Redefining Rural: What Rural Prosperity and the Geography of Newly Affluent Rural Communities Tells Us About Rural Development

The report highlights how many rural places lagged behind non-rural places on nearly every measure of economic well-being from poverty rates to labor force participation. Although much of rural America struggles with economic distress, a significant amount of prosperity does exist and in fact runs quite high in some rural communities. Bringing focus to systemic economic distress across much of rural America is important but so, too, is analyzing what rural prosperity is and where it can be found. This report shares a map which highlights counties of persistent poverty, budding prosperity, and slipping prosperity. Charts are also provided to categorize determinants such as housing vacancy rates in the tiered levels, as well as change in employment and median income ratio. Other data in highlighting prosperity levels is shared in this report.