Houston, TX 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.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 28.5 min). Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 25). Houston leads in median household income ($57,791 vs $32,877).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 25 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 11.7 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | R+25.4 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
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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 →