ZIP Code 71270: Population, Income, Housing

State: LA

Total population: 32,885 Household income: $36,791 Rent: $827

Overview

Total population

32,885

Rent

$827

Year built

1986

Household income

$36,791

Per capita income

$25,231

Poverty rate

34.7%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

55.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Louisiana

County

Lincoln Parish

City

Ruston

Total population

32,885

Adults over 25

18,535

Total households

13,042

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$36,791

Per capita income

$25,231

Poverty rate

34.7%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

55.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Housing

Rent

$827

Year built

1986

Households that rent

50%

Households that own

50%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Race

White

51.4%

Black

38.3%

Asian

1.5%

Two or more races

6.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

3.5%

Not Hispanic or Latino

96.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Commute

Commute rate

11,856 (90.7%)

Commute time to work

17 mins

Work from home

1,218 (9.3%)

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Education

Less than high school

26.9%

High school graduate or GED

28.6%

Some college or associate degree

6.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

38.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Comparison of ZIP Code 71270 with: Louisiana United States

ZIP 71270

Total population32,885

Rent$827

Year built1986

Household income$36,791

Per capita income$25,231

Poverty rate34.7%

Unemployment rateN/A

Louisiana State

Total population4,611,961

Rent$1,064

Year built1983

Household income$60,756

Per capita income$35,038

Poverty rate18.9%

Unemployment rate4.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	ZIP71270	StateLouisiana	CountryUnited States
Total population	32,885	4,611,961	334,922,499
Rent	$827	$1,064	$1,413
Year built	1986	1983	1980
Household income	$36,791	$60,756	$80,734
Per capita income	$25,231	$35,038	$44,673
Poverty rate	34.7%	18.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	4.3%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 71270

Rent & Income

In 71270, the typical monthly rent is $827 and the typical household income is $36,791. Rent here is lower than Louisiana, and household income is lower than Louisiana. The estimated poverty rate is 34.7%.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 50% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 55.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 38.4% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 71270 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 71270 — Poverty

How ZIP 71270 compares in Louisiana (42 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$827	2 / 42	from lower rent	$751 – $1,546
Household income	$36,791	42 / 42	from higher income	$36,791 – $109,404
Poverty rate	34.7%	42 / 42	from lower poverty	5.8% – 34.7%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in Louisiana with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 71270

Rent

When it comes to rent, ZIP Code 71270 ranks 2nd out of 42 ZIP Codes in Louisiana. Statewide, values range from $751 in ZIP 70570 up to $1,546 in ZIP 70737.

Household income

Income-wise, this area is placed 42nd out of 42 ZIP Codes. Across Louisiana, figures vary from $36,791 in ZIP 71270 up to $109,404 in ZIP 70769.

Poverty rate

When it comes to poverty, ZIP Code 71270 places 42nd out of 42 ZIP Codes. Throughout Louisiana, numbers span from 5.8% in ZIP 70769 up to 34.7% in ZIP 71270.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 71270 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $827 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing — including the apartment or home and essential utilities like heat, water, and electricity.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in ZIP Code 71270

Annual Household Income: $36,791

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in ZIP Code 71270

Estimated Rate: 34.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in ZIP Code 71270

In ZIP Code 71270, households that rent: 6,527 (50%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	6,527	50%
Owner-Occupied	6,515	50%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in ZIP Code 71270

In ZIP Code 71270, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 3,627 (55.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	3,627	55.6%
Other renter households	2,900	44.4%
Total renter households	6,527	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in ZIP Code 71270

Less than High School: 4,984 people (26.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 5,305 people (28.6%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 1,124 people (6.1%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 7,122 people (38.4%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 18,535

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.