The Town FilesRuston, Louisiana
City in Lincoln Parish · population 22,166 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,300
- Household income
- $31,120
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 24.3
Ruston is a city of 22,166 people in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $225,300, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Louisiana towns, hipper than 93% of Louisiana towns, more vibrant than 90% of Louisiana towns.
How Ruston ranks
Percentile among Louisiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Louisiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ruston is worth $225,300, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 7.2 times the median household income of $31,120, which is more affordable than 2% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $816 a month. 36.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ruston | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,300 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $816 | $887 |
| Median household income | $31,120 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 36.2% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ruston
| People | Ruston | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 24.3 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.1% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.2% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.8% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 15.1 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 84.6% |
Weather in Ruston
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 35.0°F. About 55.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 46 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ruston since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 25, 2019 about 0.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 11, 1986.
Severe weather in Lincoln Parish since 1996
Lincoln Parish has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 18, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4900: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3638: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 10, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3614: Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 29, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4611: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln Parish
Lincoln Parish had 18,599 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,245 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Ruston itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Ruston
9 public schools with 4,257 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruston High School | 9-12 | 1,277 | 12.9 |
| Ruston Junior High School | 7-8 | 580 | 12.9 |
| Glen View Elementary School | K-2 | 500 | 13.2 |
| A. E. Phillips Laboratory School | K-8 | 436 | 16.8 |
| Cypress Springs Elementary School | 3-5 | 381 | 12.7 |
| Hillcrest Elementary School | K-2 | 363 | 12.1 |
| Ruston Elementary School | 3-5 | 312 | 9.5 |
| I.A. Lewis School | 6-6 | 283 | 12.9 |
| Howard School | 2-12 | 125 | 41.7 |
Towns near Ruston
- Grambling, LA4.3 mi · 5,239 people · home $181,700
- Arcadia, LA16.7 mi · 2,746 people · home $93,700
- Jonesboro, LA21.2 mi · 4,106 people · home $80,300
- Farmerville, LA21.6 mi · 3,366 people · home $104,900
- Claiborne, LA25.6 mi · 12,631 people · home $219,200
- Bawcomville, LA27.3 mi · 3,472 people · home $61,500
- Brownsville, LA27.8 mi · 4,353 people · home $74,700
- West Monroe, LA28.2 mi · 13,103 people · home $192,400
Ruston questions
Is Ruston, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ruston scores better for retirees than 33% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 8%. 12.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 24.3).
How much does a house cost in Ruston?
The median owner-occupied home in Ruston is valued at $225,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,120, so homes cost about 7.2 times income. Median rent is $816 a month.
What is the weather like in Ruston?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 35.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Ruston get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ruston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 25, 2019. The typical Louisiana town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)