Median Age
44 Years
Largest Age Group
35-44 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
20%
Over 65
22%
Ruston
Ruston, WA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$2,393
Population
961
Renter Mix
30% Rent
A scenic community between Tacoma and Commencement Bay
Scenic
•
Suburban
•
Coastal
•
Historic
•
Charming
•
Convenient
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Located about five miles northwest of Downtown Tacoma, Ruston is a charming community bordering Commencement Bay. Ruston is largely residential, offering a broad range of houses and apartments available for rent in a laid-back locale.
Although its forest-like environment may make Ruston feel secluded, the community boasts an array of independently owned businesses strewn along North Pearl Street, including antique shops, restaurants, service-oriented stores, and much more. Ruston provides exceptional opportunities for outdoor recreation, with direct access to Rust Park, Ruston Way Path, and all that the sprawling Point Defiance Park has to offer.
Ruston is also convenient to the exciting Point Ruston waterfront, which touts plenty of dining and entertainment options close to home. Getting around from Ruston is simple with access to the Point Defiance Ferry and State Route 163.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$95,033
Average: $115,416
Education
350
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
486
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Ruston has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
30%
Non-Renters
70%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
33%
Other Education
67%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Ruston, WA is $1,651 for a studio, $2,393 for one bedroom, $3,074 for two bedrooms, and $5,525 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Ruston has decreased by -1.1% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,393/month
329 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Ruston, WA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
20
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
70
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
70
/ 100
Scores provided by
Points of Interest
Parks and Recreation
- Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
- Point Defiance Park
- Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
- Ruston Way Park
- Narrows Park
Transit / Subway
Military Bases
Airports
- Seattle-Tacoma International
Top Apartments in Ruston
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.