Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
The Congenital Heart Initiative: Redefining Outcomes and Navigation to Adult-Centered Care (CHI-RON) Study
Reports on clinical and demographic gaps in adult congenital heart disease (CHD) care and the impact of care gaps on patient outcomes via a CHD surveillance system using patient-reported outcome, electronic health record, and administrative claims data. Includes data on mortality risk by level of rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Anitha John, Lindsey Rudov, Rittal Mehta, et al.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
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Reports on clinical and demographic gaps in adult congenital heart disease (CHD) care and the impact of care gaps on patient outcomes via a CHD surveillance system using patient-reported outcome, electronic health record, and administrative claims data. Includes data on mortality risk by level of rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Anitha John, Lindsey Rudov, Rittal Mehta, et al.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
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Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce Loan Repayment Programs Report
Analysis of the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce's service-cancelable loan repayment programs for physicians, dentists, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, behavioral health providers, and nurse faculty. Features statistics on award recipients with breakdowns by provider type in rural counties as of 2025, including by count and percentage.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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Analysis of the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce's service-cancelable loan repayment programs for physicians, dentists, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, behavioral health providers, and nurse faculty. Features statistics on award recipients with breakdowns by provider type in rural counties as of 2025, including by count and percentage.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce
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America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2026
Presents 56 measures of health and well-being from 25 data sources, to provide a picture of older adult health across the country, with comparisons by metro and nonmetro areas. Features insights on factors that shape the health of older adults in rural areas, and includes a state-level map with shadings showing ranges of rural population age 65 and older as of 2024.
Additional links: Executive Brief, Risk of Isolation County-Level Maps, State Summaries
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Presents 56 measures of health and well-being from 25 data sources, to provide a picture of older adult health across the country, with comparisons by metro and nonmetro areas. Features insights on factors that shape the health of older adults in rural areas, and includes a state-level map with shadings showing ranges of rural population age 65 and older as of 2024.
Additional links: Executive Brief, Risk of Isolation County-Level Maps, State Summaries
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Working on Wellness: The Rural Health and Employment Link
Examines the relationship between rural population health outcomes and employment security. Provides data on labor force participation, life expectancy, unhealthy days, and disability rates across the rural-urban continuum. Discusses metro versus nonmetro differences in workplace hazards and physical exertion.
Author(s): Surekha Carpenter, Bethany Greene, Stephanie Norris
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
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Examines the relationship between rural population health outcomes and employment security. Provides data on labor force participation, life expectancy, unhealthy days, and disability rates across the rural-urban continuum. Discusses metro versus nonmetro differences in workplace hazards and physical exertion.
Author(s): Surekha Carpenter, Bethany Greene, Stephanie Norris
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
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Annual Disability Statistics Compendium 2026
Presents statistics on Americans with disabilities across key social and economic indicators derived from American Community Survey (ACS) data, including employment, educational attainment, health and healthcare, and more. Section 10 presents data on people with disabilities in rural areas, and compares the prevalence of disability, demographic characteristics, employment status, income, and insurance coverage status across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Research on Disability, Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
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Presents statistics on Americans with disabilities across key social and economic indicators derived from American Community Survey (ACS) data, including employment, educational attainment, health and healthcare, and more. Section 10 presents data on people with disabilities in rural areas, and compares the prevalence of disability, demographic characteristics, employment status, income, and insurance coverage status across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Research on Disability, Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
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America's Rental Housing 2026
Report details rental housing access across the country. Describes the supply and demand of rental housing, as well as the cost of renting for various income earners. Compares data on the types of housing available to rent and affordability in urban, suburban, and nonmetropolitan communities.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
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Report details rental housing access across the country. Describes the supply and demand of rental housing, as well as the cost of renting for various income earners. Compares data on the types of housing available to rent and affordability in urban, suburban, and nonmetropolitan communities.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
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Minnesota's Hospital Nursing Workforce: A Study on Turnover and Exits among Minnesota's Hospital-Based Nurses
Provides an overview of the nursing profession in Minnesota, focusing on workforce supply, employment characteristics, nurse retention, and strategies to improve job satisfaction. Includes comparisons of job satisfaction of nurses in rural versus urban settings.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Provides an overview of the nursing profession in Minnesota, focusing on workforce supply, employment characteristics, nurse retention, and strategies to improve job satisfaction. Includes comparisons of job satisfaction of nurses in rural versus urban settings.
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Fast Facts on U.S. Hospitals, 2026
Offers resources highlighting data from the 2024 American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey. Provides data on the number of hospitals by type, ownership, system-affiliated versus independent, and rural versus urban location. Includes an interactive map of community hospitals in the United States.
Additional links: Infographics from Fast Facts on U.S. Hospitals, 2026
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Offers resources highlighting data from the 2024 American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey. Provides data on the number of hospitals by type, ownership, system-affiliated versus independent, and rural versus urban location. Includes an interactive map of community hospitals in the United States.
Additional links: Infographics from Fast Facts on U.S. Hospitals, 2026
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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2023-2024 Wisconsin Nursing Education and Nurse Faculty Survey Report
Contains responses from nursing school administrators on the characteristics of each program, student and faculty demographics, and elements including faculty education levels, salaries, vacancy rates, interprofessional education, and simulation. Includes statistics on nurses in rural areas.
Author(s): Gail Hanson Brenner, Linda K. Young, Mohammad Alasagheirin, Jan Adams, Stacey Stephens
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire School of Nursing, Wisconsin Center for Nursing
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Contains responses from nursing school administrators on the characteristics of each program, student and faculty demographics, and elements including faculty education levels, salaries, vacancy rates, interprofessional education, and simulation. Includes statistics on nurses in rural areas.
Author(s): Gail Hanson Brenner, Linda K. Young, Mohammad Alasagheirin, Jan Adams, Stacey Stephens
Date: 12/2025
Sponsoring organizations: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire School of Nursing, Wisconsin Center for Nursing
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Geographic Access to Dental Specialists in the United States
Examines how drive times to dental specialist services vary by rural or urban dwelling, using 2023 IQVIA dental specialist workforce data. See Supplemental Online Content for bar charts showing state-by-state variation in rural and urban drive times to care by specialty.
Additional links: Supplemental Online Content
Author(s): Md Shahinoor Rahman, Ashley Martinez, Hawazin W. Elani
Citation: Journal of Dental Research, 105(7), 875-882
Date: 12/2025
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Examines how drive times to dental specialist services vary by rural or urban dwelling, using 2023 IQVIA dental specialist workforce data. See Supplemental Online Content for bar charts showing state-by-state variation in rural and urban drive times to care by specialty.
Additional links: Supplemental Online Content
Author(s): Md Shahinoor Rahman, Ashley Martinez, Hawazin W. Elani
Citation: Journal of Dental Research, 105(7), 875-882
Date: 12/2025
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