Residential comparison · 13 facts
Merrillville, IN vs New Albany, IN
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Merrillville needs about $83,500 in New Albany to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from New Albany, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $86,500 in Merrillville.
A few differences
- Merrillville is higher on median household income ($67,587 vs $54,710).
- New Albany is lower on cost of living index (80 vs 88).
- New Albany is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,065/mo vs $1,488/mo).
Merrillville vs New Albany · facet by facet
| Facet | Merrillville, IN | New Albany, IN |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $211,400 | $180,500 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,488/mo | $1,065/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.83% | 0.83% |
| State & local income tax | 4.55% | 4.75% |
| Sales tax | 7% | 7% |
| Cost of living index | 88 | 80 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $165/mo |
| Median household income | $67,587 | $54,710 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| Crime index | 45/100 | 45/100 |
| School rating | 5.8/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 190 days | 190 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Merrillville, IN · New Albany, IN
Questions & answers
- Is Merrillville cheaper than New Albany?
- New Albany has the lower day-to-day cost index (80 vs 88 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in New Albany equals $85,000 in Merrillville?
- A household earning $85,000 in Merrillville needs about $83,500 in New Albany to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of New Albany lifestyle costs about $86,500 in Merrillville.