Altoona, IA vs Ruston, LA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Altoona
75.4
#455 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Altoona leads in crime level (3.9 vs 11.7). Altoona leads in median household income ($89,100 vs $32,877). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 23.1 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Altoona, IA | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.4 (#455) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 21,698 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $321,727 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $89,100 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 23.1 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 25 |
| Crime Level | 3.9 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 99 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+10.9 | R+25.4 |
Data coverage note: Altoona is missing data for 1 metric that Ruston has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C
75.4 Score
Altoona, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$321,727
Population
21,698
Crime
Low
Median Income
$89,100
Midwest
View Altoona, IA →
C-
72.3 Score
Ruston, LA
Small Louisiana city with local appeal
Median Home
$229,937
Population
22,233
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
25
Southeast
View Ruston, LA →