Data Sources & Tools Relevant to Rural Health
| Source/ Tool |
Topics | Ease of Use |
Geographic Level of Data | Frequency Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014
Update of the Rural-Urban Chartbook Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center Individual data tables (Excel) |
Data from many federal sources on the following topics: Demographics Health behaviors and risk factors Mortality rates Healthcare access and use Other health measures |
Printed report Excel spreadsheet |
National Regional 5 levels of urbanization / rurality |
Infrequent. The 2014 edition updates a 2001 report from the CDC. |
| American Community
Survey
(ACS) U.S. Census Bureau Access current ACS data via data.census.gov Other Data Tools for accessing ACS data |
Demographic Age and sex Ancestry Disability Commuting to work Education Employment Family/relationships Health insurance Income and earnings Language Origins Population change Poverty Race and ethnicity Veterans Housing - financial and physical characteristics |
A variety of tools are available, for varying levels of expertise and purpose | National State County Community Rural-specific Public Use Microdata Area ZIP Code Tabulation Area Full list of geographic areas |
Data estimates are released every year 1-year estimates for areas with population of 65,000 or more 5-year estimates for areas with population below 65,000 |
| Area Health
Resources Files (AHRF) Health Resources and Services Administration |
Data from many sources on the following topics: Healthcare facilities Healthcare utilization Healthcare workforce Health professions training Demographics Social determinants of health Rural classifications |
Available via a straightforward online dashboard. Data also available for download in SAS and ASCII format. | National State County |
See AHRF Data Download Documentation for years of data available. |
| Atlas
of Rural and Small-Town America Economic Research Service (ERS) US Department of Agriculture |
Population change overall and by demographic group ACS data BLS data 60 socioeconomic indicators |
Easy, web-based interface | County | Ongoing, as new data is available |
| BEA Regional
Economic Accounts Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Access BEA Interactive Regional Data Access per capita income via BEARFACTS Local Area (County) Fact Sheets |
Employment Per capita income Income by industry (including healthcare) |
Somewhat complex and powerful web-based tool and county-level customizable
mapping. Easy printable fact sheets for income data |
State County Metropolitan/Nonmetro |
Annual |
| Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
(BRFSS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention For state-level data access options, see BRFSS State Coordinators |
Health behaviors of adults, including: Chronic diseases and conditions Health-risk behaviors Use of preventive health services |
Accessing BRFSS county-level data directly requires statistical
expertise Comparing counties within a state is considered appropriate by the CDC. Comparing individual counties across state lines is not considered appropriate due to the methodological constraints of the sample. CDC web-based tools do not provide county-level details. Easier-to-use tool that includes BRFSS data:
|
National State County (Public release data not available for any county with fewer than 10,000 residents) |
Annual |
| Blue Cross
Blue Shield Health Index Blue Cross Blue Shield National Health Index |
Comprehensive health scores based on claims data of over 41 million Blue Cross Blue Shield commercially
insured members. Top state and county health conditions. |
Easy, web-based interface | National State County |
|
| CDC WONDER Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
Public health Environment Births Mortality |
A complex but fairly user-friendly web-based system that offers many options to
narrow results. Results may vary depending on how and when different fields are selected. |
National State County (births) Rural (mortality) |
Annual |
| Census Business Builder Regional Analyst
Edition U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce |
Data for regional planning from a variety of sources covering: Businesses Demographics Socioeconomic data Housing |
Easy, web-based interface |
State County City ZIP code |
Annual and every 5 years, depending on source |
| CMS Data Navigator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
A range of CMS programs, including: Medicaid Medicare CHIP Health Insurance Marketplace Demonstrations |
Easy-to-use interface for identifying data sources and reports. Some sources require statistical expertise. |
National Regional State County Hospital Referral Region |
Varies |
| CMS Provider Data Catalog Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
Access to the data sets used on the Medicare.gov quality of care
websites: Hospital Compare Nursing Home Compare Physician Compare Home Health Compare Hospice Compare Others in the “Compare” collection |
Datasets available for download. Statistical expertise required. | Varies by data set | Each data set includes documentation on updates by date. |
| CMS Research, Statistics, Data & Systems | A range of CMS programs | Starting point to access a wide variety of CMS data files. | ||
| County Health Rankings &
Roadmaps Robert Wood Johnson Foundation |
Compiles and standardizes data from a variety of national sources on these
topics: Health factors Health behaviors Clinical Care Social and economic factors Physical environment Health outcomes Length of life Quality of life |
Easy, web-based interface Can download ranking data as Excel file |
County (Some data may not be available for all counties) |
Annual |
| Current Population
Survey U.S. Census Bureau & Bureau of Labor Statistics Access via IPUMS-CPS Access via CPS Data Tools |
Labor force statistics, including: Unemployment rate Earnings Demographics Health insurance Disability status |
Web-based tools are complex and require expertise to use effectively and
appropriately. To access rural-specific data via IPUMS-CPS, select "Metro" from the Geographic Variables. For guidance in using this tool, see the IPUMS-CPS Frequently Asked Questions. |
State County Rural |
Monthly (March data serves as national benchmark for various indicators) IPUMS-CPS: Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) data each September Basic monthly survey data |
| The Dartmouth Atlas of Health
Care The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice |
Compiles Medicare data on: Spending Utilization Quality |
