Mankato, MN 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.
Mankato
74.8
#549 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Mankato leads in median household income ($61,726 vs $32,877). Mankato leads in crime level (7.0 vs 11.7). Mankato leads in walk score (40 vs 25).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Mankato, MN | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.8 (#549) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 45,742 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $308,167 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $61,726 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 15.3 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | 40 | 25 |
| Crime Level | 7.0 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+1.2 | R+25.4 |
C
74.8 Score
Mankato, MN
Small Minnesota city with local appeal
Median Home
$308,167
Population
45,742
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
40
Midwest
View Mankato, MN →
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 →