Who is NERHA?
The New England Rural Health Association (NERHA), previously known as the New England Rural Health Roundtable, was established in 1997, with funding from the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of rural communities throughout the six New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
What does NERHA do?
NERHA is unique as the only regional rural health association in the country, enabling sharing of learning and best practices across all six states. We have a wide variety of members across all sectors of healthcare professions, stakeholders, and the community including Rural Health Clinics, Critical Access Hospitals, community health centers, behavioral health and substance use, oral health/dental, social services, community-based organizations, academic institutions, and individuals who are passionate about rural health.
NERHA works with rural communities across New England to support healthy redevelopment, community-driven planning, and environmental health education related to brownfields and contaminated sites.
By Population Size
- Rural areas are often defined by how many people live there.
- Small towns or communities with low population
- Often fewer than 2,500–50,000 people depending on the definition used
- Fewer people spread over larger geographic areas
By Population Density
- This focuses on how spread out people are.
- Fewer people per square mile
- Homes, businesses, and services are physically farther apart
- More open land, farms, forests, or natural areas
By Distance From Urban Centers
- Rural can be defined by how far a place is from a city.
- Far from metropolitan areas
- Limited easy access to major hospitals, universities, or large job centers
- Longer travel times for basic services
Federal government definitions (U.S.) also vary by federal agencies.
U.S. Census Bureau
- Rural = everything that is not urban
- Urban = densely populated areas and surrounding high-density zones
USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
- Defines rural based on county types and population size
- Often used for funding and rural development programs
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- Defines rural areas based on health access, workforce availability, and service delivery needs
- Rural = areas designated as having limited access to healthcare services and/or experiencing provider shortages