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All rankings computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets. No proprietary, synthetic, or estimated data is used.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025) Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 Β· FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024 Β· America's Health Rankings, 2025 Β· WalletHub/NAEP, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Β· Cook Political Report, PVI 2024 Β· Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025 Β· ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025 Β· WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 Β· EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024 Β· FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025 Β· National Park Service API, 2024 Β· USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting) Β· FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024 Β· DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023 Β· NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24 Β· EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22 Β· NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23 Β· BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023 Β· NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023 Β· Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022 Β· S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025 Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023) Β· IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022

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National/LA/Ruston
F

Ruston

LouisianaΒ·Rank #961 of 20 in LAΒ·Pop. 22,224
Composite Score37.4

Ruston, Louisiana scores 37.4/100 (F grade), ranking #961 of 20 cities in Louisiana. Median income: $32,765. Crime rate: 643.8/100K.

πŸ’΅ Median Income
$32,765
β–Ό $22,651vs state ($55,416)
πŸ’Ό Unemployment
N/A
State: 4.3%
πŸ”’ Violent Crime
643.8
β–Ό 123.8vs state (520)
πŸ“ˆ Pop. Growth
-0.1%
β–Ό 0.3%vs state (+0.2%)
πŸ›‘οΈViolent Crime Rate
643.8
per 100K Β· State avg: 520
🏚️Property Crime Rate
3970.3
per 100K Β· State avg: 2658
🏠Median Home Value
$226,700
Census ACS 2023
πŸ”‘Median Rent
$819/mo
Census ACS 2023
πŸ›’Cost of Living
N/A
100 = national avg
πŸ’ΈRent Burden
30%
Rent as % of income
πŸ“Price-to-Income
6.9x
Home value Γ· income
πŸ“ŠPoverty Rate
36.3%
Census ACS 2023
πŸŽ“Graduation Rate
98%
EDFacts ACGR 2021-22
πŸ‘©β€πŸ«Student-Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
NCES CCD 2023-24
πŸ’΅Per-Pupil Spending
$15,353
NCES F-33 Finance 2022-23
πŸ“šTotal Enrollment
4,132
NCES CCD 2023-24
🏫Public Schools
8
Regular public schools
βš–οΈObesity Rate
42.2%
CDC PLACES 2023
🩺Diabetes Rate
12.8%
CDC PLACES 2023
🧠Poor Mental Health Days
23.4
per 30 days Β· CDC BRFSS
πŸš—Mean Commute
12.2 min
State avg: 24.4 min
πŸš‡Public Transit Use
0%
State avg: 1%
πŸ’»Work From Home
12.4%
State avg: 6.2%
🌑️Annual Avg
67.9Β°F
NOAA Climate Normals
β˜€οΈSummer Avg
84.3Β°F
Jun\u2013Aug average
❄️Winter Avg
52.9Β°F
Dec\u2013Feb average
🌧️Annual Precip
37.7"
inches per year

Ruston vs Louisiana

RustonLouisiana

Scores by Category

πŸ’° Economy25
β–² 4.4 vs state (state: 20.6)
πŸ›‘οΈ Safety37.3
β€” same as state (state: 37.3)
πŸ₯ Health28
β–² 28 vs state (state: 0)
πŸŽ“ Education76.4
β–² 60.1 vs state (state: 16.3)
πŸ’Ό Fiscal Health0
β–Ό 43.1 vs state (state: 43.1)
πŸ“ˆ Growth34
β–² 11.9 vs state (state: 22.1)
🏠 Affordability76.7
β–Ό 14.1 vs state (state: 90.8)
🌿 Environment16
β€” same as state (state: 16)
🏞️ Outdoor Access10.3
β€” same as state (state: 10.3)
πŸš‡ Transportation51.2
β–² 27.7 vs state (state: 23.5)
🎭 Livability25.2
β–² 2 vs state (state: 23.2)

Ruston vs Louisiana

More Cities in Louisiana

Prairieville50.9Kenner46.1Slidell45.5Metairie45.1Lake Charles43.8Central43.8Laplace41.8Houma41.7Lafayette41.4

Ruston, Louisiana Overview

Ruston earns an overall grade of F with a composite score of 37.4 out of 100, ranking #961 of 20 cities in Louisiana. The city's strongest category is Affordability (77/100) while its biggest challenge is Fiscal Health (0/100).

Income & Employment in Ruston

The median household income in Ruston is $32,765 according to Census ACS data. The city's population declined 0.1%, a factor worth monitoring.

Safety in Ruston

Ruston has a violent crime rate of 643.8 per 100,000 residents. This is above the national average, and safety is an important factor to consider. The property crime rate is 3970.3 per 100,000.

Cost of Living in Ruston

Cost of living data helps residents compare affordability across cities. The median home value is $226,700. Median monthly rent is $819.

Health & Wellness in Ruston

The adult obesity rate in Ruston is 42.2% according to CDC PLACES data. The diabetes prevalence rate is 12.8%. Residents report an average of 23.4 poor mental health days per month. These health indicators are important for assessing overall quality of life in Ruston, Louisiana.

Education & Schools in Ruston

Ruston has 8 public schools serving 4,132 students. The high school graduation rate is 98%, well above the national average. The student-teacher ratio is 12.8:1, indicating smaller class sizes. The district spends $15,353 per student. School data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data and EDFacts.

Climate in Ruston

Ruston has an annual average temperature of 67.9Β°F. Summers average 84.3Β°F. Winters average 52.9Β°F. The city receives approximately 37.7 inches of precipitation per year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall score for Ruston, Louisiana?

Ruston has an overall score of 37.4 out of 100, earning a F grade and ranking #961 among 20 cities in Louisiana.

What is the median income in Ruston?

The median household income in Ruston is $32,765, based on Census ACS data.

Is Ruston safe?

Ruston has a violent crime rate of 643.8 per 100,000 residents.

What is the cost of living in Ruston?

Cost of living data for Ruston helps residents compare affordability. See the full profile for details.

How are the public schools in Ruston?

Ruston has 8 public schools with a 98% graduation rate. The student-teacher ratio is 12.8:1.

← Back to Louisiana

Data Sources

πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024πŸ“ŽFBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024πŸ“ŽAmerica's Health Rankings, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub/NAEP, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024πŸ“ŽCook Political Report, PVI 2024πŸ“ŽTax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025πŸ“ŽALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities, 2023πŸ“ŽEPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽFEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024πŸ“ŽFCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025πŸ“ŽNational Park Service API, 2024πŸ“ŽUSGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)πŸ“ŽFHWA Highway Statistics, 2023πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽEIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024πŸ“ŽDOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023πŸ“ŽNCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24πŸ“ŽEDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22πŸ“ŽNCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23πŸ“ŽBEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023πŸ“ŽNASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023πŸ“ŽCensus Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts, FY2022πŸ“ŽS&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)πŸ“ŽIRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022