Disability and Region – Disability in America Series

The maps and charts below explore the American Community Survey 5-year data (Table S1810) on disability estimates by county type (OMB county classifications) and US Census Regions and Divisions. The ACS asks a set of disability indicator questions to determine disability. If a respondent can answer “yes” to any disability question they are classified as having a disability.

As shown in the charts below, the trend of increased disability rates in rural areas as compared to metropolitan areas holds at both the regional and divisional level.

This bar graph depicts rates of disability in four regions of the United States by metropolitan status. In each region, disability rates are highest in non-core areas and lowest in metro areas. The South non-core region has the highest disability rate, at 19.7%. The West metro region has the lowest disability rate, at 10.9%. In the Northeast region, the disability rate is 11.4% in metro, 14.8% in micro, and 16.7% in non-core areas. In the Midwest region, the disability rate is 11.9% in metro, 14.1% in micro, and 15.6% in non-core areas. In the South region, the disability rate is 12.4% in metro, 17.3% in micro, and 19.7% in non-core areas. In the West region, the disability rate is 10.9% in metro, 14.9% in micro, and 16.2% in non-core areas.

Chart of Rates of Disability by Census Region and Metropolitan Status. This chart depicts rates of disability in four regions of the United States by metropolitan status. In each region, disability rates are highest in non-core areas and lowest in metro areas. The South non-core region has the highest disability rate, at 19.7%. The West metro region has the lowest disability rate, at 10.9%. See below for a map of the US Census Regions.

This bar graph depicts rates of disability in nine regions of the United States by metropolitan status. In each region, disability rates are highest in non-core areas and lowest in metro areas. The East South Central non-core region has the highest disability rate, at 21.4%. The Pacific metro region has the lowest disability rate, at 10.7%. In the New England region, the disability rate is 11.6% in metro, 13.8% in micro, and 17.2% in non-core areas. In the Mid-Atlantic region, the disability rate is 11.4% in metro, 15.4% in micro, and 16.3% in non-core areas. In the East North Central region, the disability rate is 12.1% in metro, 14.4% in micro, and 16.0% in non-core areas. In the West North Central region, the disability rate is 11.1% in metro, 13.5% in micro, and 15.2% in non-core areas. In the South Atlantic region, the disability rate is 12.1% in metro, 17.2% in micro, and 18.7% in non-core areas. In the East South Central region, the disability rate is 14.5% in metro, 17.9% in micro, and 21.4% in non-core areas. In the West South Central region, the disability rate is 11.9% in metro, 16.8% in micro, and 19.1% in non-core areas. In the Mountain region, the disability rate is 11.3% in metro, 13.4% in micro, and 15.8% in non-core areas. In the Pacific region, the disability rate is 10.7% in metro, 16.9% in micro, and 16.9% in non-core areas.

Chart of Rates of Disability by Census Division and Metropolitan Status. This chart depicts rates of disability in nine regions of the United States by metropolitan status. In each region, disability rates are highest in non-core areas and lowest in metro areas. The East South Central non-core region has the highest disability rate, at 21.4%. The Pacific metro region has the lowest disability rate, at 10.7%. See below for a map of the US Census Divisions.

Map showing Census Regions and Divisions of the United States. The West Region is comprised of the Pacific Division (including Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii and Alaska) and the Mountain Division (which includes Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico). The Midwest Region is comprised of the West North Central Division (which includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri) and the East North Central Division (which includes Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio). The South Region is comprised of the West South Central Division (which includes Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana), the East South Central Division (which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama), and the South Atlantic Division (which includes West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida). The Northeast Region is comprised of the Middle Atlantic Division (which includes New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey), and the New England Division (which includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island).