JSR

Moving to a rural area with a lower cost of living (COL) is tempting, especially if telecommuting is possible and entertainment and educational opportunities are nearby. Yet, there are challenges in building cooperative, sustainable relationships between new migrants, existing residents, and local governments that balance environmental, economic, and social objectives. There are 1105 100% rural counties in the United States, and we focus on those with the lowest COL (n = 111, or 10%). The vast majority are located in the South and Midwest, and they have notably fewer community services, lower socioeconomic status, and poorer health outcomes than all other U.S. rural counties. The 111 U.S. counties with the lowest COL demonstrated significant variation. At one pole were extremely distressed locales classified as being in persistent poverty for three decades or more. On the other end were those with better services, a higher socioeconomic status, and some evidence of cooperation and gentrification. The consequences of substantial growth in rural areas could include displacement for existing residents, who may face competition for properties, changes in local environments and politics, and potential conflict between new and long-term residents. Americans considering a move to a low-cost-of-living rural area need to look beyond real estate values and ads from the moving industry to consider the trade-offs they are willing to make in terms of economic, health, public, social, and other services. Their due diligence about their objectives and what the locations offer is essential. Rural governments and businesses need trustworthy information about residents migrating to their area so they can weigh the advantages and disadvantages their plans may have for different stakeholders.

cost of living; cooperation; gentrification; relocation; rural counties; sustainability; United States