A government-funded study has highlighted stark differences between urban and rural earnings.

In its report published on Wednesday, the Rural Evidence Research Centre at Birkbeck college found that while average household incomes in accessible rural districts reached £28,150, it fell to £23,800 in more remote areas.

Although unemployment was less likely in rural areas, one in five unemployed people nationally lived in the countryside.

However, more people are quitting the cities - populations in rural districts increased by six per cent between 1991 and 2001, compared to a 1.4 per cent increase in urban populations.

"For the first time, we are building an evidence base which will help us understand the fast-changing nature of rural England," said rural affairs minister Alun Michael.

"Despite this, there remain some communities that face serious social and economic problems, especially those which are peripheral in a variety of ways including remoteness, these communities struggle to attract new business and jobs.

"Elsewhere, we must not forget the households who have yet to benefit from the success of rural communities and we need to fine tune policy to ensure we reach the people who really need help."

The disparity between wages is not limited to the urban-rural divide.

In a survey also published on Wednesday, the Equal Opportunities Commission found that while 88 per cent of women expected to earn the same salaries as their male counterparts, on average they earned £559 a month less.

Women were also found to be least likely to know how much their colleagues earned, with 29 per cent not having that information, compared to 20 per cent of men.

"Forget about sex, politics and religion, pay is the new taboo," said chairwoman of the EOC, Julie Mellor.

"In Britain today, the whole business of pay is shrouded in mystery. And this survey also shows that if you are a woman on a lower wage you are even more likely to be in the dark on how much you should expect.

"Discrimination flourishes in this culture of secrecy when people cannot be sure they are rewarded fairly."