Clayton, NC 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.
Clayton
67.4
#1425 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Clayton leads in crime level (4.6 vs 11.7). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 31.5 min). Clayton leads in median household income ($71,698 vs $32,877).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Clayton, NC | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.4 (#1425) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 30,216 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $365,680 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $71,698 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 31.5 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 25 |
| Crime Level | 4.6 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 103 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+21.5 | R+25.4 |
Data coverage note: Clayton is missing data for 1 metric that Ruston has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
D+
67.4 Score
Clayton, NC
Small North Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$365,680
Population
30,216
Crime
Moderate-Low
Median Income
$71,698
Southeast
View Clayton, NC →
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 →