Household Expenditures Rural households accounted for about 12.4 percent of total U.S. consumer units in 1997-8, but this percentage varies greatly by region of the country. Data sources did not keep exactly the same expenditure categories, therefore, some liberty has been taken for the sake of comparison. For more precise budget category information, consult the original source. Figures based on household and personal expense records. Although farm and ranch family living levels have risen over the past decade, important differences exist among urban, rural and farm households and their expenditures.
Urban consumers pay a greater proportion of their income in taxes.
Urban households have slightly fewer members and are headed by persons considerably younger than their rural counterparts. Rural consumers own more vehicles and are more likely to own their own homes. In 1998 urban households spent a higher portion of their incomes on education and housing. Rural consumers had significantly higher expenditures for food, transportation and health care. Only 1.9 percent of U.S. households are considered rural, while 3.9 percent of households in the Midwest are rural.