What are the schools like in Merrillville, IN?

Merrillville is served primarily by Merrillville Community School Corp. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

What is the median household income in Merrillville?

The median household income in Merrillville, IN is $62,221 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.2%.

What is the weather like in Merrillville, IN?

Merrillville has an average high temperature of 32.1°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 26.6 inches.

Merrillville, IN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Merrillville, IN affordable or expensive?

Merrillville's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Merrillville is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $176,600 and the median rent is $1,240 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Merrillville, IN?

Merrillville has a violent crime rate of 196.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 945.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Merrillville, IN a Good Place to Live?

Merrillville is a small city of 36,214 in Indiana, with a median household income of $62,221 and a 8.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Merrillville stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Merrillville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Merrillville city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.6

Merrillville's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Merrillville costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Merrillville, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$176,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,240	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,221	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Merrillville's violent crime rate is 196.1 per 100,000 residents — 48% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

196.1 /100k

Property Crime

945.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Merrillville is served primarily by Merrillville Community School Corp. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Merrillville, IN	National Avg
School District	Merrillville Community School Corp	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Merrillville sees average highs of 32.1°F in January and 82.9°F in July, with 40.9 inches of annual precipitation and 26.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Merrillville, IN
Average High — January	32.1°F
Average High — July	82.9°F
Annual Precipitation	40.9"
Annual Snowfall	26.6"

Demographics

Metric	Merrillville, IN	National Avg
Population	36,214	—
Median Age	39.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	38.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	46.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	22.4%	22.2%
65 and over	19.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hobart, IN 4 mi Crown Point, IN 4 mi Winfield, IN 5 mi New Chicago, IN 6 mi Schererville, IN 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Merrillville

Merrillville, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

46410

Merrillville vs Other Cities

Merrillville, IN vs Hobart, IN Merrillville, IN vs Crown Point, IN Merrillville, IN vs Winfield, IN Merrillville, IN vs New Chicago, IN Merrillville, IN vs Schererville, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Merrillville, IN affordable or expensive?

Merrillville's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Merrillville roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $176,600 and median rent is $1,240/month.

What is the crime rate in Merrillville, IN?

Merrillville's violent crime rate is 196.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 945.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Merrillville?

Public schools in Merrillville are operated by Merrillville Community School Corp. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 24.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Merrillville, IN a good place to live?

Merrillville, IN has a population of 36,214, a median household income of $62,221, and an unemployment rate of 8.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Merrillville?

Merrillville averages 32.1°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.9 inches with about 26.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Merrillville?

Merrillville, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 46410.

What is the population of Merrillville?

The population of Merrillville, Indiana is 36,214 with a median age of 39.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Merrillville?

Key numbers for living in Merrillville: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $176,600, median household income $62,221, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Merrillville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.