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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Ruston Micro

Ruston, LA · 1 counties · 42,509 residents · 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 $26,977. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value is $72,300. At a median age of 26.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 26.5% is well above the national figure. 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 26.5
US median: 35.2
More educated
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

42,509
+2%since 1990
from 41,745 in 1990
1990 – 2025
90 / sq mi
+2%since 1990
from 89 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
26.5
+7%since 1990
from 24.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 19902024
41K43K45K47K49K1990201020202024Ruston
202448K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

$26,977
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $19,254 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$14,313
+53%since 1990
from $9,342 in 1990
US average: $21,522
26.5%
−0.1 ptssince 1990
from 26.6% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$72,300
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $55,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$436
+2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $326 in 1990
US average: $602
60.0%
−2.2 ptssince 1990
from 62.1% in 1990
40.0% rent
2.7
−7%since 1990
from 2.9 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Ruston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic59.2%(24,732)
Black39.4%(16,466)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(328)
Asian0.9%(377)
Diversity Score62.6%(26,149)
2000
White, non-Hispanic56.9%(24,206)
Black39.6%(16,846)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(492)
Asian1.3%(538)
Diversity Score63.6%(27,024)
64
+1%since 1990
from 63 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

31.8%
+5.6 ptssince 1990
from 26.2% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
80.4%
+5.9 ptssince 1990
from 74.5% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
15.3%
+3.1 ptssince 1990
from 12.2% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.3 min
−14%since 1990
from 15.4 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

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1 component county

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Ruston, LA?

Ruston, LA has about 42,509 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Ruston, LA?

The typical household in Ruston, LA earns about $26,977 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 $72,300, and the typical rent is about $436 a month.

How educated are people in Ruston, LA?

About 31.8% 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 26.5% 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 764 residents, a change of about 2 percent over that period.

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

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