Ruston, WA housing market
The typical Ruston home is worth about $763,000, up 4.7% in a year, 29% above the Washington typical home.
Home values, sales, trends and how Ruston compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Ruston at a glance
Only 3 sales in April 2026: in a market this size, monthly medians swing a lot, so the typical value above is the steadier guide.
Typical home value, 2016–2026
Show as a table
| January | Ruston | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $376,000 | $326,000 |
| 2018 | $411,000 | $362,000 |
| 2019 | $441,000 | $390,000 |
| 2020 | $478,000 | $413,000 |
| 2021 | $557,000 | $471,000 |
| 2022 | $646,000 | $554,000 |
| 2023 | $676,000 | $572,000 |
| 2024 | $710,000 | $582,000 |
| 2025 | $736,000 | $605,000 |
| 2026 | $752,000 | $601,000 |
| August 2026 | $763,000 | $592,000 |
2 new homes permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 2 new homes in Ruston in 2025, all single-family houses. That's 1.6 per 1,000 residents, slower than across Washington (4.6). Over the past 10 years, Ruston has permitted 30 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Ruston gained 306 residents while 41 new homes were permitted: about 7.5 new residents per new home. Population grew faster than building, so existing homes filled up: a sign of tight supply. Across Washington: 2.7 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $923,000 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $923,000 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $462,000 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $923,000 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $923,000 |
| 2020 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $1.8 million |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $923,000 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $840,000 |
| 2017 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $2.5 million |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $2.2 million |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $2.1 million |
| 2014 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| 2013 | 12 | 12 | 0 | $4.4 million |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $373,000 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $586,000 |
| 2009 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| 2008 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $1.2 million |
| 2007 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $2.3 million |
| 2006 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| 2005 | 60 | 0 | 60 | $24.1 million |
| 2004 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $200,000 |
| 2002 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $407,000 |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $131,000 |
| 2000 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $962,000 |
Ruston's permit office didn't report to the Census in 2025, so the 2025 figures are Census estimates.
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
6.6 years of income
The typical Ruston home costs about 6.6 years of the town's median household income, more than across Washington (6 years).
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $2,120
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Ruston is $2,120 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Ruston pay a median of $2,598. A two-bedroom takes about 22% of the town's median household income.
Studio $1,530 · 4 bedrooms $3,330
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (98402, 98407; Tacoma, WA HUD Metro FMR Area), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research, August 2026. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center, April 2026. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.