Hackensack, NJ 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.
Hackensack
70.1
#1135 nationally
Merrillville
72.6
#860 nationally
Hackensack leads in walk score (73 vs 23). Merrillville leads in cost of living index (94 vs 126). Hackensack leads in median household income ($79,133 vs $62,221).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Hackensack, NJ | Merrillville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.1 (#1135) | 72.6 (#860) |
| Population | 45,736 | 36,347 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $473,422 | $246,742 |
| Median Household Income | $79,133 | $62,221 |
| Average Commute | 29.1 min | 31.7 min |
| Walk Score | 73 | 23 |
| Crime Level | 6.8 | 7.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 126 | 94 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+3.4 | D+5.6 |
C-
70.1 Score
Hackensack, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$473,422
Population
45,736
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
73
Northeast
View Hackensack, NJ →
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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