ZIP Code · LA

ZIP 71270

Part of Ruston, LA

Pop. 32,885·Lincoln Parish·68th most expensive ZIP in Louisiana

Median rent (all units)

$1,257/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.3%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

-$691

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 71270 · $1,257

More affordable than 89% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,948/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$680

1 BR

$760

2 BR

$940

3 BR

$1,280

4 BR+

$1,470

Research median

$940/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: September 25, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 71270 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Louisiana

Rent in ZIP 71270 changed +6.3% over the year to August 2026. Across the 76 Louisiana ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($36,791) is $920 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($760); a 2-bedroom is $940.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 71270. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$15,084/yr

At $1,257/mo median

Location

CityRuston

StateLA

CountyLincoln Parish

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.3% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 71270 (Ruston, LA) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 38.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

32,885

Median income

$36,791

Median age

28.8

Renters

50%

Age distribution

20.6%

36.4%

20%

13.4%

Under 1820.6%

18–3436.4%

35–5420%

55–649.7%

65+13.4%

Gender

47.1%

52.9%

Male47.1%

Female52.9%

Race & ethnicity

51.4%

38.3%

White51.4%

Black38.3%

Hispanic3.5%

Asian1.5%

Other5.3%

Education (25+)

28.6%

22.3%

38.4%

No HS diploma10.6%

HS diploma28.6%

Some college22.3%

Bachelor's+38.4%

Housing tenure

50%

Owner50%

Renter50%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 71270 in Ruston, LA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,100 → $1,257

up 14.3%

Income

$39,554 → $36,791

down 7.0%

Population

32,707 → 32,885

up 0.5%

Renter share

52.2% → 50%

-2.2 pts

Bachelor's+

41.5% → 38.4%

-3.1 pts

Median age

27.8 → 28.8

+1.0 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 71270 in Ruston, LA has shifted from $1,100 to $1,257, up 14.3% since 2023. Median household income declined from $39,554 to $36,791 between 2021 and 2024, a 7.0% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. The renter share has eased from 52.2% to 50%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 41.5% to 38.4% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 71270 in Ruston, LA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 71270

Last updated: September 25, 2026

ZIP code 71270 covers Ruston, LA. The median rent here is $1,257/mo as of September 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $760/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $940/mo.

At 41% of local median household income ($36,791/yr), ZIP 71270 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 71270?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,257/mo in ZIP 71270. The local median household income is $36,791/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 71270?

Rent in ZIP 71270 has risen 6.3% over the past year as of August 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.

How does ZIP 71270 compare to other ZIPs in Louisiana?

ZIP 71270 is one of the more affordable among Louisiana ZIP codes for rent, ranking #68 of 91 at $1,257/mo. Over the year to August 2026, rent in ZIP 71270 changed +6.3%, against a typical +2.5% across the 76 Louisiana ZIP codes Zillow tracks.