Signals
Ruston
Boone
Growth
60 · Top 35%
vs53 · Top 44%
Climate
76 · Top 15%
vs64 · Bottom 44%
Physical resilience
72 · Top 25%
vs59 · Top 45%
Housing affordability
59 · Bottom 5%
vs48 · Bottom 2%
Access
57 · Bottom 19%
vs78 · Top 47%
Economic stability
16 · Bottom 6%
vs16 · Bottom 6%
Measured values
| Metric | Ruston | Boone | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,174 | 55,123 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $39,172 | $51,693 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $25,888 | $34,167 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 102/sq mi | 176/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $210,100 | $358,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $825 | $1,127 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 53.8% | 62.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.2% | 48.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 31.2% | 25.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 214 | 354 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.4 | 6.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 19.6% | -30.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 22°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.6" | 59.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 69 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 22.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 28.6 | 31.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Ruston
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Boone
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Ruston, LA Micro Area · Boone, NC Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology