Rural Quick Facts

Demographics

  • In 2023, nearly 3.37 million people, or about 26 percent of the state's 13.0 million residents, lived in Pennsylvania's 48 rural counties. (2023 Population Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • Over a ten-year period, from 2010 to 2020, rural Pennsylvania's population declined about 2 percent and urban Pennsylvania's population increased 2 percent. (2010 and 2020 Censuses, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • From 2000 to 2023, rural Pennsylvania's population became more racially diverse. In 2000, there were about 168,114 residents, or 5 percent of the total population, who were non-white and/or Hispanic. In 2023, 371,901 rural residents, or 11 percent of the total population, were non-white and/or Hispanic. (2023, 5-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, and 2000 Censuses, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • On average, rural Pennsylvania residents are older than urban Pennsylvania residents. In 2023, 21 percent of the rural population was 65 years old and older compared to 18 percent of the urban population. From 2010 to 2023, the number of rural seniors increased 23 percent, and the number of urban seniors increased 28 percent. (2010 and 2023, 5-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • By 2040, 56 out of 67 counties will have more people 65+ years old than people less than 20 years old. (The Pennsylvania State Data Center)
  • In 2023, about 346,799 people moved within or into rural Pennsylvania; 19 percent of these people moved into rural Pennsylvania from outside the state and 81 percent moved from the same county or from a different county within Pennsylvania. (2023, 5-Year Estimate, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • From 2010 to 2022, the number of births decreased 11 percent in rural Pennsylvania and 8 percent in urban Pennsylvania. In 2022, 47 of Pennsylvania's 48 rural counties had more deaths than births. (Pennsylvania Department of Health)
  • In 2023, approximately 92,654 rural residents were foreign-born, or 3 percent of the rural population. In urban counties, there were more than 868,593 foreign-born residents, or 9 percent of the urban population. In rural counties, 55 percent of foreign-born residents were naturalized citizens, and 45 percent were not U.S. citizens. In urban counties, 56 percent of foreign-born residents were naturalized citizens, and 44 percent were not U.S. citizens. (2023, 5-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2023, 71 percent of rural municipalities had fewer than 2,000 residents. (2023, 5-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2020, the average age of rural Pennsylvania is 42.5 and the average age in urban Pennsylvania is 40.5. In 2000, the average age in rural Pennsylvania was 38.7 and the average age in urban Pennsylvania was 40.5. (2000 and 2020 Censuses, U.S. Census Bureau)

Households and Families

  • In 2023, rural Pennsylvania had 1.36 million households: 49 percent were married-couple households, 30 percent were single-person households, 7 percent were single-parent households, and 13 percent were other types of living arrangements. (2023, 5-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • From 2000 to 2023, the number of single-person households in rural Pennsylvania increased 19 percent. In urban Pennsylvania, there was a 22 percent increase in single-person households during this period. (2023, 5-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, and 2000 Census, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2023, 25 percent of rural households had children (those under 18 years old) living in their home. In urban counties, 28 percent of households had children living in their home. From 2000 to 2023, the percent of rural households with children declined 7 percentage points, and the percent of urban households with children declined 5 percentage points. (2020 and 2023, 5-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)

Housing

  • In 2023, there were 1.61 million housing units in rural Pennsylvania. From 2010 to 2023, the number of units decreased by 6,700, or 1 percent. In urban counties, there were 4.16 million housing units. From 2010 to 2023, the number of units increased by 219,000, or 5 percent. (2010 Decennial Census and 2023, 5-Year Estimate American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2023, there were 7,601 first-time home buyers in rural Pennsylvania counties, compared with 36,714 in urban counties. (Federal Housing Finance Agency, Enterprise Public Use Database, Single-Family Properties, Census Tract File.)
  • In 2023, the homeownership rate in rural Pennsylvania was 75 percent. The urban rate was 67 percent. (2023, 5-Year Estimate, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In rural Pennsylvania, 84 percent of housing units were occupied, and 16 percent were vacant in 2023. Of the vacant units, 49 percent were for seasonal or recreational use, 18 percent were for sale or rent, and 34 percent were vacant for other reasons. (2023, 5-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2023, the average value of a rural owner-occupied housing unit was about $228,972. The average value of an urban owner-occupied unit was about $329,695. (2023, 5-Year Estimate, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2023, a rural renter paid an average monthly rent of $980, and an urban renter paid an average of $1,349 a month. (2023, 5-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2023, 44 percent of rural renters paid 30 percent or more of their income for rent. According to the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, housing is not considered affordable if renters pay 30 percent or more of their income on housing costs. Among urban renters, about 48 percent paid 30 percent or more of their income for rent. (2023, 5-Year Estimate, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2023, 12 percent of rural households and 8 percent of urban households did not have internet access. (2023, 5-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)