Download options, as well as somewhat complex web-based option to make custom datasets and graphs | Data available for each geography varies: Hospital Referral Region Hospital Service Area County (limited data) Hospital |
|
| data.census.gov U.S. Census Bureau |
Centralized access to a variety of U.S. Census Bureau data | Both guided and advanced search options are available | National State County Community Rural-specific |
Ongoing, as new U.S. Census Bureau data is available |
| Data.CMS.Gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
Central data portal for information on a wide range of CMS programs and providers. | Web-based interface with a variety of controls and options | Varies by data set | |
| data.HRSA.gov Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) |
HRSA program data, including: Rural health Loans and scholarships Shortage areas Health centers External data on: Demographics (ACS) Healthcare facilities (CMS) |
Powerful, complex web-based data portal and map tool for creating custom data
views and maps Variety of other tools and publications |
Varies by data set | Shortage areas as frequently as daily CMS facilities updated quarterly |
| Data Resource Center for Child &
Adolescent Health Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI) |
Data from the National Survey of Children’s Health and the National Survey
of Children with Special Health Care Needs on: Child health indicators Family life indicators |
Most useful for researchers. State-level rural data is available for some states, but only in the public use files, not via the web interface. Analyzing requires the ability to statistically account for the weighted nature of the survey. | National State |
Annual |
| DEA Pain
Pills Database Washington Post How to Download and Use the DEA Pain Pills Database |
Access to ARCOS data from the Drug Enforcement Agency | Easy-to-use, web-based interface. Available for download and via API. Some technical expertise required. |
National State County |
2006-2014 |
| Department
of Veterans Affairs Opioid Prescribing Data U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
VA facility opioid-dispensing rates | Easy-to-use map and table | VA facilities | 2012-2018 |
| ERS
State
Fact Sheets Economic Research Service (ERS) US Department of Agriculture |
Data from ERS, Census, BLS, BEA on: Population Food security Income Education Employment |
Easy, printable list of relevant information | National State Rural-specific |
Ongoing, as new data is available |
| Food
Access Research Atlas Economic Research Service (ERS) US Department of Agriculture |
Data from a range of sources on: Food deserts Food access indicators |
Easy, web-based interface Downloadable data that can be merged into GIS software at the 2010 Census Tract level for use with other spatial layers. |
Census tracts | |
| Food
Environment Atlas Economic Research Service (ERS) US Department of Agriculture |
Data from a range of sources on: Access to healthy food Food security Obesity rates Physical activity Demographics |
Easy, web-based interface Data can also be downloaded and merged into GIS software. |
State County (not available for all data) |
|
| FoodAPS
National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey Economic Research Service (ERS) US Department of Agriculture |
Food items and prices for households and individuals Food and nutrition assistance program benefits Local food environments |
Restricted-use data files Requires statistical expertise |
County Census tract Census block group |
Infrequent. FoodAPS-1 released in 2016 based on 2012-2013 survey; FoodAPS-2 is planned |
| HDPulse Data
Portal National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities |
Health disparities data from federal sources on the following topics: Mortality Socio-demographics Health screening Risk factors |
Easy-to-use web-based system | State County |
Annual |
| The
Health
and
Well-Being of Children in Rural Areas: A Portrait of the Nation 2011-2012 Health Resources and Services Administration Published 4/2015 |
Data from the National Survey of Children's Health on the following topics: Health status Health insurance coverage Healthcare access Family life and parental health status School and neighborhood factors |
Web-based and printed report | National Rural-specific |
Infrequent. The 2015 edition updates a 2011 report based on 2007 data |
| Health, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Data Finder: Select “Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan” under Population Subgroups. |
Data from a range of sources on: Health status and determinants Healthcare utilization, Access Expenditures |
Publication with charts/tables Supporting Excel files available on the website |
National State Rural-specific |
Annual |
| Healthcare Cost and
Utilization Project (HCUP) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Access via HCUPnet HCUP Fast Stats, including Opioid-Related Hospital Use |
Hospital care data from a set of databases on: Inpatient utilization Emergency department utilization Access Cost Quality Outcomes |
Easy, web-based access Public-use and fee-based versions |
National State & County (for participating states, some providing estimates only) Rural (location of patient residence) Sets/groups of hospitals, including rural hospitals |
Ongoing, as data is available |
| HealthLandscape American Academy of Family Physicians Free, but registration required |
Data from a variety of sources showing: Healthcare facilities Health status Health insurance Employment and income Demographics |
Somewhat complex but powerful web-based interactive mapping | State County |
|
| Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease
and
Stroke Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
Data from a variety of federal sources on: Heart disease Stroke Social determinants of health Health services Healthcare costs Healthcare facilities |
Fairly straightforward web-based mapping system | National State County |
|
| Kaiser State Health Facts Kaiser Family Foundation |
Data from a variety of public and private sources on: Demographics Healthcare costs Health insurance Health status Minority and women's health Medicaid and Medicare Healthcare providers |
Easy, web-based access | State | Ongoing, as new data is available Focuses on issues of current concern, so may have limited trending data for a given topic |
| KIDS COUNT Data Center Annie E. Casey Foundation |
Data on children's health and well-being, from a variety of national and state
sources,
covering: Demographics Economic well-being Education Family and community Health Safety and risk behaviors |
Easy to navigate website | State County Congressional District |
Annual |
