Ruston is a town in Pierce County, Washington, home to about 1,245 people across 0.3 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 98407.
Homes sold for a median of $414 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Tacoma; part is in Ruston
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Ruston. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Ruston’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Ruston well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)15 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW)4 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Seattle, WA24 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Ruston; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Ruston had 1,055 residents in the 2020 census, up 43% since 2000.
It’s the 373rd largest of 628 towns in Washington by population.
Pierce County grew from 55,515 residents in 1900 to 921,130 in 2020.
Pierce County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 76°F in summer, and winter lows average 36°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Tacoma Narrows Ap, WA weather station (4 miles away).
294,765 jobs at 20,051 businesses in Pierce County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
668 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Ruston.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 4 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 7 |
| Dentists | 5 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 14 |
| Mental health providers | 614 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 21 |
| Chiropractors | 3 |
| Pharmacies | 3 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (8 nearby)
Grocery stores (2 nearby)
Pharmacies (1 nearby)
Libraries
Museums
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Tacoma School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoyt Early Learning CenterTacoma | Pre-K | — | Public | 1.1 mi |
| Washington Elementary SchoolTacoma | Pre-K–5 | 383 | Public | 1.1 mi |
| Point Defiance Elementary SchoolTacoma | K–5 | 301 | Public | 0.8 mi |
| Sherman Elementary SchoolTacoma | K–5 | 432 | Public | 0.3 mi |
| Mason Middle SchoolTacoma | 6–8 | 639 | Public | 0.9 mi |
| Truman Middle SchoolTacoma | 6–8 | 438 | Public | 0.5 mi |
| Science and Math InstituteTacoma | 9–12 | 597 | Public | 1.8 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Ruston? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Tacoma.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.