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Iowa towns in general seem to be losing both population and vitality. How do we determine if rural towns are surviving?

Abbreviated Question: 
Iowa towns in general seem to be losing both population and vitality. How do we determine if rural towns are surviving?
Answer: 

I think it is important in establishing policy to work from facts and not perceptions. While rural towns are getting smaller on average, not all are. While schools are consolidating in rural areas, they are also consolidating in cities as like Ames where declining numbers of children per household are increasing the catchment area required to capture a sufficient number of children for a viable school.