Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
The Role of Rurality and Area-Level Disadvantage in Lifestyle Risk Factors and Psychological Well-Being among Cancer Survivors: Findings from the 2021 NCI HINTS-SEER
Examines how rurality and area-level disadvantage are associated with obesity, smoking, and depression or anxiety among cancer survivors, using 2021 HINTS-SEER data. Compares the roles of area-level and individual factors in influencing cancer survivorship outcomes in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Anita M. Kumar, Carrie A. Miller, Reyna Han, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 125
Date: 07/2026
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Examines how rurality and area-level disadvantage are associated with obesity, smoking, and depression or anxiety among cancer survivors, using 2021 HINTS-SEER data. Compares the roles of area-level and individual factors in influencing cancer survivorship outcomes in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Anita M. Kumar, Carrie A. Miller, Reyna Han, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 125
Date: 07/2026
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Mapping Social Vulnerability and Proximity to Pharmacies in Minnesota, 2009–2024
Analyzes the relationship between pharmacy deserts and social vulnerability across Minnesota. Utilizes Minnesota Board of Pharmacy and geocoded data to examine the relationship among social vulnerability, access to pharmacy, and urban, metro, or nonmetro location. Includes census-tract level Minnesota map showing social vulnerability and access to pharmacies.
Author(s): Emma Goldner, Emily Styles, Lindsay Sorge, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Analyzes the relationship between pharmacy deserts and social vulnerability across Minnesota. Utilizes Minnesota Board of Pharmacy and geocoded data to examine the relationship among social vulnerability, access to pharmacy, and urban, metro, or nonmetro location. Includes census-tract level Minnesota map showing social vulnerability and access to pharmacies.
Author(s): Emma Goldner, Emily Styles, Lindsay Sorge, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Access to WIC-Authorized Vendors and High-Speed Internet Services in Urban and Rural Areas
Examines the availability internet services across geographies that enable Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) eligible families to access online WIC shopping options. Utilizes data from 38,279 WIC-authorized vendors during fiscal years 2020-2022 and provides U.S. maps showing census tract-level access to WIC-authorized vendors, access to WIC-authorized vendors and fixed high-speed internet, and access to WIC-authorized vendors and 5G mobile high-speed internet. Includes rural versus urban census tract comparisons of adequate internet access and distance to nearest WIC-authorized vendor.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Leslie Hodges, John Pender, David Marquardt, Anna Shetler, Joanne Guthrie
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines the availability internet services across geographies that enable Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) eligible families to access online WIC shopping options. Utilizes data from 38,279 WIC-authorized vendors during fiscal years 2020-2022 and provides U.S. maps showing census tract-level access to WIC-authorized vendors, access to WIC-authorized vendors and fixed high-speed internet, and access to WIC-authorized vendors and 5G mobile high-speed internet. Includes rural versus urban census tract comparisons of adequate internet access and distance to nearest WIC-authorized vendor.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Leslie Hodges, John Pender, David Marquardt, Anna Shetler, Joanne Guthrie
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Demographic Characteristics of Medicaid Beneficiaries Enrolled in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
Describes the demographic characteristics and long-term nursing facility use of Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) enrollees in 2023, including rural residence. Compares data by PACE enrollees who are full-benefit dually eligible beneficiaries and those who are Medicaid-only enrollees.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Describes the demographic characteristics and long-term nursing facility use of Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) enrollees in 2023, including rural residence. Compares data by PACE enrollees who are full-benefit dually eligible beneficiaries and those who are Medicaid-only enrollees.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Survivability in Patients with Rare Sigmoid Colon Adenocarcinoma Variants: Exploring the Influence of Rural–Urban Continuum Codes and Social Determinants of Health in the USA
Examines survival rates of patients with rare sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma across geographic and income variables. Utilizes SEER data from 93,020 patients and includes rural versus urban breakdowns according to demographics, cancer characteristics, mortality, and median household income. Discusses impacts of rurality and socioeconomics on survivability.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Rodney Rocconi, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 123
Date: 07/2026
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Examines survival rates of patients with rare sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma across geographic and income variables. Utilizes SEER data from 93,020 patients and includes rural versus urban breakdowns according to demographics, cancer characteristics, mortality, and median household income. Discusses impacts of rurality and socioeconomics on survivability.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Rodney Rocconi, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 123
Date: 07/2026
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Food Banks in the United States: Systems, USDA Programs, and Participation
Provides information on charitable food assistance systems in the United States and the households that utilize them. Includes data on food pantry programs, services, and participation, including use and knowledge of food pantries in metro versus nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Laura J. Hales, Anne T. Byrne, Laura Tiehen, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Provides information on charitable food assistance systems in the United States and the households that utilize them. Includes data on food pantry programs, services, and participation, including use and knowledge of food pantries in metro versus nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Laura J. Hales, Anne T. Byrne, Laura Tiehen, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Early Estimates of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities and Fatality Rate by Sub-Categories in 2025
Presents projections of traffic fatalities and the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2025. Includes data for rural versus urban roads, among other measures. Compares 2024 fatality data to 2025 rates by month for a number of indicators, including rural areas.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Presents projections of traffic fatalities and the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2025. Includes data for rural versus urban roads, among other measures. Compares 2024 fatality data to 2025 rates by month for a number of indicators, including rural areas.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2024 Data: Speeding
Contains information on speeding-related and non-speeding-related fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Features statistics on rates of injury and death, sex and age group of speeding drivers, previous 5-year driving records of speeding drivers, alcohol involvement, time of day and weekday or weekend, roadway surface condition, and roadway function class, with breakdowns including interstate rural and non-interstate rural.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Contains information on speeding-related and non-speeding-related fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Features statistics on rates of injury and death, sex and age group of speeding drivers, previous 5-year driving records of speeding drivers, alcohol involvement, time of day and weekday or weekend, roadway surface condition, and roadway function class, with breakdowns including interstate rural and non-interstate rural.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2024 Data: Motorcycles
National data on fatal and nonfatal traffic crashes involving two- and three-wheeled motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, mini bikes, and pocket bikes. Features statistics from 2015-2024 with breakdowns including fatality and injury rates, age group and day of the week, engine size, speeding involvement, previous driving record of driver, alcohol-impaired driver fatality rate, blood alcohol concentrations of riders, helmet use and state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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National data on fatal and nonfatal traffic crashes involving two- and three-wheeled motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, mini bikes, and pocket bikes. Features statistics from 2015-2024 with breakdowns including fatality and injury rates, age group and day of the week, engine size, speeding involvement, previous driving record of driver, alcohol-impaired driver fatality rate, blood alcohol concentrations of riders, helmet use and state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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The Effect of Rural Versus Urban Residence on Risk of Unplanned Readmission and Death in Older Veterans Discharged From VA Hospitals
Examines the relationship among geography, readmission, and mortality rates of older veterans discharged from hospital to home. Examines 2023 readmission rates of 99,557 veterans discharged from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals with data broken down according to sociodemographics, admission characteristics, health status, drive time to nearest VA facility, mortality, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Joanne K. Daggy, Anthony J. Perkins, Katie Ross-Driscoll, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70183
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the relationship among geography, readmission, and mortality rates of older veterans discharged from hospital to home. Examines 2023 readmission rates of 99,557 veterans discharged from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals with data broken down according to sociodemographics, admission characteristics, health status, drive time to nearest VA facility, mortality, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Joanne K. Daggy, Anthony J. Perkins, Katie Ross-Driscoll, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70183
Date: 07/2026
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