What are the schools like in Ruston, LA?

Ruston is served primarily by Lincoln Parish. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Ruston?

The median household income in Ruston, LA is $32,877 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.1%.

What is the weather like in Ruston, LA?

Ruston has an average high temperature of 57.3°F in January and 92.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 55.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.4 inches.

Ruston, LA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ruston, LA affordable or expensive?

Ruston's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ruston is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $208,000 and the median rent is $833 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ruston, LA?

Ruston has a violent crime rate of 426.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2956.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ruston, LA a Good Place to Live?

Ruston is a small city of 22,282 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $32,877 and a 3.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Ruston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ruston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ruston city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.3

Ruston's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ruston costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ruston, LA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$208,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$833	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	34.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$32,877	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Ruston's violent crime rate is 426.8 per 100,000 residents — 12% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

426.8 /100k

Property Crime

2956.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ruston is served primarily by Lincoln Parish. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ruston, LA	National Avg
School District	Lincoln Parish	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	42.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ruston sees average highs of 57.3°F in January and 92.2°F in July, with 55.6 inches of annual precipitation and 0.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ruston, LA
Average High — January	57.3°F
Average High — July	92.2°F
Annual Precipitation	55.6"
Annual Snowfall	0.4"

Demographics

Metric	Ruston, LA	National Avg
Population	22,282	—
Median Age	23.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	48.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	42.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.4%	18.9%
Asian	2.5%	6.3%
Under 18	15.4%	22.2%
65 and over	11.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Grambling, LA 4 mi Vienna, LA 5 mi Choudrant, LA 6 mi Simsboro, LA 9 mi Dubach, LA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Ruston

Ruston, LA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

71270 71272

Ruston vs Other Cities

Ruston, LA vs Grambling, LA Ruston, LA vs Vienna, LA Ruston, LA vs Choudrant, LA Ruston, LA vs Simsboro, LA Ruston, LA vs Dubach, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ruston, LA affordable or expensive?

Ruston's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ruston roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $208,000 and median rent is $833/month.

What is the crime rate in Ruston, LA?

Ruston's violent crime rate is 426.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2956.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ruston?

Public schools in Ruston are operated by Lincoln Parish. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 42.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ruston, LA a good place to live?

Ruston, LA has a population of 22,282, a median household income of $32,877, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ruston?

Ruston averages 57.3°F in January and 92.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.6 inches with about 0.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ruston?

Ruston, LA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 71270, 71272.

What is the population of Ruston?

The population of Ruston, Louisiana is 22,282 with a median age of 23.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ruston?

Key numbers for living in Ruston: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $208,000, median household income $32,877, crime index 124 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ruston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.