Ruston city, Louisiana Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Ruston city is a small city located in Louisiana. The total population is 22,224. It ranks as the 20th most populous out of 487 cities and towns in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ruston city is 23.8 years. This is 37% lower than the state median of 37.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ruston city is $32,765. This is 45% lower than the state median of $60,023. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 58% lower. The poverty rate stands at 36.3%. This is 92% higher than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 45% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $226,700. Housing costs are 9% higher than the state median of $208,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 36.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ruston city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 46.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 42.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 7.0%.

Education

42.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Ruston city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 62% higher than the state rate of 26.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.9%. Notably, 17.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ruston city, Louisiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Louisiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 487 Census-designated places in Louisiana. For official data, visit data.census.gov.