Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Merrillville, Indiana
A $194,000 home here costs
$1,684per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $72,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,075. The real number is $609 higher every month, 57% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lake County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Merrillville against Lake County and Indiana
| Measure | Merrillville | Lake County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,000 | $214,700 |
| Median property tax | $1,753 | $1,987 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.904% | 0.925% |
| Median gross rent | $1,304 | $1,094 |
| Population | 36,343 | 498,990 |
The weather behind that power bill
Merrillville sits in Lake County, which averages a high of 85.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 18.4°F in its coldest, with 33.35" of precipitation a year and 34% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 975 cooling and 5,737 heating degree days, which is what sets the $151 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lake County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lake County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Merrillville averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Merrillville every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Merrillville I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Merrillville?
A $194,000 home in Merrillville, Indiana costs approximately $1,684 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,075 principal and interest, $146 property tax, $83 homeowners insurance, $219 utilities and $162 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Merrillville?
Merrillville has an effective property tax rate of 0.904%, based on a median home value of $194,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,753. That is lower than the Lake County average of 0.925%.
What is the average home price in Merrillville?
The median owner-occupied home value in Merrillville, Indiana is $194,000, against $214,700 across Lake County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Merrillville?
Median gross rent in Merrillville is $1,304 a month, against $1,684 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Merrillville?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Merrillville, Indiana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $72,000 a year. That covers the full $1,684 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Merrillville, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Indiana.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.