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Ruston, LA
City in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. ZIP codes: 71270, 71272.
Population
22,284
Land area
21.2sq mi
People per sq mi
1,052
ZIP codes
2
Ruston and its ZIP codes
Ruston at a glance
- Ruston is about 9.9 times as dense as Louisiana as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 20th among 488 cities and towns in Louisiana.
- The median household income is $31,120, 49% below the Louisiana median of $60,756.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $225,300 (4% above Louisiana) and median rent is $816 a month.
Local data for Ruston, LA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes1
- Schools11
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks17
- Post Offices1
- Parks12
- Grocery Stores12
- Restaurants126
- Affordable Housing6
- Home Health Agencies2
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers2
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers10
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment2
- Private Schools2
- Historic Places19
Housing and community stats
Ruston, LA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$31,120
Poverty rate
39.8%
Median home value
$225,300
Median rent
$816/mo
Homeownership
36.2%
Bachelor's or higher
40.2%
Median age
24.3
Average commute
15.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (1,418), German Americans (1,235), French Americans (906).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lincoln Parish. PPP loans are for Ruston.
Unemployment rate
4.1%
Aug 2026, -0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$48,256
19,084 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$53,652
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$267M
FY 2026, $5,507 per person
PPP loans
$20.83K
1 loan, 1 job reported
How people get to work
Ruston, LA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone71.2%
- Carpooled8.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked4.7%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.2%
- Worked from home14.9%
Average one-way commute: 15.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Ruston, LA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
502
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
100
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
92° / 35°F
55.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone19 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Ruston, LA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
42.2%
U.S. 33.3% +8.9 pts
Diabetes
12.8%
U.S. 12.1% +0.7 pts
Smoking
16.2%
U.S. 12.8% +3.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.9%
U.S. 11.1% -2.2 pts
ZIP codes in Ruston
2 in or overlapping Ruston. Population shown
Cities near Ruston
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| GramblingCity | 4.9 mi | 5.9 |
| ViennaTown | 5.3 mi | 3.5 |
| ChoudrantVillage | 7.9 mi | 4.2 |
| SimsboroVillage | 8.6 mi | 3.5 |
| DubachTown | 12 mi | 1.8 |
| QuitmanVillage | 13 mi | 0.9 |
| DownsvilleVillage | 14 mi | 0.7 |
| ErosTown | 15 mi | 1 |
| CalhounCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 2.4 |
| ArcadiaTown | 17 mi | 3.6 |
| North HodgeVillage | 18 mi | 0.7 |
| East HodgeVillage | 18 mi | 0.2 |
| ChathamTown | 18 mi | 1 |
| HodgeVillage | 19 mi | 1 |
| JonesboroTown | 21 mi | 4.8 |
| BerniceTown | 21 mi | 3.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Ruston, LA in?
- Ruston is in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana.
- What ZIP codes are in Ruston, LA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Ruston include 71270, 71272.
- What is the population of Ruston, LA?
- About 22,284 people live in Ruston, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Ruston?
- Nearby places include Grambling (4.9 mi), Vienna (5.3 mi), Choudrant (7.9 mi), Simsboro (8.6 mi), Dubach (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023