Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
How Do Services Offered Within Opioid Treatment Programs Vary Based on State Methadone Policies?
Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Examines the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in various states as well as access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) options, psychosocial services, and housing supports. Analyzes 1,501 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and their characteristics, including state restrictiveness, services offered, facility type, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Lindenfeld, Noa Krawczyk, Erin A. Taylor, Denis Agniel, Jonathan H. Cantor
Citation: Journal of Substance Use & Addiction Treatment, 190, 210062
Date: 11/2026
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Poverty in the United States: 2025
Reports on poverty rates for 2024 and 2025, including changes in the official poverty measure rate and changes in the Supplemental Poverty Measure rate. Separate tables include statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2026 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Additional links: Table 1: Official Poverty Measure (Excel), Table 4: Supplemental Poverty Measure (Excel), Table 7: Comparison of Official and Supplemental Poverty Measures (Excel)
Author(s): Christina Bijou, Emily A. Shrider
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Reports on poverty rates for 2024 and 2025, including changes in the official poverty measure rate and changes in the Supplemental Poverty Measure rate. Separate tables include statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2026 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Additional links: Table 1: Official Poverty Measure (Excel), Table 4: Supplemental Poverty Measure (Excel), Table 7: Comparison of Official and Supplemental Poverty Measures (Excel)
Author(s): Christina Bijou, Emily A. Shrider
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Income in the United States: 2025
Reports on pre-tax money income and post-tax income levels for 2024 and 2025, along with the percent change from 2024 to 2025. Separate tables include statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2026 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Additional links: Table 1: Income Summary (Excel), Table 3: Post-Tax Household Income Summary (Excel), Table 4: Money Income and Post-Tax Income (Excel)
Author(s): Melissa Kollar, Zach Scherer
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Reports on pre-tax money income and post-tax income levels for 2024 and 2025, along with the percent change from 2024 to 2025. Separate tables include statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2026 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Additional links: Table 1: Income Summary (Excel), Table 3: Post-Tax Household Income Summary (Excel), Table 4: Money Income and Post-Tax Income (Excel)
Author(s): Melissa Kollar, Zach Scherer
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Outpatient Care Fragmentation and Patient Satisfaction With Care
Examines the relationship between outpatient care fragmentation and Medicare patient satisfaction. Utilizes 2020-2022 survey data from 2,294 Medicare beneficiaries to analyze physician and practice-level fragmentation alongside patient satisfaction, measured by perceived accessibility, communication, coordination, and quality as experienced by rural, suburban, and urban Medicare populations.
Author(s): Isabella Ratto, Neelam Ahmed, Mengyuan Chen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70220
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the relationship between outpatient care fragmentation and Medicare patient satisfaction. Utilizes 2020-2022 survey data from 2,294 Medicare beneficiaries to analyze physician and practice-level fragmentation alongside patient satisfaction, measured by perceived accessibility, communication, coordination, and quality as experienced by rural, suburban, and urban Medicare populations.
Author(s): Isabella Ratto, Neelam Ahmed, Mengyuan Chen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70220
Date: 09/2026
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Cancer Survival Differences Between Rural and Urban Populations During the Opioid Epidemic: A SEER Analysis
Explores how rural and urban cancer survival changed over time during the U.S. opioid epidemic, and how rural cancer survival disparities were associated with increasing drug mortality during the same period. Utilizes 2000-2016 SEER and CDC WONDER data.
Author(s): Martin G. Bouldo, Daniel J. Becker
Citation: Anticancer Research, 46(9), 4973-4984
Date: 09/2026
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Explores how rural and urban cancer survival changed over time during the U.S. opioid epidemic, and how rural cancer survival disparities were associated with increasing drug mortality during the same period. Utilizes 2000-2016 SEER and CDC WONDER data.
Author(s): Martin G. Bouldo, Daniel J. Becker
Citation: Anticancer Research, 46(9), 4973-4984
Date: 09/2026
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The Quiet Driver of Rural Minnesota's Population Trends: It's Not Just Migration
Examines factors impacting population changes in Minnesota such as births, deaths, and migration trends. Provides comparisons of population changes from 2001 to 2025 across entirely urban, urban/town/rural mix, town/rural mix, and entirely rural locations.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Examines factors impacting population changes in Minnesota such as births, deaths, and migration trends. Provides comparisons of population changes from 2001 to 2025 across entirely urban, urban/town/rural mix, town/rural mix, and entirely rural locations.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Association Between Rural Attitudes in Family Medicine Residency and Rural Employment
Explores rural family medicine residents' attitudes at residency completion and how they are associated with subsequent rural employment. Based on data from a study conducted from 2021-2025 survey of residents in two Mountain Area Health Education Center programs.
Author(s): Bryan Hodge, Julianne M. Power, Gwyneth DeHart, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 58
Date: 09/2026
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Explores rural family medicine residents' attitudes at residency completion and how they are associated with subsequent rural employment. Based on data from a study conducted from 2021-2025 survey of residents in two Mountain Area Health Education Center programs.
Author(s): Bryan Hodge, Julianne M. Power, Gwyneth DeHart, et al.
Citation: Family Medicine, 58
Date: 09/2026
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Risk Factors for Loss of Hospital-Based Obstetric Care in Rural and Urban Hospitals
Examines factors associated with loss of obstetric services in hospitals. Analyzes 3,108 rural and urban hospitals in 2010 and then again in 2023 to observe rates of unit or hospital closure. Includes breakdown of hospital characteristics such as distance to nearest obstetric hospital, birth volume, hospital ownership, county unemployment, and more.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(9), e263122
Date: 09/2026
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Examines factors associated with loss of obstetric services in hospitals. Analyzes 3,108 rural and urban hospitals in 2010 and then again in 2023 to observe rates of unit or hospital closure. Includes breakdown of hospital characteristics such as distance to nearest obstetric hospital, birth volume, hospital ownership, county unemployment, and more.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Caitlin Carroll, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 7(9), e263122
Date: 09/2026
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Changing Patterns of Specialty Care for Diabetic Foot Ulcers among Rural and Urban Veterans Following the VA MISSION Act
Presents a study on older veterans' access to specialty care for diabetic foot ulcers under the MISSION Act in rural and urban areas. Explores veterans' access both inside and outside of the VA and breaks down utilization data by specialty, such as podiatry, infectious disease, vascular surgery, and endocrinology.
Author(s): Hiroyuki Suzuki, Mary Vaughan-Sarrazin, Michael Ohl, et al.
Citation: International Wound Journal, 23(9), e71039
Date: 09/2026
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Presents a study on older veterans' access to specialty care for diabetic foot ulcers under the MISSION Act in rural and urban areas. Explores veterans' access both inside and outside of the VA and breaks down utilization data by specialty, such as podiatry, infectious disease, vascular surgery, and endocrinology.
Author(s): Hiroyuki Suzuki, Mary Vaughan-Sarrazin, Michael Ohl, et al.
Citation: International Wound Journal, 23(9), e71039
Date: 09/2026
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The State of Childhood in Rural America: Well-Being, Challenges and Opportunities
Reports on the well-being of rural children, including their educational performance, poverty, household spending, and food insecurity. Discusses how state and federal policy can support the well-being of rural children and families.
Author(s): Anita I. Drever, Beth A. Eagleton, Denali A. Drake, Jonathan J. Sury
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Save the Children
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Reports on the well-being of rural children, including their educational performance, poverty, household spending, and food insecurity. Discusses how state and federal policy can support the well-being of rural children and families.
Author(s): Anita I. Drever, Beth A. Eagleton, Denali A. Drake, Jonathan J. Sury
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Save the Children
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