Rents are 3% below what Merrillville's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,562 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Merrillville is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2021.
Rent in Merrillville changed +3.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 49 Indiana cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($67,587) is $1,690 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,440); a 3-bedroom is $1,770.
Hobart, 5 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,348/mo), about $2,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Merrillville. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Merrillville, IN is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 26.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Merrillville, IN has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Merrillville, IN has climbed by $269 per month, settling near $1,562 after starting the period at $1,293. Median household income grew from $61,230 to $67,587 between 2021 and 2024, a 10.4% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 10.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 29.5% of households rent today, against 31.7% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 22.8% to 26.1%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Merrillville, IN reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Merrillville on your salary?
At $1,562/mo, how Merrillville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Merrillville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Merrillville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Merrillville
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Merrillville is $1,562/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,030/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,440/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,190/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,770/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($67,587/yr), Merrillville ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Merrillville?
Is rent going up or down in Merrillville?
How does Merrillville rent compare to other cities in Indiana?
At $1,562/mo, rent takes ~28% of Merrillville's median household income ($67,587/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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