Oakland, CA 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.
Oakland
62
#1880 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Oakland leads in walk score (73 vs 25). Oakland leads in median household income ($85,459 vs $32,877). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 32.1 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62 (#1880) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 433,823 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $717,798 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $85,459 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 32.1 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | 73 | 25 |
| Crime Level | High | 11.7 |
| School Rating | 4.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 155 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+53.6 | R+25.4 |
D-
62 Score
Oakland, CA
Gritty, diverse, and full of culture
Median Home
$717,798
Population
433,823
Crime
High
Schools
C
Pacific
View Oakland, CA →
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 →