Buffalo, NY vs Merrillville, IN
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Buffalo
74.2
#613 nationally
Merrillville
72.6
#860 nationally
Buffalo leads in walk score (66 vs 23). Merrillville leads in median household income ($62,221 vs $42,891). Buffalo leads in average commute (22.4 min vs 31.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Merrillville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.2 (#613) | 72.6 (#860) |
| Population | 276,807 | 36,347 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $249,040 | $246,742 |
| Median Household Income | $42,891 | $62,221 |
| Average Commute | 22.4 min | 31.7 min |
| Walk Score | 66 | 23 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 7.8 |
| School Rating | 4.6 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 88 | 94 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+9.7 | D+5.6 |
C
74.2 Score
Buffalo, NY
Queen City rising
Median Home
$249,040
Population
276,807
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Northeast
View Buffalo, NY →
C-
72.6 Score
Merrillville, IN
Small Indiana city with local appeal
Median Home
$246,742
Population
36,347
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
23
Midwest
View Merrillville, IN →
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