Urban vs Suburban vs Rural Population (1950–2020)
Over the past 70 years, America has transformed from a predominantly rural society into a suburban nation. The suburban share of the population has grown from 29% in 1950 to 50% in 2020, while the urban share has declined from 35% to 21%. The rural population has held relatively steady but shrunk from 36% to 29% as younger generations moved to cities and suburbs for jobs and education.
Data
| # | Year | Urban (%) | Suburban (%) | Rural (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1950 | 35 | 29 | 36 |
| 2 | 1960 | 32 | 35 | 33 |
| 3 | 1970 | 29 | 38 | 33 |
| 4 | 1980 | 26 | 42 | 32 |
| 5 | 1990 | 25 | 46 | 29 |
| 6 | 2000 | 24 | 48 | 28 |
| 7 | 2010 | 22 | 49 | 29 |
| 8 | 2020 | 21 | 50 | 29 |
Note: The U.S. Is a Suburban Nation With Slowly Growing Cities and Shrinking Rural Areas
Where Americans Actually Live
Contrary to the popular image, most Americans do not live in big cities or on farms. They live in suburbs. Roughly half the population lives in suburban areas around cities, while central cities hold a bit over a quarter and rural areas closer to a fifth. That has been the shape of the country for decades. The U.S. became majority suburban in the postwar years and has stayed that way ever since, even as the details keep shifting.
Cities Are Growing Again
Big cities spent much of the 20th century losing people to the suburbs, but that reversed in recent decades. Downtowns filled back in, young professionals moved to cities for jobs and nightlife, and many large metros gained population right along with their suburbs. The pandemic dented the trend with a wave of departures, but most cities resumed growing. Still, city growth is not what it looks like on a map, since city boundaries often cover a fraction of the metro population.
Suburbs Keep Absorbing the Growth
Even as cities recovered, suburbs absorbed most of the country's net population increase. The fastest-growing places in many metros are now outer suburbs and exurbs, the far-flung developments at the metro edge. Families move out for bigger lots, better schools, and newer housing. Remote work gave a fresh boost by letting people live far from the office. The suburban share keeps climbing, and the newest suburbs are often denser than the classic postwar ones.
Rural America Is Shrinking
Rural areas present the opposite picture. Most rural counties lose population in most years, and many have been draining people for generations. Young people leave for education and jobs, and the ones left behind are older. Some rural counties grow, particularly scenic ones that attract retirees or recreation, and a few boom on energy or tourism. But the overall rural trend is decline, and the rural share of the population keeps falling.
Why the Mix Matters
The urban-suburban-rural split shapes almost everything about the country. It decides where jobs, transit, and housing policy are needed, and it drives national politics, since the three groups vote very differently. It also affects the census: the definitions of urban and rural are revised periodically, and each revision moves millions of people between categories. A state chart of these shares shows which parts of the country are densifying and which are emptying out.
Fun Facts
- Suburban residents make up roughly half of the U.S. population.
- The U.S. became a majority suburban country in the post-World War II housing boom.
- Most rural counties in the U.S. lose population in most decades.
- Sun Belt suburbs, especially around Texas and Florida metros, have been the biggest growth engines in the country.
- The census changed its urban definitions in 2020, moving millions of people into the rural count in one stroke.
- Young adults move to cities, then often decamp to suburbs when they have children.
- Retirees drive much of the growth in scenic rural counties with warmer weather.