| Local Area Unemployment Statistics
(LAUS) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Access LAUS Tables Access LAUS Map Access LAUS Customized Tables |
Employment Unemployment |
Basic tables available on web site Easy-to-use maps Somewhat complex web-based search tool |
County | Monthly |
| Longitudinal
Tract Data Base Brown University |
1970-2010 Census and American Community Survey data with standardized tract boundaries | Files available for download, requires data expertise | Census tract | |
| Mapping
Medicare Disparities Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
Provides data on Medicare beneficiaries on: Health disparities Chronic conditions Health outcomes Healthcare utilization Cost |
Easy-to-use web-based system | State County Hospital |
Currently offers 2012-2020 data |
| Market
Saturation and Utilization Data Tool Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
Medicare provider services and utilization for: Ambulance Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Home health Hospice Physical and occupational therapy Skilled nursing facilities More |
Interactive map and data set offer many options to narrow and customize results. | National State County Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) |
Selected date ranges available |
| Measure of America Access Measure of America Maps |
Data from a variety of sources on topics related to: Health Education Income |
Easy, web-based map tool.
Zoom in or enter ZIP code for a county profile County data can be downloaded by submitting a download agreement. |
National maps with county-level data County profiles |
Varies by data source |
| Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
(MEPS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) |
Healthcare access Health services utilization Healthcare costs and payment methods Healthcare quality Health insurance coverage and cost |
Easy to access summary tables Somewhat complex web-based system Downloadable files require advanced data skills and do not contain metropolitan / non-metropolitan identifiers. More granular data is available through the Federal Statistical Research Data Centers. |
National State Metropolitan / Non-metropolitan |
|
|
Medicare
Chronic Conditions Dashboards Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
Provides data on Medicare beneficiaries on: Chronic condition prevalence Healthcare utilization and Medicare spending related to chronic conditions |
Easy-to-use web-based system | National State County |
Currently offers 2017 data |
|
Medicare
Geographic Variation Dashboards Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
Medicare fee-for-service per capita costs | Fairly straightforward, web-based tool In the county dashboard, select a state by clicking the map. |
National State County Hospital referral region |
Annual |
|
Medicare
Part D Opioid Prescribing Mapping Tool Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
Opioid prescribing rates based on Medicare Part D claims | Straightforward map-based system | State County ZIP code Rural/Urban |
2016 data, plus change since 2013 |
|
National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS); National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Survey Results and Products |
Data on ambulatory medical care services, including services provided by office-based physicians, hospital emergency and outpatient departments, and ambulatory surgery centers | Data is available in reports and tables on specific topics. Data is only to be used on one stratification level at a time; drilling down beyond the presented stratifications breaks the sampling scheme. |
National Rural/Urban based on patient ZIP code |
Reports issued throughout the year |
| NACo County Explorer National Association of Counties |
Wide range of topics, including: Health status Local health departments Healthcare access Social determinants of health |
Easy-to-use web-based system | County | |
| NCHHSTP AtlasPlus National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) |
HIV/AIDS Viral hepatitis Tuberculosis Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Social determinants of health |
Somewhat complex web-based system that offers various narrowing options depending on the data | National State County |
|
| NCHS Data Visualization
Gallery National Center for Health Statistics |
Natality, including teen births Mortality, including:
|
Interactive data visualization tools and downloadable accompanying data sets | Varies by visualization, may include: Nation State County |
Varies by visualization |
| National Center for Veterans Analysis and
Statistics US Department of Veterans Affairs |
Veteran population VA benefit utilization |
Downloadable files Static maps |
National State County |
|
| National Environmental
Public Health Tracking Network Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Data Query Tool Info by Location (County) |
Environmental health topics and related health effects: Air quality Heat exposure Pesticide exposure Asthma Cancer COPD Heart disease |
Easy, web-based interface | National State County |
Annual |
| National Health Interview
Survey National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Access NHIS Tables of Summary Health Statistics Access NHIS Datasets Access NHIS Early Release Program |
Health status Health behaviors Health insurance coverage |
Easy to access summary tables and online dynamic report of quarterly key health indicators | Metropolitan / Non-metropolitan Large MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area), small MSA, not in an MSA |
Annual |
| National Historical Geographic Information
System (NHGIS) Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota |
Historical Census data GIS-compatible boundary files |
Free, but registration required to view data. Somewhat complex system for selecting files. Video tutorial available. |
Nation State County Place Rural |
Census Data from 1790-present |
| National
Survey
on Drug Use and
Health
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Access Drug Use and Health Detailed Tables, 2020 |
Mental health conditions and services Substance use incidence and treatment |
Detailed tables available on website. For rural data, look for tables that list "Geographic Characteristics" | National State Regions within states Rural-specific |
Annual |
| Neighborhood Atlas | Area Deprivation Index (ADI) state and national rankings, factoring in income, education, employment, and housing quality | Easy, web-based interface Data available for download |
Census Block | Currently offers 2013 Area Deprivation Index data |
| Net Migration Patterns for U.S.
