Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Ruston, Louisiana
A $227,000 home here costs
$1,953per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $83,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,238. The real number is $716 higher every month, 58% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lincoln Parish with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Ruston against Lincoln Parish and Louisiana
| Measure | Ruston | Lincoln Parish |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $226,700 | $195,500 |
| Median property tax | $1,186 | $975 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.523% | 0.499% |
| Median gross rent | $819 | $821 |
| Population | 22,224 | 48,160 |
The weather behind that power bill
Ruston sits in Lincoln Parish, which averages a high of 92.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 35.0°F in its coldest, with 55.61" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,300 cooling and 2,337 heating degree days, which is what sets the $155 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lincoln Parish , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lincoln Parish
Full Lincoln Parish cost breakdown · Every county in Louisiana
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Ruston averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Ruston every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Ruston I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Ruston?
A $227,000 home in Ruston, Louisiana costs approximately $1,953 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,238 principal and interest, $99 property tax, $205 homeowners insurance, $223 utilities and $189 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Ruston?
Ruston has an effective property tax rate of 0.523%, based on a median home value of $226,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,186. That is higher than the Lincoln Parish average of 0.499%.
What is the average home price in Ruston?
The median owner-occupied home value in Ruston, Louisiana is $226,700, against $195,500 across Lincoln Parish.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ruston?
Median gross rent in Ruston is $819 a month, against $1,953 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Ruston?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Ruston, Louisiana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $83,500 a year. That covers the full $1,953 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Ruston, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Louisiana.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.