Merrillville town, Indiana Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Merrillville town is a mid-sized community located in Indiana. The total population is 36,343. It ranks as the 26th most populous out of 967 cities and towns in Indiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Merrillville town is 41.3 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Merrillville town is $64,791. This is 8% lower than the state median of $70,051. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 18% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.7%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.2%. The unemployment rate is 6.9%. This is 59% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $194,000. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $201,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 68.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 70.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Merrillville town is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 34.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (34.3%) is well below the state average of 76.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (44.6% vs 9.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (15.6% vs 8.4%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

25.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 12% lower than the state rate of 28.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Merrillville town, Indiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Indiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 967 Census-designated places in Indiana. For official data, visit data.census.gov.