19695 Tue, 15 Nov 2022 12:55:10 -0600 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elZu3L3xahg Provides an overview of how the Census Bureau defines urban and rural areas. Transcript available in the video description. -- U.S. Census Bureau https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/19458 Wed, 05 Oct 2022 09:33:30 -0500 https://ruralinnovation.us/blog/defining-rural-america/ Discusses several federal definitions of rural and the implications of using different definitions. Compares how U.S. Census Bureau and Office Management and Budget (OMB) characterize rural America. Offers principles on how to choose which definition to use to describe rural areas. -- Center on Rural Innovation https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/19026 Wed, 27 Jul 2022 15:57:59 -0500 https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052020-123413 Discusses ways to address health needs in rural areas with a focus on shifting away from the deficit narrative of rural places. Explores definitions of rural, the intersectionality of rural citizens, and how to conduct participatory community research to promote partnerships and health access in rural communities. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/18388 Thu, 07 Apr 2022 07:58:44 -0500 https://www.usac.org/rural-health-care/resources/tools/rurality-tier-search-tool/ Allows users to determine the applicable rural tier for a specific site location to calculate the rural rate for telecommunications support through the RHC Telecom Program. Tiers include extremely rural, rural, less rural, and non-rural. Tool provides general information; rurality tiers are formally assigned through the review and approval of FCC forms. -- Universal Service Administrative Company https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/17820 Wed, 26 Jan 2022 10:03:57 -0600 https://www.cms.gov/priorities/health-equity/rural-health/stay-connected The list of CMS regional rural health coordinators who provide technical, policy, and operational assistance on rural health issues. Located below information on Rural Health Open Door Forums and Medicare Learning Network publications. -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/3975 Tue, 03 Nov 2020 14:25:11 -0600