Disability Rates Higher in Rural Areas Than Urban Areas
Where people live may impact their ability to access health care services and for those with disabilities or who require specialized care that entails more frequent attention and medical visits, location can play an even more significant role.
It is important to understand how regional and urban/rural differences in disability contribute to the unique challenge of addressing health disparities in the United States. Identifying where people with disabilities are concentrated can help inform where there may be shortages of specialized providers or limited transportation options.
Examining disability rates across geography reveals notable differences between urban and rural areas, and regions.
In 2021, nearly 42.5 million people (13%) among the civilian noninstitutionalized population in the United States had a disability, according to the American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates.
Continue reading to learn more about:
Urban/rural differences in disability
Regional differences in disability
Age differences in disability
Regional differences in rurality and disability
Urban/rural disability divide within regions