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CITY

Merrillville

Indiana · 37,407 residents (2025 est.) · 33.219 sq mi
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The short version

Merrillville has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $67,587. Population has grown 19% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $211,400.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
36,476
+19%since 2000
from 30,560 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,098 / sq mi
+19%since 2000
from 920 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.4
+15%since 2000
from 37.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:37,407 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
26K29K32K35K37K1990201020202024Merrillville
202436K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,587
−25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,545 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,629
+64%since 2000
from $22,293 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.6%
+15.4 ptssince 2009
from 28.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.6%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.448
+14%since 2010
from 0.391 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$211,400
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $101,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,282
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $704 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 70.6% in 2000
29.5% rent
Vacancy rate
4.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.9%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+53%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
47
RELATED:See current rent listings in Merrillville on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic64.5%(19,701)
Black22.6%(6,908)
Hispanic / Latino9.7%(2,950)
Asian1.5%(450)
Other0%
Diversity Score63.3%(19,334)
2024
White, non-Hispanic33.4%(12,185)
Black46.1%(16,811)
Hispanic / Latino15.6%(5,692)
Asian1%(365)
Other3.9%(1,423)
Diversity Score81.3%(29,638)
Diversity Score
81
+28%since 2000
from 63 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.1%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 20.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.3%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 86.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.7%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.1 min
+58%since 2000
from 20.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.2%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 87.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.3%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.4%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.5%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 10.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.3%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 65.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.5%
−30.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
Female
52.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
Foreign born
6.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.0%
−39.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2012
from 14.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.5%
−79.0 ptssince 2013
from 85.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.7%
+8.0 ptssince 2017
from 79.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 89.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 7.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Merrillville, Indiana?

Merrillville, Indiana has about 36,476 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Merrillville, Indiana?

The typical household in Merrillville, Indiana earns about $67,587 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Merrillville, Indiana expensive?

In Merrillville, Indiana, the median home is worth about $211,400, and the typical rent is about $1,282 a month.

How educated are people in Merrillville, Indiana?

About 26.1% of adults age 25 and over in Merrillville, Indiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Merrillville, Indiana?

About 12.6% of people in Merrillville, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Merrillville, Indiana grown since 1990?

Yes, Merrillville, Indiana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,219 residents, a change of about 34 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Merrillville, Indiana: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy