Merrydale, LA vs Ruston, LA

Ruston is moderately more affordable than Merrydale, with a 7.5% lower cost of living index. Merrydale scores 78 compared to 73 for Ruston, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Merrydale can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Merrydale is $1,187/month compared to $819/month in Ruston — a 45% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ruston has cheaper rent, Merrydale actually has lower median home values ($124,300 vs $226,700).

Median household income in Merrydale is $41,986 compared to $32,765 in Ruston (+28.1%). While Merrydale is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Merrydale spend roughly 33.9% of their income on rent, more than the 30% in Ruston. The Ruston ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.