When you think of rural America, you might often think of large farms where your nearest neighbor may be several miles away, rugged terrain where the roads are so curvy you can see your own brake lights, or it might be just sparse deserts.
Regardless of how you view rural America, I have compiled a list of seven statistics and facts about rural America into one infographic.
Population and Jobs
- Almost 1 out of 5 people in the US lives in rural America (Source: Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group)
- Less than 1 out of every 20 people who live in a rural area works in agriculture (Source: Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group)
Poverty and Income
- In 2017, the rural poverty rate was nearly equivalent to 16 out of every 100 people, whereas urban poverty was closer to 13 for every 100 people. For children, the rate was nearly 23 for every 100, which was five more than in the urban areas. (Source: Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group)
- Source: Most Rural States 2023 - World Population Review
Rural Transportation Statistics
- Nearly 7 out of 10 lane miles are in rural areas (Source: Rural Transportation Statistics)
- There are nearly 9,500 miles per 1,000 residents in rural areas. This would be like driving from Seattle to Boston on I-90, down to Teaneck, New Jersey, to catch I-80 to drive to San Francisco. Then from there, heading to Barstow, California, to catch I-40 to Wilmington, North Carolina, and then back to Enka-Candler, NC, on I-40. In contrast, it's nearly 1,100 per 100,00 in urban areas or about the length of the North and Southbound lanes of Interstate 77. (Source: Rural Transportation Statistics)
Broadband Coverage
- In a 2021 report, approximately 72 out of every 100 rural residents can access broadband internet at home. (Source: Pew Research Center)
- When broken down by geography, the lowest rates of rural broadband availability regionally are in the South. The South has the greatest divide in access to broadband between urban and rural areas.(Source: Brookings)
