Table 1.
Examples of commonly used definitions of rural employed by federal institutions.
| Defining Federal Institution | Measure(s) | Categorizations | Designation |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Census Bureau (2016) | Population density | Urbanized Areas (UAs): 50,000 or more people | Urban |
| Urban Clusters (UCs): 2500 - 49,999 people | Urban | ||
| Areas outside of UAs or UCs | Rural | ||
| Office of Management and Budget (2010) | Population density | Metro area: urban core of 50,000 or more people | Urban |
| Micro area: urban core of 10,000–49,999 people | Rural | ||
| Counties outside of Metro or Micro areas | Rural | ||
| U.S. Department of Agriculture (2023) | Population density | Metropolitan cores: Rural-Urban Community Area (RUCA) codes 1-3 | Urban |
| Urbanization | Micropolitan and small town cores: RUCA codes 5-9 | Urban | |
| Daily commuting | Rural areas: RUCA code 10 | Rural |