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Living in
Merrillville.
About
Life in Merrillville
Merrillville functions as a practical, car-oriented suburban community built around shopping and business corridors rather than a walkable downtown. Your daily life will likely revolve around the U.S. Route 30 strip where big-box retailers, restaurants, and dealerships cluster—convenient for errands but not particularly charming.
Merrillville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Foreign-Born
6.3%
Broadband Internet
87.7%
of households
Population Growth
+2.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Merrillville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Merrillville, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (27.4%), and 7.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.5%
of residents
65 and Older
20.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.1%
of households
Married Couples
34.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.32
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 21% above IN average
Rent, home values, and income in Merrillville
In Merrillville, rent runs 21% above the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,805
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $242,415 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2 pts above IN average
Unemployment in Merrillville
Unemployment in Merrillville is 2 percentage points higher than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Merrillville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32.1 min avg
How Merrillville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Merrillville, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 30 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 45 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 62% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Merrillville runs 62% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
126.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,346.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Merrillville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 31 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lake County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lake County, which includes Merrillville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 31 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.0M |
| 2024 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.0M |
| 2022 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 25 | Flood | $1,000 |
| 2018 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lake County, county-wide
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lake County, which includes Merrillville, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
152
per year
Moderate Days
198
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Lake County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Merrillville has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.9"
Annual Snowfall
26.6"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
124
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 2.38" |
| Feb | 36°F | 21°F | 2.24" |
| Mar | 48°F | 29°F | 2.63" |
| Apr | 61°F | 39°F | 3.74" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.59" |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.33" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 4.10" |
| Aug | 81°F | 62°F | 3.57" |
| Sep | 75°F | 54°F | 2.92" |
| Oct | 64°F | 44°F | 3.93" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 3.26" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.58" |
Healthcare2 hospitals
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Merrillville
Merrillville has 2 hospitals.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
6.5%
of residents
Pinnacle Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Regional Mental Health Center
Psychiatric · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Neuro Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 1.9 mi away · Crown Point
Uchicago Medicine Northwest Indiana
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Crown Point
St Mary Medical Center Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Hobart
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Merrillville
Merrillville's student/teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Merrillville (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 5,671 students · in-state tuition $8,675 · 51% graduate · median earnings $58,620 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 2,661 students · in-state tuition $8,424 · 41% graduate · median earnings $48,764 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,083 students · in-state tuition $50,390 · 70% graduate · median earnings $69,661 (10 yrs after entry)
College of Court Reporting Inc
13.1 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 175 students · in-state tuition $10,080 · 15% graduate · median earnings $45,758 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Indiana Dunes National Park, 16 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Merrillville
Merrillville has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (16 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
16 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
21 mi awayPublic Libraries in Merrillville
Lake County Public Library
1919 West 81st Avenue, Merrillville
Cities Near Merrillville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Merrillville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Merrillville FAQ
Is Merrillville, Indiana affordable?⌄
Merrillville's median rent is $1,282/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $67,587/year. Median home value is $211,400.
Is Merrillville, Indiana safe?⌄
Merrillville's violent crime rate was 127 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1347 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Merrillville, Indiana?⌄
Merrillville has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Merrillville, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Merrillville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,282/month and median household income is $67,587/year. The median home value is $211,400. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Merrillville, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Merrillville is 32 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from