2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Lafayette, LA vs Ruston, LA

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Highlights
- Household income in Ruston, is 38% less than it is in Lafayette and is 100% below the National Average.
- Lafayette unemployment rate is 5.8%.
- Ruston unemployment rate is 4.7%.
 Lafayette, LARuston, LAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.7%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.5%1.6%
 Future Job Growth12.2%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes8.5%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock6.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$35,348  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$34,554$69,021
 Family Median Income$78,432  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Lafayette, LARuston, LAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock22.0%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K4.6%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock12.0%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K7.8%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock11.1%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K6.6%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock4.2%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K11.4%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock7.0%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K5.6%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock2.5%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Lafayette, LARuston, LAUnited States
 Management, business, finance14.6%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock4.4%6.5%
 Community, social services2.1%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.2%1.2%
 Education, library8.1%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock2.5%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology8.9%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock4.4%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.4%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock13.1%5.4%
 Building maintenance3.0%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.9%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support24.4%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock1.0%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair6.5%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock14.0%13.1%
Reviews for Lafayette    37 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

I should add this to my previous review. Lafayette was ranked "Happiest City in the US" by USA Today magazine and "Tastiest Town" by Southern  More

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I’m from Florida but I’ve lived in the Lafayette area for thirty-five years. I’ve never known nicer people. It’s true that non-Cajuns can never integrate entirely with  More

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What are the hottest neighborhoods to buy/live in right now? I'm from out of  More

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Reviews for Ruston    2 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

Back stabbing little town you want get anywhere with out knowing people or have  More

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Very difficult to find a job here if you’re not hired by the university. When my husband got a job with the university, I didn’t think it would be so difficult for me  More

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