Jacksonville, 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.
Jacksonville
72.4
#896 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Jacksonville leads in median household income ($50,185 vs $32,877). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 15.1 min). Ruston leads in crime level (11.7 vs 12.5).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Jacksonville, NC | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.4 (#896) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 72,879 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $264,179 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $50,185 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 15.1 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | 24 | 25 |
| Crime Level | 12.5 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 98 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+35.9 | R+25.4 |
C-
72.4 Score
Jacksonville, NC
North Carolina community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$264,179
Population
72,879
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
24
Southeast
View Jacksonville, 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 →
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