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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Ruston Micro

Ruston, LA · 1 counties · 48,360 residents (2025 est.) · 471.636 sq mi
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The short version

Ruston has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $39,172. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $210,100. At a median age of 28.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 31.2% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 28.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 60%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
48,174
+13%since 2000
from 42,509 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
102 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 90 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
28.6
+8%since 2000
from 26.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:48,360 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
41K43K45K47K49K1990201020202024Ruston
202448K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,172
−20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,977 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,888
+81%since 2000
from $14,313 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.3%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
31.2%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 26.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.539
+3%since 2010
from 0.523 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade5.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing2%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$210,100
+60%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$825
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $436 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
53.8%
−6.2 ptssince 2000
from 60.0% in 2000
46.2% rent
Vacancy rate
11.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 56.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.4
+100%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
36
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ruston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic56.9%(24,206)
Black39.6%(16,846)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(492)
Asian1.3%(538)
Other0%
Diversity Score63.6%(27,024)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic52.7%(25,404)
Black36.9%(17,767)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(1,778)
Asian1.3%(622)
Other5.4%(2,603)
Diversity Score72.7%(35,013)
Segregation Score41.6%(20,019)
Diversity Score
73
+14%since 2000
from 64 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
−6%since 2020
from 44 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
36.2%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 31.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.2%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 80.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.2 min
+44%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.5%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.8%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−7.1 ptssince 2011
from 10.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
51.1%
−8.1 ptssince 2011
from 59.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.1%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.6%
−23.6 ptssince 2009
from 65.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
3.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.5%
−43.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.9%
−1.7 ptssince 2012
from 13.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.4%
−76.2 ptssince 2013
from 81.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
77.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2017
from 76.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 95.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

RustonCENTRAL22,397
What's inside

1 component county

Lincoln ParishCENTRAL48,360
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Ruston

Greenville
Pop 40,446
McComb
Pop 52,640
Bogalusa
Pop 44,937
Kinston
Pop 55,837
Places similar to Ruston
Head to head

Compare Ruston side by side

RUSTON VS
Greenville
Income$42,165+8%
Home value$104,000−50%
Population40,446−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSTON VS
McComb
Income$45,132+15%
Home value$114,892−45%
Population52,640+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSTON VS
Bogalusa
Income$45,380+16%
Home value$155,700−26%
Population44,937−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSTON VS
Kinston
Income$45,143+15%
Home value$120,500−43%
Population55,837+15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ruston, LA?

Ruston, LA has about 48,174 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ruston, LA?

The typical household in Ruston, LA earns about $39,172 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ruston, LA expensive?

In Ruston, LA, the median home is worth about $210,100, and the typical rent is about $825 a month.

How educated are people in Ruston, LA?

About 36.2% of adults age 25 and over in Ruston, LA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Ruston, LA?

About 31.2% of people in Ruston, LA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ruston, LA grown since 1990?

Yes, Ruston, LA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 6,429 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →