Residential construction activity in the Rural Capital Area (RCA) has increased substantially over the last fifteen years. Under 5,000 new units were permitted in 2010 but growth led to more than 23,000 new units in 2021. Since then, new units have fallen to 13,000 in 2025. Single-family houses accounted for 83% of all new units permitted in 2025, and multi-family units account for a smaller share (17%) than five years prior (28%).

The Rural Capital Area has seen consistent growth in the number of people receiving Social Security or Disability benefits – due to high population growth. Still, the number of people receiving these benefits has grown more slowly over time, a trend also seen at the national level. In 2024, the region received $392 million in Social Security or Disability benefits.

TThe number of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients has followed a similar trend, both for the region and the US. Growth rates were much higher in the early 2010s but have been mostly negative for the last ten years. The growth rate bottomed at -3.9% for the region in 2021 but has since rebounded into positive growth in 2024.

The Rural Capital Area has enjoyed crime rates that have been falling for the most part, particularly for burglaries. Auto theft rose from 2018-2023 but has since fallen.

The region has a 30% lower murder rate compared to the U.S. average. A pandemic-related spike occurred in both the region and U.S. but has since fallen. 2025 showed an uptick in the murder rate in the region, with 2.9 per 100,000 population versus a national rate of 4.1.