Dyer, IN vs Merrillville, IN

Dyer, IN and Merrillville, IN have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.5% difference in their overall index. Dyer scores 95 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 Dyer is $1,182/month compared to $1,304/month in Merrillville — a 9% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Dyer has cheaper rent, Merrillville actually has lower median home values ($194,000 vs $288,700).

Median household income in Dyer is $101,183 compared to $64,791 in Merrillville (+56.2%). While Dyer is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Dyer spend roughly 14% of their income on rent, less than the 24.2% in Merrillville.