Rural revitalization needs to recognize and address the diversity of rural areas. Based on statistical data of grain yield and agricultural labor, this paper analyzes the coupled modes of the changes of grain yield and agricultural labor as well as their representations of rural development typology of 183 counties in Northeast China by using standard deviation ellipse, non-parametric test, and so on. The results show that: (1) during 2001-2015, the coupled mode of grain yield and agricultural labor changes of the whole study region turned in 2008. During 2001-2008, its grain yield increased while agricultural labor decreased; but during 2008-2015, both its grain yield and agricultural labor increased. Actually, this is due to degradation that resulted from the comprehensive interactions of many factors. (2) At county level, the proportion of grain yield increased while agricultural labor decreased counties in Northeast China shrank from 45.90% in 2001-2008 to 37.16% in 2008-2015, and the numbers of grain yield decreased while agricultural labor increased counties and grain yield and agricultural labor both decreased counties grew obviously. Spatially, the coupled modes of grain yield and agricultural labor changes evolved in differentiated patterns. (3) Based on the coupled modes of grain yield and agricultural labor changes and other supplementary indicators, this paper classifies the rural development typology at county level in Northeast China into five categories: extensive expansion type, agriculture modernization type, planting-breeding incorporated type, urbanizing type, and eco-environment prioritized type. The results show that these rural development types have certain hierarchical nature and present a structural evolution. Therefore, the coupled modes of grain yield and agricultural labor changes can represent the rural development typology well. (4) Different rural development types in Northeast China are facing different constraints and opportunities. In the light of these facts, this paper proposes the differential promotion strategies targeting specific rural development types. The approaches and strategies developed in this paper could be applied in other regions of China to analyze and address the diversity of rural areas.