Columbia, 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.
Columbia
72.5
#873 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Columbia leads in median household income ($60,455 vs $32,877). Columbia leads in crime level (9.5 vs 11.7). Columbia leads in walk score (30 vs 25).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.5 (#873) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 129,330 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $327,680 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 16.5 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | 30 | 25 |
| Crime Level | 9.5 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 100 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+9.8 | R+25.4 |
C-
72.5 Score
Columbia, MO
Mid-size Missouri city with community character
Median Home
$327,680
Population
129,330
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
30
Midwest
View Columbia, 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 →