How much does it cost to rent in Ruston, LA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Ruston, LA is $1,303. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Ruston cheaper than other Louisiana cities?

Ruston is among the more affordable cities in Louisiana, ranking #34 out of 46 cities at $1,303/mo.

When was Ruston rent data last updated?

Ruston rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Ruston, LA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Ruston, LA at $980 per month, which is 25% below the $1,303 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · LA

Ruston

Name: Average Rent Prices in Ruston, LA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 22,284·34th most expensive in Louisiana·Ruston rents are up 18.4% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,303/mo

Year-over-Year

+18.4%

Month-over-Month

-9.6%

vs US Median

-$659

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Ruston · $1,303

More affordable than 87% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Affordability

50% of income

STRETCHED

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,303/mo, rent takes about 50% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$52,000/yr

Local median income

$31,120/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Ruston's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$720

1 BR

$780

2 BR

$980

3 BR

$1,290

4 BR+

$1,600

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$980/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,303 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$15,636/yr

At $1,303/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+18.4% YoY, -9.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

22,284

Median income

$31,120

Median age

24.3

Renters

63.8%

Age distribution

14.3%

50%

16.1%

12.1%

Under 1814.3%

18–3450%

35–5416.1%

55–647.5%

65+12.1%

Gender

49.6%

50.4%

Male49.6%

Female50.4%

Race & ethnicity

47.7%

43.2%

White47.7%

Black43.2%

Hispanic1.9%

Asian2%

Other5.2%

Education (25+)

28.1%

24.7%

40.2%

No HS diploma7.1%

HS diploma28.1%

Some college24.7%

Bachelor's+40.2%

Housing tenure

36.2%

63.8%

Owner36.2%

Renter63.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How Ruston, LA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,109 → $1,303

up 17.5%

Income

$34,554 → $31,120

down 9.9%

Population

22,286 → 22,284

up 0.0%

Renter share

64.8% → 63.8%

-1.0 pts

Bachelor's+

45.1% → 40.2%

-4.9 pts

Compared with 2023, rent in Ruston, LA has increased by $194 per month, settling near $1,303 after starting the period at $1,109. Census figures show median household income at $31,120 today, compared with $34,554 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 27.4 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.

Community

Discussions about Ruston

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View Ruston rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Ruston on your salary?

At $1,303/mo, how Ruston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $82,198/yr · Rent = 19% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $58,360/yr · Rent = 26.8% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $67,225/yr · Rent = 23.3% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $120,156/yr · Rent = 13% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $153,529/yr · Rent = 10.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $54,645/yr · Rent = 28.6% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $49,338/yr · Rent = 31.7% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $60,813/yr · Rent = 25.7% income

affordable

By apartment size

Ruston rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Ruston. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Ruston

About renting in Ruston, LA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Ruston is $1,303/mo as of August 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 50% of local median household income ($31,120/yr), Ruston ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 18.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Ruston an affordable city for renters?

Ruston is considered stretched for renters. At $1,303/mo, rent takes approximately 50% of the local median household income ($31,120/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Ruston significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

How much income do you need to rent in Ruston?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $52,000/year (~$25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,303/mo in Ruston. The local median household income is $31,120/yr, meaning the typical Ruston household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Ruston?

Rent in Ruston has increased 18.4% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Ruston rent compare to other cities in Louisiana?

Ruston is one of the more affordable cities in Louisiana for rent, ranking #34 out of 46 tracked cities at $1,303/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Ruston?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Ruston ($1,303/mo): Pineville ($998/mo), West Monroe ($1,122/mo), Shreveport ($1,187/mo).

What percentage of Ruston residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 63.8% of Ruston households are renters, while 36.2% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Ruston has a strong rental market.

How does Ruston rent compare to the national average?

Ruston's median rent of $1,303/mo is $659 (34%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Louisiana, it ranks #34 out of 46 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

50%

STRETCHED

At $1,303/mo, rent takes ~50% of Ruston's median household income ($31,120/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Ruston 50%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1.85–4.25%

Run the Ruston affordability calculator →

Nearby cities