David Peters

Articles by this author

The 2015 median household income in rural Iowa was $60,223, almost 11 percent higher than urban incomes ($51,705). Rural Iowans also have become wealthier than rural residents in other states.

By: David Peters

It’s no secret that the farm economy has faced a downturn since its peak in 2012. But how has the downturn affected farmers, specifically related to their farm income and levels of farm debt? A new study by David Peters, associate professor and extension rural sociologist with Iowa State University, aims to directly answer those questions.

By: David Peters

Providing an attractive and appealing place to live is a concern for small towns across Iowa. There are things a town can do to attract new residents that are not related to economic factors.

By: David Peters

David Peters, associate professor and extension rural sociologist at Iowa State University, looks at changes in Iowa’s demographic, cultural and social makeup over the last decade.

By: David Peters

Inflation is a bigger problem for rural households than for those living in cities, according to a new report from the Iowa Small Towns Project at Iowa State University. The report provides preliminary estimates of how inflation has affected rural and urban households.

By: David Peters

David Peters, professor and extension rural sociologist at Iowa State University, shares data that shows the way agriculture in the state is shifting.

By: David Peters