Income

  • The average household income in rural Pennsylvania was $87,256 in 2023. Among rural households, about 38 percent had incomes below $50,000 and 31 percent had incomes of $100,000 or more. In urban Pennsylvania, the average household income was $111,144; 32 percent had income below $50,000 and 40 percent had income of $100,000 or more. (2023, 5-Year Estimates, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2023, per capita personal income in rural Pennsylvania counties was $56,478, or $16,831 less than the urban per capita personal income of $73,309. (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
  • In 2023, 43 percent of total personal income in rural Pennsylvania came from unearned sources, such as interest, dividends, and rent, and from government transfer payments, like Social Security and unemployment compensation. In urban counties, these unearned income sources accounted for 39 percent of total personal income. (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
  • In 2023, the rural poverty rate was 12 percent, and the urban rate was 11.4 percent. (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2024, 15 percent of rural residents were enrolled in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), 0.3 percent received cash assistance from programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and about 22 percent were enrolled in Medicaid (Medical Assistance). (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services)
  • In 2023, 3,053 rural individuals and businesses filed for federal bankruptcy. In urban Pennsylvania, there were 7,955 filings. (U.S. Courts)

Businesses and Employment

  • In the second quarter of 2024, rural Pennsylvania had an average of 82,794 employers. In urban counties, there were 252,473 employers. (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry)
  • In the second quarter of 2024, 1.18 million people, on average, were employed in rural Pennsylvania. In urban counties, 4.5 million people, on average, were employed. (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry)
  • For 2023, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania estimated that the average rural unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, and the urban rate was 3.3 percent. (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry)
  • In 2023, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of rural Pennsylvania was $150.9 billion, or $44,688 per capita. The GDP for urban Pennsylvania was $648.3 billion, or $67,456 per capita. (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)
  • In 2022, Pennsylvania's 49,053 farms generated over $10.3 billion in commodity sales. By comparison, in 2017, the state had 53,157 farms, which sold more than $7.8 billion in commodities. (2017 and 2022 Census of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service)

