United States › Louisiana › Ruston CITY · 2020 ACS
Ruston Louisiana · 22,166 residents · 21.2 sq mi
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The short version
Ruston is a city of 22,166 people in Louisiana. This skews young, with a median age of 25.0. The poverty rate is 38.8%, above the 12.8% national rate. 36% of homes are owner-occupied. 72% were living in the same home a year earlier. Households here earn about 36% less than in Louisiana as a whole.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 25.0
US median: 38.8
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 24.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K 20K 21K 22K 23K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Ruston Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $32,295
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,001 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $14,573 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 32.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 4.3%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing 0.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.2%
Education & health services 0%
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$169,900
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$745
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $443 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 46.5% in 2000
63.7% rent
from 2.27 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 5.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 56.4%(11,591)
Hispanic / Latino 1.3%(266)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 50.5%(11,201)
Hispanic / Latino 3.4%(763)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data from 39.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 84.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 20.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 12.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 59.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 17.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 69.4%(6,659)
Women 15+
Never married 57.2%(5,743)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 33.9%(371)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.9%(218)
Share of the 1,096 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Ruston Head to head
Compare Ruston to nearby cities RUSTON VS
Claiborne
Income $72,420 +124%
Home value $219,200 +29%
Population 13,308 −41%
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RUSTON VS
West Monroe
Income $49,386 +53%
Home value $192,400 +13%
Population 12,478 −44%
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RUSTON VS
Monroe
Income $40,505 +25%
Home value $198,900 +17%
Population 46,860 +109%
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RUSTON VS
Minden
Income $34,294 +6%
Home value $130,200 −23%
Population 11,103 −50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Ruston, Louisiana? Ruston, Louisiana has about 22,166 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Ruston, Louisiana? The typical household in Ruston, Louisiana earns about $32,295 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 $169,900, and the typical rent is about $745 a month.
How educated are people in Ruston, Louisiana? About 41.1% 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 38.8% 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 2,139 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.
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