Counties Applied Population Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Population Age Race/ethnicity Sex |
Easy web-based interface | County | 1950-2010 |
| PLACES: Local Data for Better
Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
Chronic disease related data covering: Health outcomes Prevention Unhealthy behaviors |
Easy, web-based interface Data available for download |
County Place Census tract ZIP code |
Annual |
| Population Estimates U.S. Census Bureau |
Age Sex Race and ethnicity |
Straightforward web-based tables | National State County Cities and towns |
Annual |
| QuickFacts U.S. Census Bureau For detailed information, see: QuickFacts: What's New & FAQs |
Data from multiple Census Bureau censuses, surveys, and programs on the
following topics: Demographics Housing Education Economy Income and Poverty Businesses |
Easy-to-use Good starting place for beginner data users Easy to compare multiple geographies Includes tables, maps, charts |
National State County Cities and towns with population of 5,000 or more Zip code |
Ongoing, as new data is available |
| Rural Data Portal Housing Assistance Council |
Data from a range of sources on: Demographics Social indicators Economics Housing |
Easy-to-use web-based tool | National, with rural option State, with rural option County |
Ongoing, as new data is available, with at least two updates annually. |
| Rural-Urban
Differences Among Older Adults University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center |
Data on adults age 65+ covering: Demographics Socioeconomic data Healthcare access and use Health behaviors and health status |
Printed report | National Rural-urban |
One-time report. Uses data from the 2013-2017 ACS, 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study, and 2016 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. |
| Small Area Health
Insurance Estimates (SAHIE) U.S. Census Bureau Access SAHIE Interactive Data Tool |
Health insurance coverage by age, race, gender, and income | Straightforward web-based tool Easy-to-find national maps showing county-level data |
State County |
Updated annually, but base data may not be as current for all rural areas, because it uses ACS data. |
| Small Area Income
and Poverty
Estimates (SAIPE) U.S. Census Bureau Access SAIPE Interactive Data Tool Access SAIPE State and County Maps 2020 |
Annual model-based estimates for poverty (including children in poverty) Median household income |
Straightforward web-based tool Easy-to-find national maps showing county-level data |
State County School District |
Updated annually, but base data may not as current for all rural areas, because it uses ACS data. |
| State Cancer Profiles National Cancer Institute |
Cancer burden Screening and risk factors Demographic data |
Easy-to-use web-based system, including mapping | National State County |
Data comes from state public health surveillance systems, so is updated as complete national data is available. State websites may offer more detailed and more current data. |
| U.S. Diabetes
Surveillance System Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
Diabetes and related health concerns, including: Burden of diabetes Preventive care Health status and disability Risk factors End-stage renal disease Social determinants of health |
Interactive, customizable map for accessing data. Select “indicators” to view the data options. |
National State County |
Annual |
| U.S. Opioid Dispensing Rate Maps Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
Retail opioid prescription dispensing | Straightforward map-based system | State County |
Annual |
| Why Not The Best? The Commonwealth Fund |
Data from a range of sources on: Quality Patient experience Outcomes Health status |
Easy system for comparing regions and hospitals | State Hospital Referral Region County Hospital Groups of hospitals, including "average rural" and by bed size |
Ongoing |
| WISQARS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fatal Injury Data Visualization Explore Metro/nonmetro: Fatal Injury Reports |
Fatal and nonfatal injury Violent death Cost of injury |
Web-based system with a variety of search options | National Region State County Metropolitan / Non-metropolitan |
Data from a variety of sources. Year ranges available vary. |
Selected sources identified via:
Using
Data to Understand Your Community, Rural Health Value
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