Jefferson City, 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.
Jefferson City
75.1
#501 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Jefferson City leads in median household income ($63,649 vs $32,877). Jefferson City leads in crime level (9.1 vs 11.7). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 15.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Jefferson City, MO | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 75.1 (#501) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 42,552 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $280,343 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $63,649 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 15.5 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | 24 | 25 |
| Crime Level | 9.1 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 91 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+34.4 | R+25.4 |
C
75.1 Score
Jefferson City, MO
Small Missouri city with local appeal
Median Home
$280,343
Population
42,552
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
24
Midwest
View Jefferson City, 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 →
Try a different matchup
Swap Jefferson City for: