What it's like to live in Merrillville
Merrillville is a small city in Indiana with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Merrillville deals with unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Merrillville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Merrillville
Based on Merrillville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,564
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $51,280 a year
- 54% of Merrillville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$42,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $21,140
- Homes cost 3.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,282/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,282 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $211,400. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $211,400 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 33% above US
5.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.7%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 62% below US
127 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1347/100k · Merrillville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 23% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.1 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 21°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 27% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary and 7 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Indiana Dunes National Park (16 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Merrillville's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,282/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up, people who dread long commutes, and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Merrillville
All Indiana guides →Moving to Crown Point →
4 mi away · pop. 34,393
Rent $1,485/mo · Income $101,686
Compare with Merrillville →Moving to Schererville →
6 mi away · pop. 29,701
Rent $1,310/mo · Income $89,466
Compare with Merrillville →Moving to Griffith →
7 mi away · pop. 16,273
Rent $1,235/mo · Income $76,636
Compare with Merrillville →Not sure Merrillville is the one?
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