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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2010 ACS

Ruston Micro

Ruston, LA · 1 counties · 46,735 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 $35,247. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $110,700. At a median age of 27.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 26.4% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 27.8
US median: 37.2
More educated
32% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
46,735
+10%since 2000
from 42,509 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
99 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 90 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
27.8
+5%since 2000
from 26.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
41K43K45K47K49K1990201020202024Ruston
202448K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$35,247
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,977 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,665
+37%since 2000
from $14,313 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
20.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
26.4%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 26.5% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.523
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information11.7%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade8.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 7%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 3.1%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing1.4%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$110,700
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$608
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $436 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
31.5%
−28.4 ptssince 2000
from 60.0% in 2000
43.5% rent
Vacancy rate
15.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
18.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.0%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 56.2% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.1
+17%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic54.2%(25,313)
Black40.4%(18,860)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(1,189)
Asian1.7%(786)
Other1.2%(567)
Diversity Score67.8%(31,682)
Diversity Score
68
+7%since 2000
from 64 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.8%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 31.8% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
84.5%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 80.4% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
13.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 15.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.6 min
+48%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
78.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
4.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
10.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
22.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
34.6%
−30.6 ptssince 2009
from 65.2% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
4.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
7.1%
−41.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+20%
Home value$104,000−6%
Population40,446−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSTON VS
McComb
Income$45,132+28%
Home value$114,892+4%
Population52,640+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSTON VS
Bogalusa
Income$45,380+29%
Home value$155,700+41%
Population44,937−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUSTON VS
Kinston
Income$45,143+28%
Home value$120,500+9%
Population55,837+15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ruston, LA?

Ruston, LA has about 46,735 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Ruston, LA?

The typical household in Ruston, LA earns about $35,247 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 $110,700, and the typical rent is about $608 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 26.4% 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 4,990 residents, a change of about 12 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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