United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service (ERS/USDA) Rural-Urban Continuum Codes
| Categories | Demographics & Population, Geography, Healthcare Access & Infrastructure |
|---|---|
| Detail | Urban/rural classification, population |
| Download Available | Yes |
| Geographies | County |
| Last Updated on PolicyMap | March 2026 |
| Public Edition or Subscriber-only | Public Edition |
| Source | U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service |
| Years Available | 2023 |
Description:
The 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes distinguish U.S. metropolitan (metro) counties by the population size of their metro area, and nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) counties by their degree of urbanization and adjacency to a metro area. The division of counties as either metro or nonmetro, based on the 2023 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) delineation of metro areas, is further subdivided into three metro and six nonmetro categories. Each county and census-designated county-equivalent in the United States, including those in outlying territories, is assigned one of these nine codes. The codes allow researchers, policy makers, and others to view county-level data by finer residential groups– beyond metro and nonmetro– when analyzing trends related to population density and metro influence.