Cape Girardeau, MO 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.
Cape Girardeau
74.1
#635 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Cape Girardeau leads in median household income ($51,671 vs $32,877). Ruston leads in crime level (11.7 vs 17.1). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 16.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cape Girardeau, MO | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.1 (#635) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 40,508 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $220,162 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $51,671 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 16.7 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | 30 | 25 |
| Crime Level | 17.1 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 93 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+46.5 | R+25.4 |
C
74.1 Score
Cape Girardeau, MO
Small Missouri city with local appeal
Median Home
$220,162
Population
40,508
Crime
High
Walk Score
30
Midwest
View Cape Girardeau, MO →
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 →
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