|
Median cash family income in both rural and urban areas declined slightly between
2000 and 2001, reflecting, in part, the recession of 2001. After adjusting
for inflation, rural families experienced a 2 percent decline in income,
while urban family income declined 1 percent. Rural median family income,
at $41,012, remains well below urban family income of $54,657.
| Family income by residence, 1995-2001 |
 |
| |
Nonmetro |
 |
Metro |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Year |
Median family
income |
Real change from
previous year |
 |
Median family
income |
Real change from
previous year |
 |
| |
---------------------------------2001
dollars------------------------------------- |
| 2001 |
41,012 |
-817 |
 |
|
54,657 |
-546 |
 |
| 2000 |
41,829 |
-219 |
|
|
55,203 |
1,315 |
|
| 1999 |
42,048 |
1,369 |
|
|
53,888 |
1,361 |
|
| 1998 |
40,679 |
1,992 |
|
|
52,527 |
1,702 |
|
| 1997 |
38,687 |
1,765 |
|
|
50,825 |
1,513 |
|
| 1996 |
36,922 |
41 |
|
|
49,312 |
1,146 |
|
| 1995 |
36,881 |
NA |
|
|
48,166 |
NA |
|
 |
| NA = not applicable. |
| Source: Calculated by ERS using data from the March
Current Population Surveys, 1996-2002. |

Looking at per capita income that includes cash income sources and the cash
value of in-kind public assistance benefits, such as food stamps and medical
services, residents of micropolitan
and noncore nonmetro areas also have lower income than metro residents do.
In 2001, per capita income in metro areas ($32,077) far exceeded per capita
income in micro ($23,338) and noncore ($21,005) areas. Among nonmetro counties,
per capita income is generally higher in micro and noncore areas of northern
States than in those areas of southern States.
|