Panama City, FL 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.
Panama City
66.5
#1538 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Panama City leads in median household income ($57,221 vs $32,877). Ruston leads in crime level (11.7 vs 17.8). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 21.1 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Panama City, FL | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.5 (#1538) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 35,660 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $286,249 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $57,221 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 21.1 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 25 |
| Crime Level | 17.8 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+47.4 | R+25.4 |
Data coverage note: Panama City is missing data for 1 metric that Ruston has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
D
66.5 Score
Panama City, FL
Small Florida city with local appeal
Median Home
$286,249
Population
35,660
Crime
High
Median Income
$57,221
Southeast
View Panama City, FL →
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 →
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