Signals
Ruston
Starkville
Growth
60 · Top 35%
vs40 · Bottom 33%
Climate
76 · Top 15%
vs76 · Top 15%
Physical resilience
72 · Top 25%
vs64 · Top 39%
Housing affordability
59 · Bottom 5%
vs76 · Bottom 18%
Access
57 · Bottom 19%
vs79 · Top 46%
Economic stability
16 · Bottom 6%
vs19 · Bottom 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Ruston | Starkville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,174 | 61,743 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $39,172 | $48,750 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $25,888 | $30,385 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 102/sq mi | 70/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $210,100 | $208,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $825 | $897 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 53.8% | 52.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.2% | 41.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 31.2% | 23.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 214 | 67 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.4 | 1.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 19.6% | 11.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 55.6" | 58.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 69 mi | 28 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 23.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 28.6 | 27.4 | 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.
Starkville
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
Your best match
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Ruston
57
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Starkville
59
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Full profiles: Ruston, LA Micro Area · Starkville, MS Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology