Crawfordsville, IN vs Merrillville, IN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Crawfordsville is 24.1% cheaper than Merrillville. With a cost index of 69 vs 91, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Crawfordsville to Merrillville should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Crawfordsville is $831/month compared to $1,304/month in Merrillville — a 36% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Crawfordsville is more affordable at $134,100 median vs $194,000.

Median household income in Crawfordsville is $49,327 compared to $64,791 in Merrillville (-23.9%). The higher salaries in Merrillville partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Crawfordsville spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, less than the 24.2% in Merrillville.