Rural population by state

Four states with a rural majority

Only four states had more rural than urban residents in 2020: Vermont (64.9%), Maine (61.4%), West Virginia (55.4%) and Mississippi (53.7%). Everywhere else, including DC, most people lived in urban areas. The next state, Montana, is at 46.6%, followed by Arkansas (44.5%) and South Dakota (42.8%¹).

Vermont64.9%

Maine61.4%

West Virginia55.4%

Mississippi53.7%

Montana46.6%

Arkansas44.5%

South Dakota42.8%

Alabama42.3%

New Hampshire41.7%

Kentucky41.3%

North Dakota39.0%

Wyoming38.0%

Source: Census Bureau, 2020 Census urban and rural population by state. Period: April 1, 2020.

Show the numbers

State	Rural population (%)
Vermont	64.9%
Maine	61.4%
West Virginia	55.4%
Mississippi	53.7%
Montana	46.6%
Arkansas	44.5%
South Dakota	42.8%
Alabama	42.3%
New Hampshire	41.7%
Kentucky	41.3%
North Dakota	39.0%
Wyoming	38.0%

Two are in northern New England and two in the South. Vermont is the highest in the nation and higher than every bordering state (Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York), though its population is small (645,000³ on July 1, 2025). West Virginia is higher than every bordering state (Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia), and Mississippi is higher than every bordering state (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee)¹.

Why the typical state is more rural than the nation

The median state has a rural share of 27.0%, well above the national 20.0%. 32 of the 51 are above the national figure and only 19¹ below it. The reason is where the people are: the national share counts residents, not states, and the most populous states are among the least rural.

North Carolina33.3%

Michigan26.5%

Georgia25.9%

Ohio23.7%

Pennsylvania23.6%

United States20.0%

Texas16.3%

Illinois13.1%

New York12.6%

Florida8.5%

California5.8%

Source: Census Bureau, 2020 Census urban and rural population by state. Period: April 1, 2020.

Show the numbers

State	Rural population (%)
North Carolina	33.3%
Michigan	26.5%
Georgia	25.9%
Ohio	23.7%
Pennsylvania	23.6%
United States	20.0%
Texas	16.3%
Illinois	13.1%
New York	12.6%
Florida	8.5%
California	5.8%

California, the largest state, is 2nd lowest (5.8%). Florida (8.5%), New York (12.6%), Illinois (13.1%) and Texas (16.3%) are all below the national share. Of the ten most populous states, North Carolina is the most rural, at 33.3% (17th highest), with Michigan (26.5%) and Georgia³ (25.9%¹) next.

Rural New England, urban Southwest

• Northeast. The region spans almost the whole scale. Vermont (64.9%), Maine and New Hampshire (41.7%) are all in the top ten; New Jersey (6.2%), Massachusetts (8.7%) and Rhode Island (8.9%) are among the seven least rural. Connecticut (13.8%) is higher than every bordering state (Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island).
• South. West Virginia leads, and four more Southern states are in the top ten: Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama (42.3%) and Kentucky (41.3%). Oklahoma (35.4%) is 14th highest. Florida (8.5%) and Maryland (14.4%) are at the other end, and Texas is lower than every bordering state (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma).
• Midwest. The range is the narrowest of the four regions: from South Dakota (42.8%) to Illinois (13.1%), which is lower than every bordering state (Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin). North Dakota (39.0%) and Iowa (36.9%) are the next most rural.
• West. Montana (46.6%) is higher than every bordering state (Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming). Wyoming (38.0%), Alaska (35.1%) and Idaho (30.8%) follow. At the other end, California, Nevada, Utah (10.2%) and Arizona (10.7%¹) are all in the bottom nine.

Sparse land, rural people: not the same ranking

A large, thinly settled state is not necessarily a rural one. The rural share counts where residents live; density spreads them over all the land. Alaska, the least densely populated state, is only the 15th highest by rural share, because most Alaskans (64.9%) live in urban areas. In the other direction, New Hampshire is the 9th highest state by rural share and still the 22nd most densely populated by density, 63% above the US figure (96.7 people per square mile). Kentucky (10th highest¹ by rural share) has 116.7 people per square mile, 21% above the US figure (96.7 people per square mile)².

For how much land each resident has, see the population density ranking and the land area ranking.

What counts as rural

The Census Bureau defines an urban area as a densely settled core of census blocks that meets minimum housing or population density requirements and contains at least a set minimum number of housing units or residents. Rural is everything else: all population, housing and territory outside urban areas. Points to keep in mind when you use these figures:

• April 1, 2020 is the latest date. The classification comes from the decennial census, so these shares do not change with the annual estimates. The density column uses the July 1, 2025 estimate, which is why its date differs.
• Do not compare with 2010. The Census Bureau changed its urban area criteria for 2020, and some places that were urban in 2010 were classified as rural in 2020, so a change between the two censuses partly reflects the new rules rather than movement of people.
• Rural is not farm. The classification describes where people live, by settlement density. It says nothing about land use or the work residents do.
• Nonmetro is a different measure. The USDA Economic Research Service and others often use nonmetropolitan counties, a county-based definition. Most counties contain both urban and rural residents, so state figures on that basis do not match the ones here.
• Shares, not counts. This ranking compares states by share. A large state with a low share can still have more rural residents than a small state with a high one; the Census Bureau's urban and rural tables give the counts. This site covers states only, not counties or towns.