Fairhope, AL 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.
Fairhope
69
#1262 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Fairhope leads in crime level (3.0 vs 11.7). Fairhope leads in median household income ($85,456 vs $32,877). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 24.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Fairhope, AL | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69 (#1262) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 24,974 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $473,256 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $85,456 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 24.7 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 25 |
| Crime Level | 3.0 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 118 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+58.2 | R+25.4 |
Data coverage note: Fairhope is missing data for 1 metric that Ruston has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
D+
69 Score
Fairhope, AL
Small Alabama city with local appeal
Median Home
$473,256
Population
24,974
Crime
Low
Median Income
$85,456
Southeast
View Fairhope, AL →
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 →