Urban-Rural Classification Scheme
Rurality
| Description: | The NCHS Urban-Rural Classification Scheme is a six-level categorization system used to analyze health differences across US counties based on their level of urbanization. |
| Time Frame: | Year; 1990, 2006, 2013, and 2023 |
| Spatial Scale: | County |
| Format: | Excel and SAS |
| Source: | Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) |
| Original Repository: | All Years |
| Living Atlas: | N/A |
The classification scheme assignes every US county to one of six distinct categories, allowing for the identification and tracking of health disparities that may vary significantly between metropolitan hubs and rural towns.
The scheme is divided into two primary sections based on Office of Management and Budget (OMB) designations:
- Metropolitan Counties: These are split into four levels: Large Central, Large Fringe (suburban), Medium, and Small.
- Nonmetropolitan Counties: These are split into two levels: Micropolitan (centered around a smaller city) and Noncore (rural areas).