Pandemic Moves to the Countryside Strained Housing in Rural Northeast Towns
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, many city residents headed for small towns and the countryside. Little is known about what this shift meant for the American communities that took in the newcomers. Fresh arrivals can bring new energy, but a rapid influx can also strain housing and services in places with limited resources. The question matters beyond the pandemic: as climate change worsens, more people are expected to relocate to escape floods, heat and other hazards, and the northeastern United States is seen as a likely destination.
