What is ruca?

RUCA stands for Rural-Urban Commuting Area codes. These are United States Census Bureau classifications that categorize census tracts based on population density, urbanization, and commuting patterns. They provide a more nuanced view of rurality and urbanity than simple urban/rural designations.

The system uses a hierarchical structure. Primary RUCA codes distinguish urbanized areas, urban clusters, and rural areas based on population density and size. Secondary RUCA codes further classify these primary categories based on the degree of integration with urban centers as measured by commuting patterns. Specifically, the codes indicate whether a tract is mostly urban, mostly rural, completely rural, or integrates with a larger urban area.

RUCA codes are useful for a variety of purposes, including:

• Research: Examining the relationship between rurality/urbanity and various social, economic, and health outcomes.
• Policy Making: Informing resource allocation and targeting interventions based on the specific needs of different types of communities.
• Planning: Guiding infrastructure development and land use planning in rural and urban areas.

You can find information on topics such as: population density, urbanization, and commuting patterns. The United States Census Bureau is the primary source for data and documentation on RUCA codes.