Ruston, LA vs Santa Ana, CA
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.
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Santa Ana
63.6
#1759 nationally
Santa Ana leads in median household income ($72,458 vs $32,877). Santa Ana leads in walk score (55 vs 25). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 26.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Ruston, LA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.3 (#911) | 63.6 (#1759) |
| Population | 22,233 | 310,227 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $229,937 | $869,263 |
| Median Household Income | $32,877 | $72,458 |
| Average Commute | 13.9 min | 26.8 min |
| Walk Score | 25 | 55 |
| Crime Level | 11.7 | Moderate |
| School Rating | N/A | 5.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 95 | 138 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+25.4 | D+2.6 |
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 →
D
63.6 Score
Santa Ana, CA
Heart of Orange County
Median Home
$869,263
Population
310,227
Crime
Moderate
Schools
C
Pacific
View Santa Ana, CA →