Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
U.S. Rural Obesity Rates Exceeded Urban Obesity Rates From 2019 to 2024
Bar chart comparing rural and urban adult obesity rates between 2019 and 2024.
Author(s): Mariah Ehmke, Brandon J. Restrepo
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Bar chart comparing rural and urban adult obesity rates between 2019 and 2024.
Author(s): Mariah Ehmke, Brandon J. Restrepo
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Variation in Extreme Risk Protection Order Use Among Urban, Suburban, and Rural ZIP Codes in Maryland: A Descriptive Study
Analyzes the use of extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) in rural, suburban, and urban Maryland between October 2018 and June 2020. Includes rural and urban analysis of various demographic characteristics, type of threat, target of threat, type of ERPO petitioner, and court outcomes. Discusses a variety of violence types include interpersonal violence, mass shootings, and suicide as well as ERPO uptake in rural areas.
Author(s): Mia Aassar, Elise Omaki, Lisa Geller, April M. Zeoli, Shannon Frattaroli
Citation: Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 09/2025
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Analyzes the use of extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) in rural, suburban, and urban Maryland between October 2018 and June 2020. Includes rural and urban analysis of various demographic characteristics, type of threat, target of threat, type of ERPO petitioner, and court outcomes. Discusses a variety of violence types include interpersonal violence, mass shootings, and suicide as well as ERPO uptake in rural areas.
Author(s): Mia Aassar, Elise Omaki, Lisa Geller, April M. Zeoli, Shannon Frattaroli
Citation: Inquiry: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 62
Date: 09/2025
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Health Insurance Coverage in Rural and Urban Areas in the U.S., 2023
Describes the health insurance status of United States residents in 2023, with breakdowns by age groups and urban or rural location. Uses data from the 2024 American Community Survey.
Author(s): Sarah Eisenstein, Xiaoyu Huang, Timothy McBride, Keith Mueller
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Describes the health insurance status of United States residents in 2023, with breakdowns by age groups and urban or rural location. Uses data from the 2024 American Community Survey.
Author(s): Sarah Eisenstein, Xiaoyu Huang, Timothy McBride, Keith Mueller
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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U.S. Educational Attainment in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas, 2000 and 2023
Chart showing educational attainment in rural and urban areas for adults age 25 and older, using data from the Census 2000 and 2023 American Community Survey.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Chart showing educational attainment in rural and urban areas for adults age 25 and older, using data from the Census 2000 and 2023 American Community Survey.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Rural–Urban Disparities in Treatment and Disease-Specific Survival for Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of the 2000 to 2021 SEER Database
Examines rural-urban disparities in treatment and survival for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) patients, utilizing 2000-2021 SEER data of 14,940 patients. Analyzes receipt of chemotherapy, surgical treatment, and 5- and 10-year disease-specific survival. Includes multivariable analysis of the association between demographic factors, including rurality, and mortality.
Author(s): Odelia H. Moon, Mitchell A. Taylor, Omar Hamadi, Aditya Sharma, Peter Silberstein
Citation: Medical Sciences, 13(3), 158
Date: 09/2025
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Examines rural-urban disparities in treatment and survival for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) patients, utilizing 2000-2021 SEER data of 14,940 patients. Analyzes receipt of chemotherapy, surgical treatment, and 5- and 10-year disease-specific survival. Includes multivariable analysis of the association between demographic factors, including rurality, and mortality.
Author(s): Odelia H. Moon, Mitchell A. Taylor, Omar Hamadi, Aditya Sharma, Peter Silberstein
Citation: Medical Sciences, 13(3), 158
Date: 09/2025
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Rural-Urban Comparisons of Nursing Staff Turnover among Skilled Nursing Facilities
Results of a study assessing facility-level turnover rates for nursing personnel across levels of rurality and by region, using data from 14,986 facilities. Features statistics on turnover rates in 2022, with breakdowns by total nursing staff and registered nurses only, and by rural or urban areas. Also includes a county-level map showing average nursing staff turnover rates.
Author(s): Michael D. Wirth, Nick Yell, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Results of a study assessing facility-level turnover rates for nursing personnel across levels of rurality and by region, using data from 14,986 facilities. Features statistics on turnover rates in 2022, with breakdowns by total nursing staff and registered nurses only, and by rural or urban areas. Also includes a county-level map showing average nursing staff turnover rates.
Author(s): Michael D. Wirth, Nick Yell, Peiyin Hung, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Usual Source of Care Among Adults Aged 18-64 Years Post-ACA, 2010-2017
Examines self-reported usual source of care (USC) after Affordable Care Act implementation among various income groups and geographical areas. Utilizes 2010–2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to analyze USC with breakdowns according to low, middle, and high income as well as rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Sara Shahbazi, John D. Goodson
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine, 23(5), 457-459
Date: 09/2025
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Examines self-reported usual source of care (USC) after Affordable Care Act implementation among various income groups and geographical areas. Utilizes 2010–2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to analyze USC with breakdowns according to low, middle, and high income as well as rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Sara Shahbazi, John D. Goodson
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine, 23(5), 457-459
Date: 09/2025
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Fast Facts: Rates of Chronic Conditions Consistently Higher Among Adults in Rural Areas
Compares the prevalence of chronic health conditions and associated risk factors in rural and urban areas, utilizing 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Includes data on health conditions including obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and depression, among others. Includes state-by-state rural health data for select conditions.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: America's Health Rankings
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Compares the prevalence of chronic health conditions and associated risk factors in rural and urban areas, utilizing 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Includes data on health conditions including obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and depression, among others. Includes state-by-state rural health data for select conditions.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: America's Health Rankings
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Nursing Homes Failed to Report 43 Percent of Falls With Major Injury and Hospitalization among Their Medicare-Enrolled Residents
Explores the extent to which falls with major injury that resulted in hospitalization among Medicare-enrolled nursing home residents were accurately reported by nursing homes in Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments between July 2022 and June 2023. Compares the nursing home and patient characteristics associated with higher rates of unreported falls, including nursing home size, ownership structure, rurality, and overall star rating.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Explores the extent to which falls with major injury that resulted in hospitalization among Medicare-enrolled nursing home residents were accurately reported by nursing homes in Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments between July 2022 and June 2023. Compares the nursing home and patient characteristics associated with higher rates of unreported falls, including nursing home size, ownership structure, rurality, and overall star rating.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Hospital Trends in the Use, Evaluation, and Governance of Predictive AI, 2023-2024
Describes trends in the foundational use, evaluation, and governance of predictive artificial intelligence (AI) in hospitals using data from the 2023 and 2024 American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on the differences in acute care hospitals' use of predictive AI by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, independent/system affiliation, and electronic health record (EHR) vendor.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Describes trends in the foundational use, evaluation, and governance of predictive artificial intelligence (AI) in hospitals using data from the 2023 and 2024 American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) supplement. Presents data on the differences in acute care hospitals' use of predictive AI by hospital size, CAH status, rural/urban location, independent/system affiliation, and electronic health record (EHR) vendor.
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organization: Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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