Cedar Lake, IN vs Merrillville, IN

Cedar Lake, IN and Merrillville, IN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.8% difference in their overall index. Cedar Lake scores 94 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 Cedar Lake is $1,209/month compared to $1,304/month in Merrillville — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Cedar Lake has cheaper rent, Merrillville actually has lower median home values ($194,000 vs $259,900).

Median household income in Cedar Lake is $79,177 compared to $64,791 in Merrillville (+22.2%). While Cedar Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cedar Lake spend roughly 18.3% of their income on rent, less than the 24.2% in Merrillville.