Ruston, LA
Census place 2266655 · pop 22,284
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$31,120 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
39.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
23.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.55 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
36.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
42.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
84.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2956 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
31.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
427 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
16.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
4.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+1.4% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
8.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$225,300 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
40.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
69/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,362/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.49% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
15 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
Not measured for Ruston: Air, Bad air. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Ruston, LA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Ruston scores 38/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is commute time and its weakest is median household income. Louisiana overall ranks #46 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Ruston, LA?
- Ruston reports 427 violent crimes per 100k and 2956 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Ruston, LA expensive to live in?
- Ruston has a median home value of $225,300 and typical rent around $1,362/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Ruston, LA?
- Its weakest measured area is median household income ($31,120) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Ruston, LA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (15 min) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.