Health Care

  • The number of PCPs in rural PA is not enough to adequately serve the entire rural population. Rural counties have fewer physicians than urban counties. In 2021, there was one rural primary care physician for every 522 residents. In urban counties, there was one primary care physician for every 222 residents. (U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration)
  • Average PCP Yearly Panel Size can range from 1,500 to 2,000. However, it is often stated an average PCP panel size should be 2,500. At a panel size of 2,500, a physician would have to work 21.7 hours per day to provide proper care to each patient. Even at a panel size of 2,000, the number of PCPs in Rural PA (2021) could not adequately serve the entire rural population. (American Association for Physical Leadership, Delaware Journal of Public Health, and U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration)
  • Along with fewer physicians, rural counties also have fewer dentists. In 2022, there was one practicing dentist for every 2,001 residents. In urban counties, there was one dentist for every 1,267 residents. (U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration)
  • In 2024, there are 23 rural areas that are a designated Health Professional Shortage Area for Primary Care. (U.S. Health Resources & Service Administration)
  • In 2023, there were 61 general acute care hospitals, with a total of 7,326 licensed beds, in rural Pennsylvania. Ten rural counties do not have a general acute care hospital. On average, there were 2.18 hospital beds for every 1,000 rural residents. There were 2.78 hospital beds for every 1,000 urban residents. (Pennsylvania Department of Health)
  • Only about half of the rural general acute care hospitals have more services than just general surgery and emergency care. (Pennsylvania Department of Health)
  • There are only 19 hospitals in rural PA with designated trauma centers. Most rural trauma centers are Level IV. Only 4 trauma centers are designated Adult Level I. (Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation)
  • In 2022, 17 percent of Pennsylvania's live more than 20 minutes away from a hospital. (Pennsylvania Department of Health)
  • For FY 2022, over half of the hospitals in PA had negative net profits. (Pennsylvania Health Cost Containment Council)
  • In 2022, 27 percent of rural PA lives in a Pharmacy Desert. (Pennsylvania Department of Health and 2022 Population Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2022, 5 rural counties are in Maternity Care Deserts. (March of Dimes)
  • In 2020 - 2022, infant mortality rate is 5.8 (for every 1,000 live births) for rural counties and 5.5 (for every 1,000 live births) for urban counties. (Pennsylvania Department of Health)
  • Since 2019, there has been more deaths than births in Pennsylvania. Rural PA has had more deaths than births since 2000. (Pennsylvania Department of Health)
  • In 2023, an estimated 7.4 percent of rural residents under 65 years old did not have health care insurance, compared with 6.5 percent of urban Pennsylvanians. (2023, 5-Year Estimate, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2023, 11.9 percent of people in rural PA live below the poverty level. (2023, 5-Year Estimate, American Community Survey, U.S Census Bureau)
  • In 2021, 37.7 percent of adults in rural PA were obese. (County Health Rankings, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System)
  • In 2021, 20.2 percent of adults in rural PA smoke. (County Health Rankings, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System)
  • Cancer incidents from 2017 to 2021 have decreased in rural PA by 1.4 percent. (Pennsylvania Department of Health)

Education

  • In 2023, 25 percent of rural Pennsylvanians who were 25 years old and older had a bachelor's degree or higher compared to 38 percent of urban Pennsylvanians of the same age. About 8 percent of rural and urban adults did not have a high school diploma. (2023, 5-Year Estimate, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In the 2023-2024 academic year, an estimated 368,568 students were enrolled in Pennsylvania's 238 rural school districts. From 2014 to 2024, the number of rural students decreased almost 10 percent. In urban districts there were 1.14 million students enrolled in Pennsylvania's 262 urban school districts. From 2014 to 2024, there was a 3 percent decline in enrollment. (Pennsylvania Department of Education)
  • Enrollment projections by the Pennsylvania Department of Education show enrollment continuing to decline for the next 10 years. From the 2023-24 to the 2033-34 academic years, rural school district enrollment is projected to decline 8 percent, and urban district enrollment is projected to decline 6 percent. (Pennsylvania Department of Education)
  • In 2023, 87 percent of rural Pennsylvania's K-12 grade students were enrolled in public schools, and 13 percent were enrolled in private schools. Among urban K-12 grade students, 84 percent were enrolled in public schools and 16 percent were enrolled in private schools. (2023, 5-Year Estimate, American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau)
  • In 2022-2023, 46 percent of rural school district revenues came from state government, 46 percent came from local sources, such as taxes, and the remaining 8 percent came from the federal government and other sources. Among urban school districts, 34 percent of revenues came from the state, 59 percent came from local sources, and the remaining 7 percent came from the federal government and other sources. (Pennsylvania Department of Education)
  • In 2022-2023, rural school districts spent an average of $21,365 per student. Urban school districts spent an average of $24,642 per student. (Pennsylvania Department of Education)
  • In 2022-2023, the rural graduation rate was 92 percent, and the urban graduation rate was 88 percent. (Pennsylvania Department of Education)
  • In rural Pennsylvania, in 2023, there were 50 degree-granting institutions (colleges and universities) and 36 non-degree granting institutions (trade and technical schools). In urban Pennsylvania, there were 161 degree-granting institutions and 72 non-degree granting institutions. (Note: This number may not include all branch campuses. [Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), National Center for Education Statistics])