City profile
Merrillville, IN
Lake County · Population 36,476
Merrillville is a town in Lake County, IN with about 36,476 residents and a typical home value near $211,000. It is 32 miles from Chicago, IL, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
27°F
Summer avg
74°F
Sunny days / yr
189
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$211,400
Typical monthly housing
$1,293
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
93
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.82%
- State income tax (top)
- 3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 7.00%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 96/100
Top hazards: Cold wave, Tornado, Riverine flooding
Nearest major airport
31 mi to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 52% Democratic / 47% Republican
Community
Population
36,476
Black population
46.7%
County
Lake County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸Home prices are still rising in 2026 — good for long-term value, less room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: tornadoes
Highlights
- About 36,476 residents
- Typical home value about $211,000
- 32 miles from Chicago, IL
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.