Onalaska, WI 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.
Onalaska
77.9
#210 nationally
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Onalaska leads in crime level (1.0 vs 11.7). Onalaska leads in median household income ($80,296 vs $32,877). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 17.6 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Onalaska, WI | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 77.9 (#210) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 19,018 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $372,566 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $80,296 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 17.6 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | 28 | 25 |
| Crime Level | 1.0 | 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+9.4 | R+25.4 |
C+
77.9 Score
Onalaska, WI
Small Wisconsin city with local appeal
Median Home
$372,566
Population
19,018
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
28
Midwest
View Onalaska, WI →
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 →