Volume 4, Number 6 June 2002

INSIDE THIS ISSUE E-Rate Update Rural Nebraskans Support Their Schools New Reports Provide Education Data Vermont School Choice Experiment May Negatively Affect Rural Schools and Communities Census Shows Gaps Between Rural, Urban Matters of Fact About RPM RPM Archives

Census Shows Gaps Between Rural, Urban

New U.S. Census data are showing that there is an increasing economic divide between rural and urban counties across the country. By and large, rural counties missed out on the economic boom of the '90s, a fact that is reflected in higher poverty levels and lower educational attainment levels.

In Washington state, the income gap between rural and urban counties is the widest it has been in 30 years. Lower rural incomes are not always offset by lower housing prices. Rural residents are spending a large proportion of their incomes on rent or mortgage payments.

With manufacturing businesses leaving rural areas and agriculture becoming less viable, Nebraska's rural towns are losing both population and economic clout.

Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana grew a combined 8.1% during the last decade, well below the national average of 13.2%. Forty-seven of North Dakota's 53 mostly rural counties lost population.

In Mississippi, where 16.2% of the population has a household income of less than $10,000, an increasing proportion of rural younger people are driving into Jackson for jobs.

Throughout the month of May, the U.S. Census Bureau released new information about income, education, commuting and birthplace for every state.