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Carnation vs Ruston

37 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (7× in Carnation) and growth since 2010 (+20.1 pts in Ruston).

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Carnation, WAHomes around $979KWashington · 2,366 people
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Ruston, WAOne of the safest townsWashington · 1,245 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

CarnationHomes around $979K
Housing$979K typical home65% above the WA typical home HealthHealthier than 96%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 92%of WA districts All about Carnation →
RustonOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 1%of U.S. towns we grade HealthHealthier than 85%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Housing$763K typical home29% above the WA typical home All about Ruston →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails7×
Carnation has more miles of trail
Carnation 1.4 miRuston 0.2 mi
Growth since 2010+20.1 pts
Ruston has grown faster since 2010
Ruston +40.9%Carnation +20.8%
Jobs per worker3.5×
Ruston is more of a job hub
Ruston 1.33Carnation 0.38
Street grid2.7×
Ruston has the more walkable street grid
Ruston 270Carnation 98.9
Kids under 18+13.2 pts
Carnation has more kids
Carnation 28.4%Ruston 15.2%
Age 65++11.6 pts
Ruston has more people 65 and up
Ruston 20.2%Carnation 8.6%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Washington ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
A−CarnationSafer than 81% of U.S. towns D−RustonSafer than 1% of U.S. towns
Schools
ACarnationBetter than 92% of districts in the state –RustonNot graded
Health
A+CarnationHealthier than 96% of U.S. towns A−RustonHealthier than 85% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,260 more a month in Carnation

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Carnation$5,820/mo
Typical home $979K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.84% · or rent about $2,175/mo · Housing →
Ruston$4,550/mo
Typical home $763K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.87% · or rent about $2,598/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,260 a month, about $15,100 a year, between Carnation and Ruston.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
CarnationRuston
Snow a year4″0″
January low36°F—
July high76°F—
Growing season (days)223d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)87th79th
Outdoors & history
CarnationRuston
Trails1 mi0 mi
Conserved land9.1%1%
Settled—1906
National Register places31
Archive photos—12
Community
CarnationRuston
Library hours a week45 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

37 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

CarnationWARustonWA
Carnation ↔ Ruston37 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

CarnationRuston
People
Population 2,366Highest 1,245Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +20.8%Lowest WA: +14.6% +40.9%Highest WA: +14.6%
Median age 36.8±2.5Lowest 4% below WA 44.5±5.4Highest 16% above WA
Ruston and Carnation are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 28.4%±1.9Highest WA: 21.4% 15.2%±3.4Lowest WA: 21.4%
Age 65+ 8.6%±2Lowest WA: 16.6% 20.2%±1.9Highest WA: 16.6%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 47.9%Lowest WA: 39.6% 61.5%Highest WA: 39.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.5%±2.5Highest WA: 5.7% 2.2%±1.4Lowest WA: 5.7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $152,763±$21kHighest 56% above WA $116,331±$16kLowest 19% above WA
Carnation and Ruston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $875,000±$42kLowest 55% above WA $912,700±$93kHighest 62% above WA
Ruston and Carnation are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,175±$935Lowest 24% above WA $2,598±$1kHighest 48% above WA
Ruston and Carnation are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $7,308Lowest 60% above WA $7,926Highest 74% above WA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 39.3%±23Highest WA: 49.9% 18.5%±16Lowest WA: 49.9%
Carnation and Ruston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 1.6%Lowest WA: 9.9% 7.1%Highest WA: 9.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 81.4%Highest WA: 63.8% 68.8%Lowest WA: 63.8%
Typical home builtmedian year 1993Lowest 8 yrs newer than WA 1995Highest 10 yrs newer than WA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minLowest 18% above WA 34 minHighest 29% above WA
Work from home 27.6%±5.7Highest WA: 19.8% 21.6%±6.9Lowest WA: 19.8%
Carnation and Ruston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.6%Highest 0.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 14.3 miHighest 9.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.38Lowest 1.33Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Seattle (19%)Tacoma (34%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in RustonFew work in Carnation
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 9.1%Highest 1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 1.4 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.2 miHighest 0.7 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 98.9Lowest 270Highest
Schools
School district Riverview School District—
High school in town Clip—
Students per teacherat that high school 17.8 —
Washington average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Carnation neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Carnation’s Town Square.

Ruston neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ruston’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Carnation

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Granite Falls4,659 people · $563K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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