Migration data from the Current Population Survey indicate a small population gain for rural areas during the period from 1990 to 1994. Examination of data by age, education, and poverty level suggests a reversal of the "brain drain" trend of the 1980s, as more working-age people with children and college graduates move into rural areas,…

In 1996, nonmetropolitan immigrants lived mainly in the South (37%) and West (35%) but were unevenly distributed. Over half were Mexican; 38% of naturalized citizens, and 24% of noncitizens were children. Compared to metro immigrants, nonmetro immigrants had lower educational attainment, earnings, and rates of welfare assistance and higher poverty…