Rents are 5% above what Ruston's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,198 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Ruston is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.
Rent in Ruston changed +7.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 36 Louisiana cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.9%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($31,120) is $778 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($720); a 1-bedroom is $780.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ruston. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Ruston, LA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 40.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ruston, LA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2023, rent in Ruston, LA has increased by $152 per month, settling near $1,198 after starting the period at $1,046. Census figures show median household income at $31,120 today, compared with $34,554 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 24.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 45.1% to 40.2%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.
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At $1,198/mo, how Ruston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ruston rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ruston. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ruston
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Ruston is $1,198/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $720/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $980/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $780/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,290/mo.
At 46% of local median household income ($31,120/yr), Ruston ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Ruston?
Is rent going up or down in Ruston?
How does Ruston rent compare to other cities in Louisiana?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Ruston?
At $1,198/mo, rent takes ~46% of Ruston's median household income ($31,120/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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