Ruston, LA vs Wheeling, IL
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
Wheeling
77.3
#265 nationally
Wheeling leads in crime level (1.7 vs 11.7). Wheeling leads in median household income ($80,054 vs $32,877). Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 26.6 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Ruston, LA | Wheeling, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.3 (#911) | 77.3 (#265) |
| Population | 22,233 | 37,725 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $229,937 | $321,656 |
| Median Household Income | $32,877 | $80,054 |
| Average Commute | 13.9 min | 26.6 min |
| Walk Score | 25 | 44 |
| Crime Level | 11.7 | 1.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 95 | 104 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+25.4 | D+42.0 |
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 →
C+
77.3 Score
Wheeling, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$321,656
Population
37,725
Crime
Low
Walk Score
44
Midwest
View Wheeling, IL →
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