Merrillville, IN vs Ruston, LA
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
Ruston
72.3
#911 nationally
Ruston leads in average commute (13.9 min vs 31.7 min). Merrillville leads in median household income ($62,221 vs $32,877). Merrillville leads in crime level (7.8 vs 11.7).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Merrillville, IN | Ruston, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.6 (#860) | 72.3 (#911) |
| Population | 36,347 | 22,233 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $246,742 | $229,937 |
| Median Household Income | $62,221 | $32,877 |
| Average Commute | 31.7 min | 13.9 min |
| Walk Score | 23 | 25 |
| Crime Level | 7.8 | 11.7 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 94 | 95 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.6 | R+25.4 |
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 →
C-
72.3 Score
Ruston, LA
Small Louisiana city with local appeal
Median Home
$229,937
Population
22,233
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
25
Southeast
View Ruston, LA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Merrillville for: