Central, LA 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.
Merrillville
72.6
#860 nationally
Merrillville leads in walk score (23 vs 7). Central leads in median household income ($82,714 vs $62,221). Merrillville leads in cost of living index (94 vs 107).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Central, LA | Merrillville, IN |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,781 | 36,347 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $0 | $246,742 |
| Median Household Income | $82,714 | $62,221 |
| Average Commute | 30.8 min | 31.7 min |
| Walk Score | 7 | 23 |
| Crime Level | 7.1 | 7.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 94 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+11.1 | D+5.6 |
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Score
Central, LA
Small Louisiana city with local appeal
Population
29,781
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
7
Median Income
$82,714
Southeast
View Central, LA →
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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