City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Merrillville, IN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Merrillville - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

36,343
Residents
$64,791
Median income
$194,000
Median home
$1,317
Median rent (state)

Merrillville - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Merrillville lands in the 43rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

43rd
percentile, household income
41st
percentile, home value
47th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Merrillville, IN

36,343 people live in Merrillville, Indiana - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Merrillville brings in $64,791 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.5%. Home values in Merrillville run a median of $194,000, and the median resident age is 41.3 years. About 25.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 57.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 245 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 182% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Indiana scores 93.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,317 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Indiana run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 95.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

36,343 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$64,791 /yr

Poverty 11.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Merrillville compare to other US cities?

Merrillville measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 43% higher than other cities
Home value 41% pricier than other cities
Median rent 47% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Merrillville against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Indiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Indiana-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Merrillville toward the top of Indiana's cities

Among the 850 Indiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Merrillville ranks #118 - the 81st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Merrillville only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#332 of 766
57th percentile in Indiana
Median Gross Rent
#118 of 850
81st percentile in Indiana
Median Home Value
#184 of 771
76th percentile in Indiana
Poverty Rate
#253 of 849
70th percentile in Indiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#195 of 850
77th percentile in Indiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Indiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

43rdIncome percentile

43rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Merrillville's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$194,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 59% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Merrillville $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Merrillville, IN Merrillville, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Merrillville, IN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Merrillville, IN median $64,791/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Merrillville, IN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Merrillville, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
36,343
Median Income
$64,791
Median Home Value
$194,000
Median Age
41.3
Poverty Rate
11.5%
Labor force participation
57.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.2%

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
36,000 residents36,500 residents37,000 residents37,500 residents38,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 36,462 residents 37,407 residents ▲ +2.6%
Merrillville's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
245
housing units authorized
Single-Family
245
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 87
2020 87
2021 38
2022 117
2023 305
2024 245

Permit volume increased 182% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.4%
Carpool
6.0%
Public Transit
1.4%
Walk
1.5%
Work from Home
8.3%
Other
2.4%

Based on 16,773 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Indiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Indiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Merrillville sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,317/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

Plainfield
35,783 people
Richmond
35,551 people
New Albany
37,589 people
Portage
37,951 people
Valparaiso
34,377 people
Goshen
34,374 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Merrillville's 36,343 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Commack, NY
36,353 people
Upper Arlington, OH
36,319 people
Woodstock, GA
36,297 people
Douglasville, GA
36,284 people
Farmers Branch, TX
36,254 people
Elmont, NY
36,436 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Merrillville's $64,791 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hoopers Creek, NC
$64,792 median income
Pittsboro, NC
$64,792 median income
Laureldale, PA
$64,792 median income
Yoe, PA
$64,792 median income
South Oroville, CA
$64,785 median income
Broaddus, TX
$64,779 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Merrillville, IN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Merrillville, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 40.7% 45.2% 8.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 15.6% White 40.7% Black or African American 45.2% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 4.0% Two or more races 8.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Merrillville compares to nearby Indiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Merrillville (this city) 36,343 $64,791
Plainfield 35,783 $85,074
Richmond 35,551 $46,395
New Albany 37,589 $54,152
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Merrillville, IN?

What is the population of Merrillville, IN? +

36,343 people live in Merrillville, IN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Merrillville, IN? +

Merrillville households earn a median of $64,791 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Merrillville? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Merrillville; the closest available measure is the Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Merrillville, IN? +

Merrillville's median home value sits at $194,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.