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CITY

Ruston

Louisiana · 22,397 residents (2025 est.) · 21.188 sq mi
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#131Youngest by median ageof 6,82624.3#269Shortest commutesof 6,82615.1
The short version

Ruston has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $31,120. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $225,300. At a median age of 24.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 39.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 49% less than the Louisiana median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 24.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
22,284
+8%since 2000
from 20,546 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,052 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 970 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
24.3
+1%since 2000
from 24.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:22,397 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
20K20K21K22K23K1990201020202024Ruston
202422K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$31,120
−26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,001 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,473
+47%since 2000
from $14,573 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
21.7%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
39.8%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 32.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.548
+1%since 2010
from 0.544 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade4.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade3.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.9%
Construction2.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$225,300
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$816
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $443 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
36.2%
−10.3 ptssince 2000
from 46.5% in 2000
63.8% rent
Vacancy rate
8.0%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
58.2%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 62.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.2
+108%since 2000
from 3.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
28
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ruston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic56.4%(11,591)
Black38.7%(7,951)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(266)
Asian2.4%(492)
Other0%
Diversity Score65%(13,350)
2024
White, non-Hispanic47.2%(10,522)
Black43.2%(9,631)
Hispanic / Latino1.9%(417)
Asian2%(443)
Other5.7%(1,271)
Diversity Score73.3%(16,330)
Diversity Score
73
+13%since 2000
from 65 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 39.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.9%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 84.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.4%
−4.2 ptssince 2000
from 20.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.1 min
+23%since 2000
from 12.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.2%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.8%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
14.9%
+12.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−8.6 ptssince 2011
from 12.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
45.7%
−13.6 ptssince 2011
from 59.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.6%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.2%
−26.7 ptssince 2009
from 67.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
4.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.9%
−45.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.7%
−1.7 ptssince 2012
from 12.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.9%
−75.9 ptssince 2013
from 82.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.6%
+5.4 ptssince 2017
from 79.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 96.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Ruston to nearby cities

RUSTON VS
Claiborne
Income$72,420+133%
Home value$219,200−3%
Population13,308−41%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSTON VS
West Monroe
Income$49,386+59%
Home value$192,400−15%
Population12,478−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSTON VS
Monroe
Income$40,505+30%
Home value$198,900−12%
Population46,860+109%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSTON VS
Minden
Income$34,294+10%
Home value$130,200−42%
Population11,103−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ruston, Louisiana?

Ruston, Louisiana has about 22,284 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ruston, Louisiana?

The typical household in Ruston, Louisiana earns about $31,120 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ruston, Louisiana expensive?

In Ruston, Louisiana, the median home is worth about $225,300, and the typical rent is about $816 a month.

How educated are people in Ruston, Louisiana?

About 40.2% of adults age 25 and over in Ruston, Louisiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ruston, Louisiana?

About 39.8% of people in Ruston, Louisiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ruston, Louisiana grown since 1990?

Yes, Ruston, Louisiana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,257 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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