Houston, TX 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.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Merrillville
72.6
#860 nationally
Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 23). Houston leads in average commute (28.5 min vs 31.7 min). Merrillville leads in median household income ($62,221 vs $57,791).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Merrillville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 72.6 (#860) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 36,347 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $246,742 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $62,221 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 31.7 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 23 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 7.8 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 94 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+5.6 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
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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