Melrose Park, IL 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.
Melrose Park
73.7
#688 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Melrose Park leads in walk score (68 vs 25). Melrose Park leads in median household income ($64,400 vs $32,877). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 26.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Melrose Park, IL | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.7 (#688) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 23,666 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $326,590 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $64,400 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 26.8 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | 68 | 25 |
| Crime Level | 8.3 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+42.0 | R+25.4 |
C
73.7 Score
Melrose Park, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$326,590
Population
23,666
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
68
Midwest
View Melrose Park, IL →
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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