The story of the success of American cities is more complicated when we look at the details.

On a county-by-county level, the highest wages tend to be in urban counties, but that's not the whole story. On average, counties that are part of large metro areas have the highest wages, while rural counties have to lowest salaries, but rural counties have the edge in wage growth. "Rural communities have seen significantly faster growth in wages and salaries than their urban counterparts," Richard Florida writes in CityLab. When it comes to the fastest wage growth, "Nearly 275 rural counties are in this top 10 percent (including more than 100 small rural counties that are not adjacent to metro areas), compared to just 41 urban counties," Florida reports.
FULL STORY: Wages Are Higher in Urban Areas, But Growing Faster in Rural Ones

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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