Ruston, LA Demographics

A map of Ruston's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	10,522	11,201	47.2%	50.5%
Black	9,631	8,867	43.2%	40.0%
Multiracial	829	635	3.7%	2.9%
Asian	443	551	2.0%	2.5%
Native American/Other	442	149	2.0%	0.7%
Hispanic	417	763	1.9%	3.4%

Ruston, Louisiana has an estimated population of 22,284, a less than 1% change from the 22,166 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 47.2% White, 43.2% Black, 3.7% Multiracial, 2.0% Asian, 2.0% Native American/Other, and 1.9% Hispanic. This demographic dot map shows the population of Ruston, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Ruston has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is about as diverse as Louisiana overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Ruston, that probability was 58.2% in 2020 and 58.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Ruston is ranked the 20th most populous place in Louisiana, out of 489 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Ruston was ranked the 20th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Ruston's White Population

10,522 residents of Ruston, or 47.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Ruston is lower than in Louisiana overall, where 55.7% of the population is White. Ruston ranks 313th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 489 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruston's White population has declined by an estimated 6.1%. White residents' share of Ruston's population has decreased from 50.5% to 47.2%.

Ruston is more White than neighboring Grambling (8.4% White). Ruston is less White than neighboring Vienna (84.3% White), Choudrant (78.8% White), Simsboro (62.7% White), and Dubach (55.1% White).

Ruston's Black Population

9,631 residents of Ruston, or 43.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Ruston is considerably higher than in Louisiana overall, where 30.5% of the population is Black. Ruston ranks 162nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 489 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruston's Black population has grown by an estimated 8.6%. Black residents' share of Ruston's population has increased from 40.0% to 43.2%.

Ruston is more Black than neighboring Vienna (0.7% Black), Choudrant (1.1% Black), Simsboro (17.9% Black), and Dubach (34.8% Black). Ruston is less Black than neighboring Grambling (82.7% Black).

Ruston's Asian Population

443 residents of Ruston, or 2.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Ruston is comparable to the share in Louisiana overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Ruston ranks 54th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 489 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruston's Asian population has declined by an estimated 19.6%. Asian residents' share of Ruston's population has decreased from 2.5% to 2.0%.

Ruston is more Asian than neighboring Grambling (0.4% Asian), Vienna (0.9% Asian), Simsboro (0% Asian), and Dubach (0.6% Asian). Ruston is less Asian than neighboring Choudrant (4.9% Asian).

Ruston's Hispanic Population

417 residents of Ruston, or 1.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Ruston is lower than in Louisiana overall, where 7.2% of the population is Hispanic. Ruston ranks 214th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 489 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruston's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 45.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Ruston's population has decreased from 3.4% to 1.9%.

Ruston is more Hispanic than neighboring Dubach (0% Hispanic). Ruston is less Hispanic than neighboring Grambling (4.6% Hispanic), Vienna (13.5% Hispanic), Choudrant (8.9% Hispanic), and Simsboro (11% Hispanic).

Ruston's Native American/Other Population

442 residents of Ruston, or 2.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Ruston is comparable to the share in Louisiana overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Ruston ranks 246th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 489 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruston's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 196.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Ruston's population has increased from 0.7% to 2.0%.

Ruston is more Native American/Other than neighboring Grambling (0.2% Native American/Other), Vienna (0% Native American/Other), and Choudrant (0% Native American/Other). Ruston is less Native American/Other than neighboring Simsboro (6.1% Native American/Other), and Dubach (6.6% Native American/Other).

Ruston's Multiracial Population

829 residents of Ruston, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Ruston is comparable to the share in Louisiana overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. Ruston ranks 314th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 489 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Ruston's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 30.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Ruston's population has increased from 2.9% to 3.7%.

Ruston is more Multiracial than neighboring Vienna (0.7% Multiracial), Simsboro (2.2% Multiracial), and Dubach (2.8% Multiracial). Ruston is less Multiracial than neighboring Choudrant (6.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.