Ruston, LA vs Urbandale, IA
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
Urbandale
80.3
#85 nationally
Urbandale leads in crime level (2.4 vs 11.7). Urbandale leads in median household income ($111,888 vs $32,877). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 19 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Ruston, LA | Urbandale, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.3 (#911) | 80.3 (#85) |
| Population | 22,233 | 46,729 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $229,937 | $354,918 |
| Median Household Income | $32,877 | $111,888 |
| Average Commute | 13.9 min | 19 min |
| Walk Score | 25 | 32 |
| Crime Level | 11.7 | 2.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 95 | 106 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+25.4 | D+10.9 |
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 →
B-
80.3 Score
Urbandale, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$354,918
Population
46,729
Crime
Low
Walk Score
32
Midwest
View Urbandale, IA →