Bloomington, IN vs Merrillville, IN

Bloomington, IN and Merrillville, IN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.3% difference in their overall index. Bloomington scores 92 while Merrillville scores 91 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bloomington is $1,160/month compared to $1,304/month in Merrillville — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bloomington has cheaper rent, Merrillville actually has lower median home values ($194,000 vs $289,700).

Median household income in Bloomington is $48,918 compared to $64,791 in Merrillville (-24.5%). Merrillville offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Bloomington spend roughly 28.5% of their income on rent, more than the 24.2% in Merrillville.